Mazurkas (RMST) [Original recording remastered]

Editorial Reviews
Amazon.com
Emanuel Ax here offers a fine selection of Chopin, showcasing every aspect of the great Polish composer. The G Minor Ballade is played as poetically as the Scherzos are played expressively, with some of the more chaotic moments presented in the most melodious way. Ax rarely showboats and is mostly interested in Chopin's long lines. His tone is always warm and never brittle; the argument could be made that some of the music is emotionally thornier than Ax acknowledges, but he nonetheless is always communicative, underlining the harmonic daring of the music this latter trait particularly in the mazurkas. The two CDs are programmed for variety and it works--listening straight through never tires the ear or the sensations. The sound is big and rich. Highly recommended. --Robert Levine

Tracks:

Ballade No.1, Op.23, In G Minor
Ballade No.2, Op.38, In F Major
Ballade No.3, Op.47, In A-Flat Major
Ballade No.4, Op.52, In F Minor
Scherzo No.1, Op.20, In B Minor
Scherzo No.3, Op.39 In C-Sharp Minor
Mazurka, Op.24 No.2, In C Major
Mazurka, Op.56 No.3, In C Minor
Mazurka, Op.59 No.1, In A Minor
Mazurka, Op.59 No.2, In A-Flat Major
Mazurka, Op.59 No.3, In F-Sharp Minor

Tracks:

Andante Spianato/Grand Polonaise Brillante, Op.22
Nocturne, Op.62 No.1, In B Major
Scherzo No.2 Op.31, In B-Flat Minor
Scherzo No.4, Op.54, In E Major
Etude In F Minor
Etude In D-Flat Major
Etude In A-Flat Major
Polonaise-Fantaisie, Op.61, In A-Flat Major

Amazon.com

Emanuel Ax here offers a fine selection of Chopin, showcasing every aspect of the great Polish composer. The G Minor Ballade is played as poetically as the Scherzos are played expressively, with some of the more chaotic moments presented in the most melodious way. Ax rarely showboats and is mostly interested in Chopin's long lines. His tone is always warm and never brittle; the argument could be made that some of the music is emotionally thornier than Ax acknowledges, but he nonetheless is always communicative, underlining the harmonic daring of the music this latter trait particularly in the mazurkas. The two CDs are programmed for variety and it works--listening straight through never tires the ear or the sensations. The sound is big and rich. Highly recommended. --Robert Levine

Customer Reviews:

Three phases of a great Chopin player.......2006-06-14

I think Emanuel Ax has settled into routine playing as he's aged, but these are premiere Chopin interpretations from two decades ago. Now that Sony and BMG have merged their classical divisions, it's possible to issue Ax's excellent 1985 reading of the four Ballades--the best ever done by an American--with a 1988 recital of Mazurkas and the four Scherzi. The first recital was originally on RCA, the second on Sony. But just to confuse things a bit more, the readings here of Scherzos #2 and #4 are dropped in from an even earlier RCA recording.

The provenance won't matter that much to the general listener, who will be happy with the budget price for probably the best Chopin two-fer on the market. Begin listening with the four Ballades, where Ax is at his most impassioned and inspired. Even three years later, when he got to Scherzos #1 and #3, he had become more refined and relaxed, less a romantic risk-taker. He's remained that way ever since, but here at least we can hear Ax in his glory. Faithful as I am to Pollini and Kisin in this repertoire, this collection often rises to their heights.

Chopin: 4 Ballades; Scherzos; Mazurkas etc.

Average customer rating:

Chopin: 4 Ballades; Scherzos; Mazurkas etc.

Manufacturer: Bmg Music
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD
ASIN: B00000E6DN
Release Date: 1990-02-07

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