Piano Works, Vol.4

On this CD:

1. Piano Sonata No. 18 in G major ("Fantasy"), D. 894 (Op. 78)
Composed by Franz Schubert
Performed by Massimiliano Damerini

2. Hungarian Melody for piano in B minor (Ungarische Melodie), D. 817
Composed by Franz Schubert
Performed by Massimiliano Damerini

3. Piano Sonata No. 13 in A major, D. 664 (Op. 120)
Composed by Franz Schubert
Performed by Massimiliano Damerini

Tracks:

Variations On A Theme By Paganini, Op.35: Book 1 - Heft 1
Variations On A Theme By Paganini, Op.35: Book 2 - Heft 2
Variations And Fugue On A Theme By G.F. Handel, Op.24: B Flat Major
4 Ballades, Op.10: Andante
4 Ballades, Op.10: Andante
4 Ballades, Op.10: Intermezzo. Allegro
4 Ballades, Op.10: Andante con moto

Tracks:

Works For Solo Piano: Ziemlich langsam
Works For Solo Piano: Poco larghetto
Works For Solo Piano: Allegro
Works For Solo Piano: Walzer Nr. 1 - 8
Works For Solo Piano: Walzer Nr. 9 - 16
Works For Solo Piano: Scherzo es-moll

Tracks:

Works For Piano Solo: Allegro
Works For Piano Solo: Andante
Works For Piano Solo: Scherzo. Allegro molto e con fuoco
Works For Piano Solo: Finale. Allegro con fuoco
Works For Piano Solo: Allegro non troppo ma energico
Works For Piano Solo: Andante con espressione
Works For Piano Solo: Scherzo. Allegro
Works For Piano Solo: Finale. Introduzione (sostenuto) - Allegro non troppo e rubato
Works For Piano Solo: Agitato
Works For Piano Solo: Molto passionato, ma non troppo allegro

Tracks:

Works For Piano Solo: Allegro maestoso
Works For Piano Solo: Andante espressivo - Andante molto
Works For Piano Solo: Scherzo. Allegro energico
Works For Piano Solo: Intermezzo. Andante molto
Works For Piano Solo: Finale. Allegro moderato ma rubato
Works For Piano Solo: Presto energico
Works For Piano Solo: Andante
Works For Piano Solo: Allegro passionato
Works For Piano Solo: Adagio
Works For Piano Solo: Andante con grazia ed intimissimo sentimento
Works For Piano Solo: Andante teneramente
Works For Piano Solo: Allegro agitato

Tracks:

Works For Solo Piano: 8 Pieces, Op.76 - I Capriccio in F sharp minor
Works For Solo Piano: 8 Pieces, Op. 76 - II Capriccio in B minor
Works For Solo Piano: 8 Pieces, Op. 76 - III Intermezzo in A flat major
Works For Solo Piano: 8 Pieces, Op. 76 - IV Intermezzo in B flat major
Works For Solo Piano: 8 Pieces, Op. 76 - V Capriccio in C sharp minor
Works For Solo Piano: 8 Pieces, Op. 76 - VI Intermezzo in A major
Works For Solo Piano: 8 Pieces, Op. 76 - VII Intermezzo in A minor
Works For Solo Piano: 8 Pieces, Op. 76 - VIII Capriccio in C major
Works For Solo Piano: 6 Pieces, Op. 118 - I Intermezzo in A minor
Works For Solo Piano: 6 Pieces, Op. 118 - II Intermezzo in A major
Works For Solo Piano: 6 Pieces, Op. 118 - III Ballade in G minor
Works For Solo Piano: 6 Pieces, Op. 118 - IV Intermezzo in F minor
Works For Solo Piano: 6 Pieces, Op. 118 - V Romanze in F major
Works For Solo Piano: 6 Pieces, Op. 118 - VI Intermezzo in E flat minor
Works For Solo Piano: 4 Pieces, Op. 119 - I Intermezzo in B minorn B
Works For Solo Piano: 4 Pieces, Op. 119 - II Intermezzo in E minor
Works For Solo Piano: 4 Pieces, Op. 119 - III Intermezzo in C major
Works For Solo Piano: 4 Pieces, Op. 119 - IV Rhapsody in E flat major

Tracks:

Works For Solo Piano: Andante moderato
Works For Solo Piano: Andante non troppo e con molto espressione
Works For Solo Piano: Andante con moto
Works For Solo Piano: g-moll
Works For Solo Piano: d-moll
Works For Solo Piano: F-dur
Works For Solo Piano: fis-moll
Works For Solo Piano: fis-moll
Works For Solo Piano: Des-dur
Works For Solo Piano: F-dur
Works For Solo Piano: a-moll
Works For Solo Piano: e-moll
Works For Solo Piano: E-dur
Works For Solo Piano: d-moll
Works For Solo Piano: d-moll
Works For Solo Piano: D-dur
Works For Solo Piano: d-moll
Works For Solo Piano: B-dur
Works For Solo Piano: f-moll
Works For Solo Piano: fis-moll
Works For Solo Piano: D-dur
Works For Solo Piano: h-moll
Works For Solo Piano: e-moll
Works For Solo Piano: e-moll

Customer Reviews:

I disagree with the consensus here.......2007-07-11

I was disappointed by this set and would not recommend it. It's great that all of Brahms' piano works are included here and the boxed set includes some difficult to find works (like those Op. 21 variation sets) as well as the better known and wonderful later piano pieces and the Op. 39 Waltzes.

The problem is that Katchen's performances are flawed and often unpleasant. The worst problem is that he bangs the keys a lot. Fortissimo passages are ideally not supposed to be noisy; they are intended to be loud and forceful without being unpleasant. It's a key distinction that Katchen fails to realize. I also think that Katchen's technique is a bit patchy. He blurs the passagework and there is a lack of both accuracy and delicacy in the fast passages. To take an example, the Op. 76 set is marred by both of these problems: a lack of accuracy and a tendency to bang on the keyboard. I also found many of the passages that didn't suffer from these problems to be interpretationally uninteresting (the slow parts of the Paganini Variations, Bk II are undistinguished, to take an example). Big thumbs down.

I did some direct comparison of sets to the Katchen performances and in every case Katchen was far inferior.

Take the Op. 39 Waltzes: Leon Fleisher's old recording is wonderful and much more sensitive and interesting than Katchen.

I also listened to Radu Lupu's recording of the Opp. 117-119 pieces (THAT is a wonderful recording - if you are looking for a superb recording of Brahms piano music, get that one and save yourself the aggravation of the Katchen set) and it's simply no contest.

I also sampled the terrific Op. 79 Rhapsodies and the Paganini Variations as played by a favorite pianist of mine, the lesser-known French pianist Nicholas Angelich, and Katchen's sloppy and undirected interpretations pales before the versions by a "non-superstar" pianist.

So while I admit I haven't listened to every portion of the Katchen set, I found every reason to avoid it when compared to some alternatives available.

Don't hesitate to get this set.......2007-07-04

It's a good thing I waited to write this until I'd heard these CDs a few times. I would have been guilty of understatement. Katchen's work grows on me in much the same way Brahms' music itself does. It is rich in nuance and insight, and never fails to please.

I'll confess, I bought this set to fill the gaps in my piecemeal collection. What a delightful surprise to find my "stopgap" set more than holds its own against recordings by the likes of Richter, Rubinstein and Gilels. To help the reader overcome any reluctance I offer a few comments on the few "downsides" mentioned by others:

Yes, Katchen does play fast, but not always, and certainly not out of inability to hold the listener's attention through more artful means. Katchen's track times are often slower than Rubinstein's or even Gilels'; but where the spirit moves him, he can go like a rocket. He's generally fastest in the earlier works, where a case can be made for playing them with youthful ardor; Katchen does this to a T. This applies to the first 2 sonatas, the Paganini variations (why would anything associated with Paganini lack splash and dazzle?) and to a much lesser extent, parts of the Handel variations. The main thing is, it works. The very few places where I felt Katchen was rushing the music are heavily outnumbered by places where the added energy seems to "fit" like a glove.

Yes, in an exhaustive set you inevitably endure the "bottom of the barrel." I'm surprised how little of this 6-CD set strikes me as anything less than indispensible. Every track is worth hearing. Katchen has been surpassed here and there, but he doesn't put in a bad performance in the whole batch.

Yes, the recordings are more than 40 years old. They will not satisfy the most jaded audiophile (there's not quite the "presence" of a good recording today). But they are amazingly clean and lifelike for their age (even the 3 tracks that are mono). They sound noticeably better than the popular Rubinstein recordings of equal vintage. At first I thought I heard a touch of bass-heaviness, but now I just think Katchen gives us a strong, clear bass line. Once again, it works. The sound is simply not a problem for a normal listener.

Finally, there's the small stuff. Getting the CDs out of their tight-fitting sleeves without putting your fingerprints on the playing surface is well-nigh impossible, unless you give in and apply a letter opener to solve the problem once and for all. Is that any reason not to get this much wonderful music at such a low price? London has even revived the old practice of offering different program notes in different languages, so that multilingual readers can benefit from more than one set of comments. All around it's a winner!

Superb interpretations by Katchen.......2006-11-16

Katchen's performace throughout this collection are excellent.Brahms integrates many of Schumann's,Bach's and Beethovens compositional ideas into his own works.He is a master of the appoggiatura(suspension of the dominant chord).And the ghosts of Bach,Schumann,and Beethoven appear at intervals throughout this collection of his piano works.The VARIATIONS ON AN ORIGINAL THEME is an ethereal experience,and the Op.09 VARIATIONS ON A THEME BY SCHUMANN, composed after his death,Brahms's pathos,especialy in the slower variations, make you aware of his sadness of Schumann passing, as there is vivid sense of despair and remorse you can hear throughout.It is well documented the profound influence Shumann had on Brahms's compositional process.OP.76 is a passionate performance by Katchen.You also have short piano works culminated in Op116,Op 117,Op.118,which includes the great masterpiece in Ebminor,and Op.119.The Pagganini Variations,Variations on a theme by Haydn,the Ballads Op. 10.And both volumes of the HUNGARIAN DANCES,the 2 Rhapsody's,and VARATIONS ON A THEME BY HANDEL.It quite remarkable that such music could be created by such a young man in the astonishing Sonatas,OP.1,OP.2,and OP.5.The slow movements in all three sonates are very inspiring,and heart fealt.It makes you glad to be alive in order to hear such remarkable music.A well balanced performance throughout.If your a Brahms lover,this is a must for your collection.Enjoy

A little rushed sometimes, but beautiful.......2005-02-03

To be honest, I can't really figure out how much I like Katchen's performance. It's hard to gauge because Brahms's piano music is inherently exceptional played by just about any performer.

I feel that the ballades, op. 10 are played way too fast (although I'm not exactly sure how close Katchen is to Brahms's tempi indications). I've heard them by several other performers and, being a Gould fan, would have to say that his slower interpretation really captures how beautiful the pieces are more than anyone else. I also enjoy Kempff's performances of many later works. Katchen really seems so rushed for some reason. To me, that really takes attention away from the fine details, which I think are so essential to Brahms's piano music. He's not quite delicate enough with some of the pieces.

This faster speed is only very slight for the rest of the set, but pretty consistently. I think he does a better job with more intense pieces like many of his larger-scale variations and the sonatas. Those I would give 5 stars, but only 4 stars for the op. 116-119, for they're a little too fast.

My only other qualm is the arrangement of the set. It would be nice to have all the sonatas together on a disc, 116-119 on a disc, etc., going along with the whole chronological thing..

However, all these things are personal preference. I would definitely recommend this set. It's made up about 1/2 of my music listening for the past couple months. It's not expensive at all for what you're getting, and if you get just one Brahms piano cd, you're going to want to get more, so you should just get it over with and have this whole set, it's fabulous music. Just keep in mind that this is not the only interpretation that should be considered.

Radiant and inspired recordings.......2004-09-19

If there is a more effervescent , idiomatic , innovative and resplendently performance of the Handel Variations , I have not heard it . Katchen emphasizes with colossal scrupulosity the wide doe and the diversity spectre of the orchestral instruments . You must marvel at the technical equipment of Katchen playing .
The other outstanding version of these Variations is of Michael Ponti (live preformance)
gifted with a major emphasis in the striking and color tone ; but the point to remark is that in both performings the approach is similar ; every one of the Variations must be played as a microcosmos in itself ; with nuance , grace , majesty, powerful imagination, sense of the span and above al ; savoir vivre . If you intend to play with authoritative precision without Mediterranean dewy and radiant mood ; you are destined to fail with these Variations and becoming unbearable for the audience and the listener . Lamentably , there are many of them in the actual market but I think you can guess them .
The two Rhapsodies are performed with the highest commitment . Melodic flight and arresting lyricism .
The Sonatas are superbly performed . The Sonata No. 3 may find serious matchers with Clifford Curzon and Paul Badura Skoda .
The intermezzos are depicted with the adequate illuminating . These intimate pages must be played with the perfect balance of light and shadows ; think in Chopin Nocturnes for instance . Only Glenn Gould gets close to him in the Intermezzo Op. 117 No. 2 .
The Ballades may be the weakest works of this fundamental set . Benedetti Michelangeli and Emil Gilels recorded brilliant and eloquent versions.
Finally The Paganini Variations find in Benedetti Michelangeli a serious and unbeatable adversary .
To be honest , this set is widely recommendable for you , to know the whole and intimate world of Johannes Brahms , the beloved son of Hamburg.
Katchen also recorded a powerful Islamey and an unforgettable Rachmaninoff No. 2 .

Average customer rating:

Microcosmos
Great value with a few flaws
eeh, I guess I don't like Bartok that much
Best classical value out there
5 Stars for the music and performance

Bartok: Complete Solo Piano Music

Manufacturer: Vox (Classical)
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

Dances | Ballets & Dances | Classical | Styles | Music

Etudes | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music

Improvisation | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music

Rondos | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music

Suites | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Symphonies | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Classical | Styles | Music

Noels | Vocal Non-Opera | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

General Christmas | Holiday | Miscellaneous | Styles | Music

General Christmas | Holiday Music | Special Features | Music
Similar Items:

Bartok: The Piano Concertos
Béla Bartók: The 6 String Quartets - Takács Quartet
Bartok: Violin Concertos, Viola Concerto, 6 Duo for 2 Violins, Violin Rhapsodies; Yehudi Menuhin
Complete Piano Works of Scriabin
Brahms: Works for Solo Piano

ASIN: B00008X5AY
Release Date: 2003-05-27

Amazon.com

Sàndor, still active at 90 as this reissue appears, was a student of Bartók and a preferred interpreter of his music. Since this set appeared on nine LPs in the early 1960s, it has been the standard for Bartók's piano music; in this fine-sounding reissue, it still is. Sàndor can hit hard enough for such virtuoso pieces as the Piano Sonata and "Out of Doors," but he also retains the romantic element heard in the composer's own playing which tempers the harsher qualities of the music. While this collection isn't quite as complete as advertised (some early, insignificant piano music by Bartók is omitted), it includes all of Bartók's significant piano music, including such relatively obscure gems as the Bagatelles, eight Improvisations, and many delectable folk arrangements which will appeal even to listeners who think Bartók is too challenging for them. Vox's recorded sound, superbly remastered, resists obsolescence as effectively as Sàndor's performances. Even with the inclusion of the early books of "Mikrokosmos," which will appeal mostly to piano students, this set is worth several times the asking price. --Leslie Gerber

Customer Reviews:

Microcosmos.......2007-03-08

Sándor was a champion not only of Bartók's music but also of Bartók's style of playing. He often complained that people were too quick to see Bartók as ultra-modern, and to fail to appreciate the rich seam of lyricism that also runs through his music.

The piano music is dominated by short pieces, many of them written for piano students, notably the collections "Microcosmos" and "For Children". These, together with suites of folk dance arrangements, make up the bulk of the solo piano output.

Sandór plays these short, and often simple pieces, with neither too much nor too little art. As a gifted teacher, he knew unerringly how much music each of these small vessels held. The result is beguiling - but be warned: no-one can listen to the 153 short pieces of Microcosmos end-to-end. This is an anthology to be dipped into, not swallowed whole.

The remastering is pretty successful (fortunately - some of Vox's CD reissues are plagued by severe deterioration of the original tapes). And it's for half nothing-what's not to like?

Great value with a few flaws.......2006-07-28

I am not a Bartok expert by any scale, but I do like the way these pieces, without exception, are played. There are, however, a couple of other problems.

As mentioned by an earlier reviewer, very few of the works are split into tracks - Mikrokosmos is divided into 7 for each of its six volumes, and to accomodate for a full CD. In these seven tracks there are 121 songs. I would have much preferred if the songs had been split into tracks. Almost the entire CD set is this way - Fifteen Hungarian Songs is one track, Fourteen Bagatelles, etc. It is very annoying when one wants to hear a particular song in those tracks and not the others.

Another detriment to the collection is the recording quality. It is decent most of the time, but in loud sections the piano buzzes. One might be able to ignore it, but I think that it detracts from the passion of the forte quite a bit.

Overall, for $18 it is pretty decent, but if you are like me and like to keep your music library neatly organized (and aren't extremely cheap), I would not recommend this set.

eeh, I guess I don't like Bartok that much.......2006-07-25

I like the fact that Bartok is into the folk tradition and all, but he just tends to forget the fact that melody has to be SOMEWHERE in the music. I'm all for creative expression when you're sitting alone at the piano, but abstract music should be reserved for performance art. I like playing some of your stuff Bela, but I just don't want to listen to you.

Best classical value out there.......2005-10-05

To put this set in perspective, for months I would go to my local Tower Records fishing for worthwhile classical CDs at least once a week. One of the discs that sat in the bins the longest was a single CD of Bartok piano music, played by Zoltan Kocsis. It was Volume 7 of a complete series. This CD listed for $17.99, and as long as I went to that Tower Records, it did not budge an inch, nor was its price amended.

Now, Kocsis is one of the greatest pianists alive, and if anyone is worthy of commanding a premium, it is him. And to be fair, that CD is going to be re-released on October 11 as part of a Collector's Edition - eight CDs, $63.97 MSRP. But it's already going up against this little gem, which contains five CDs with all of the truly great solo-piano works by an internationally recognized Bartok specialist for $21 - not much more than the cost of one CD from the other set. This kind of value is not to be taken lightly.

I came to this set with my impression of Sandor informed by his complete Prokofiev - ultra-hard, sometimes rhythmically slack, always melodically lacking in some way or another. But he held a very special feeling for Bartok, and saved his best playing for the great Hungarian. In passages like the first of the Three Csik Dances, the opening of the Improvisations Op. 20, or in the Ten Easy Pieces, there is a simplicity, charm and wistful homesickness that is quite touching. In pieces like the Out of Doors suite, the Sonata, or the Burlesques, there is a vicious, impulsive energy, a wicked sense of humor and an overabundance of overtones. It is never mindless, inappropriate or even overly harsh - it's just very, very loud.

In this set I like best the endless landscape of the Sonatina, the unusual colors and fragrances in the Etudes, the brilliantly conceived Bear Dance (the last of the Ten Easy Pieces), and the multifaceted, complex, gorgeous Improvisations. Any fan of Bartok should hear these.

5 Stars for the music and performance.......2005-04-04

This is a fantastic deal, but the problem with this Collection stems from the fact that the pieces are often not separated by tracks. This is especially annoying for the Children's Pieces and Mikrokosmos. There are so many pieces, one wears out the fast forward button and still may miss the particular piece one is looking for. The booklet is fairly insightful, and the performer is widely hailed as the supreme interpreter of Bartok's piano music. So aside from this slightly annoying at times and ridiculously annoying at other times flaw, this is one of the best deals in Classical music. Don't hesitate. Add it to the cart.

Average customer rating:

piano for the suburbanite
This would be the greatest exce[pt....
Who Better than to Record the Mazurkas?
Arthur Rubinstein: Chopin's 51 Mazurkas
The unsurpassable Rubinstein

Rubinstein Collection, Vol. 50

Manufacturer: RCA
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

Mazurkas | Ballets & Dances | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Symphonies | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Classical | Styles | Music

Classical Music | The Sony BMG Masterworks Store | Amazon.com Label Stores | Stores | Music

Classical Instrumental Music | The Sony BMG Masterworks Store | Amazon.com Label Stores | Stores | Music
Similar Items:

Rubinstein Collection, Vol. 48
Arthur Rubinstein - Chopin 19 Nocturnes (Vol. 49)
Rubinstein Collection, Vol. 46
The Rubinstein Collection Vol 47 - Chopin: Waltzes, Impromptus, Bolero
Rubinstein Collection, Vol. 45

ASIN: B00004ZD5E
Release Date: 2001-03-06

Tracks:

Mazurka No.1 in f#, Op.6
Mazurka No.2 in c#, Op.6
Mazurka No.3 in E, Op.6
Mazurka No.4 in e flat, Op.6
Mazurka No.1 in B flat, Op.7
Mazurka No.2 in a, Op.7
Mazurka No.3 in f, Op.7
Mazurka No.4 in A flat, Op.7
Mazurka No.5 in C, Op.7
Mazurka No.1 in B flat, Op.17
Mazurka No.2 in e, Op.17
Mazurka No.3 in A flat, Op.17
Mazurka No.4 in a, Op.17
Mazurka No.1 in g, Op.24
Mazurka No.2 in C, Op.24
Mazurka No.3 in A flat, Op.24
Mazurka No.4 in b flat, Op.24
Mazurka No.1 in c, Op.30
Mazurka No.2 in b, Op.30
Mazurka No.3 in D flat, Op.30
Mazurka No.4 in C#, Op.30
Mazurka No.1 in G#, Op.33
Mazurka No.2 in D, Op.33
Mazurka No.3 in C, Op.33
Mazurka No.4 in b, Op.33

Tracks:

Mazurka No.1 in c#, Op.41
Mazurka No.2 in e, Op.41
Mazurka No.3 in B, Op.41
Mazurka No.4 in A flat, Op.41
Mazurka No.1 in G, Op.50
Mazurka No.2 in A flat, Op.50
Mazurka No.3 in C#, Op.50
Mazurka No.1 in B, Op.56
Mazurka No.2 in C, Op.56
Mazurka No.3 in c, Op.56
Mazurka No.1 in a, Op.59
Mazurka No.2 in A flat, Op.59
Mazurka No.3 in f#, Op.59
Mazurka No.1 in B, Op.63
Mazurka No.2 in f, Op.63
Mazurka No.3 in C#, Op.63
Mazurka No.1 in G, Op.67
Mazurka No.2 in g, Op.67
Mazurka No.3 in C, Op.67
Mazurka No.4 in a, Op.67
Mazurka No.1 in C, Op.68
Mazurka No.2 in a, Op.68
Mazurka No.3 in F, Op.68
Mazurka No.4 in f, Op.68
Mazurka 'A'Emile Gaillard' in a
Mazurka 'Notre Temps' in a

Amazon.com

Chopin wrote mazurkas throughout his all-too-brief life, using this Polish dance as the basis for short pieces that encompass a world of harmonic explorations and varied emotions, from the subtly comic to the intensely sad. Rubinstein plays the 51 in the standard canon, skipping the unpublished youthful ones. Of his three recordings of the set, connoisseurs tend to prefer his first, from 1938-1939 (available on RCA, EMI, and Naxos) for their spontaneity. But these 1965-1966 stereo recordings in refreshingly alive transfers can't fail to please most listeners. They're a bit weightier than the early ones, but the added depth and Rubinstein's characterization of each piece yield big dividends. In the great C sharp minor Mazurka, Op. 50, No. 3, for example, he plays the beautiful opening theme with disarming simplicity that invests it with mournful regret, manages the transitions to bolder statements flawlessly, and turns a charming dance into a dramatic tone poem that says in five minutes what some composers need a full symphony to say. That miracle is repeated often in this set, as Rubinstein appears at first to be underplaying a piece until you realize the sophistication of his carefully modulated dynamics, gentle rubato, and varied tone. His was an outward simplicity that hid complex art. Throughout, he plays with a wonderful, singing tone, rhythmic life, and an aristocratic authority few have matched. --Dan Davis

Customer Reviews:

piano for the suburbanite.......2005-04-23

nothing artistic here.
plays like a student.
pass it up...

This would be the greatest exce[pt...........2002-01-08

This would be the greatest of all Rubinstein Chopin recordings except...there are the Polonaises (Volumte 28!), and the Nocturnes (Volume 46!). Count this one tied for 3rd, with the Ballades, the Waltzes, the.... Hey, wait -- you might as well get them all.

My only problem with this recording is that the repeat button on my CD player isn't working. I listen to one and say, "That's gotta be the best Rubinstein/Chopin Mazurka there could possibly be," but no sooner than I think that, that another one comes on, EVEN BETTER.

Okay, I have my fav. The great B Minor Opus 33 Number 4. This is mid-period Chopin at his finest, and Rubinstein at his finest, and we are privileged to be alive so that we can rehear it.

Who Better than to Record the Mazurkas?.......2001-12-01

Chopin. Rubinstein. Mazurkas. Perfection. The impeccable Rubinstein rubato shines most when he plays the works which invite overindulgence, like the dance forms, or the easily sentimentalized nocturnes. Especially in these mazurkas where his rhythmic restraint is admirable. These recordings are quirky yet authoritative enough to make me wonder whether only a fellow Pole can play Chopin with such multifariousness (16 letters!) of movement within the staff. I've heard other recordings of the mazurkas, mainly Ashkenazy (boring... where's the life?) and individual performance pieces in compiliations, but none sparkle like the way Rubinstein makes them sparkle. Sublime.

Arthur Rubinstein: Chopin's 51 Mazurkas.......2001-04-07

Fabulous! Polish music at its best!

The unsurpassable Rubinstein.......2001-03-29

While his recordings of other composers is somewhat uneven, Rubinstein is the absolute master of Chopin. Noone else captures the beauty, nuance, depth, poetry, and feel of his music in quite the same way, and the Mazurkas (which by the way sound wonderful in their new remastering) are no exception. Even the very familiar ones sound fresh in Rubinstein's hands, and whether you listen to these a few at a time (as I usually do) or straight through, I highly recommend this recording as well as the other reissues in this series.

Jean-Yves Thibaudet - Debussy · images, études ~ complete works for piano, vol. 2

Average customer rating:

Superior recordings and performances
BEAUTIFUL
Evocative and mesmerizing if a little distorted in places
Mesmerising and musically imaginative performances

Jean-Yves Thibaudet - Debussy · images, études ~ complete works for piano, vol. 2

Manufacturer: Decca
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

Dances | Ballets & Dances | Classical | Styles | Music

Mazurkas | Ballets & Dances | Classical | Styles | Music

Waltzes | Ballets & Dances | Classical | Styles | Music

Ballads | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music

Etudes | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music

Suites | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music

Lullabies & Berceuse | Vocal Non-Opera | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

The Decca Records Store | Specialty Stores | Music
Similar Items:

Jean-Yves Thibaudet ~ Debussy - complete piano works, vol. 1
Maurice Ravel: L'Oeuvre Pour Piano Seul
The Chopin I Love
Reflections On Duke - Jean-Yves Thibaudet Plays The Music Of Duke Ellington
Satie: The Complete Solo Piano Music

ASIN: B00004SDRF
Release Date: 2000-05-09

Tracks:

Images - Serie I
Images - Serie I
Images - Serie I
Images - Serie II
Images - Serie II
Images - Serie II
Le Petit Negre
Children's Corner
Children's Corner
Children's Corner
Children's Corner
Children's Corner
Children's Corner
La plus que lente
Valse romantique
Ballade
Danse (Tarantelle styrienne)
Mazurka

Tracks:

Suite bergamesque
Suite bergamesque
Suite bergamesque
Suite bergamesque
Hommage a Haydn
Elegie
Berceuse heroique
page d'album
Etudes - Livre I
Etudes - LIvre II
Etudes - LIvre II
Etudes - LIvre II
Etudes - LIvre II
Etudes - LIvre II
Etudes - Livre II
Etudes - Livre II
Etudes - Livre II
Etudes - Livre II
Etudes - Livre II
Etudes - Livre II
Etude retrouvee

Amazon.com

Jean-Yves Thibaudet is not a pianist to be pigeonholed. Alongside the recordings of his fellow countrymen Debussy and Ravel, he has recorded a tribute to a jazz giant, Conversations with Bill Evans, and he plays on the soundtrack of the film Portrait of a Lady. Perhaps this catholic approach accounts for the freshness of his Debussy playing. Not for him the "stick the pedal down and make an impressionistic wash of sound" approach. His playing is clean and refreshing without losing any of the voluptuous sensuality of Debussy at his most beguiling. There are lollipops to be found among the extensive repertory on these two discs, including the celebrated "Clair de Lune" from the Suite Bergamasque and the "Golliwogg's Cake-Walk" from Children's Corner. The mainstay of the release is the two sets of Images and the two books of Études, 12 studies whose demands are not for the faint of heart. Luckily for us, Thibaudet's heart is strong. He offers virtuosic, thoughtful performances of pieces that, while written to help develop pianists' technique, stand up magnificently as music to be listened to. --Keith Clarke

Customer Reviews:

Superior recordings and performances.......2005-09-18

The Penguin Guide to CDs and DVDs has Thibaudet's sets of the complete Debussy solo piano music at the top of the digital recordings, and this is certainly high quality.

We have several recordings of the Preludes and some other works, but there is nothing to come close to Thibaudet for great performances and superior recording quality.

The liner notes are very helpful, and in the first set you get different articles in English, French, German and Italian. Great if you are multilingual, but only of marginal interest to me. The second set has one article and translations, not separate articles.

Well worth purchasing.

BEAUTIFUL.......2002-11-17

AAAAAH Beautiful This guy is awesome. He is the first piano player with whom I experienced Debussy's work.I am happy with this cd.

Evocative and mesmerizing if a little distorted in places.......2001-04-21

I shall try to be as brief as possible. My standards in Debussy are Alfred Cortot and Walter Gieseking, but unfortunately they didn't record everything and the sound of their recordings is getting a little dated. I own Cortot's recordings of Debussy songs with Maggie Teyte and Gieseking's recordings of the Preludes, but was looking for good modern recordings of "La plus que lente," "Suite Bergamesque," "Images" and the "Children's Corner Suite." After listening to excerpts on the Amazon site, I bought this recording.

Thibaudet has a gorgeous tone and touch. His musical styling, however, is sometimes accurate, sometimes phlegmatic. He plays the Song of the Doll in "Children's Corner" a little too fast, and in both "Golliwog's Cakewalk" and "Clair de lune" he employs an odd sort of rubato that seems to add a half-beat to certain measures. (In these pieces I know because I used to play them). Despite these quirks, however, his playing has charm, color and a dashing technique reminiscent of Gieseking. The reason I only gave this set 4 stars instead of 5 is because the Etudes are trashy music, mere technical exercises without any redeeming (to me) musical value. If you feel differently, however, I suppose you will rate this as a 5-star album, but to me it was a half-hour of listening time totally wasted. Otherwise, a beautiful album that you will listen to again and again.

Mesmerising and musically imaginative performances.......2000-06-30

Jean-Yves Thibaudet may not be the ideal pianist for every kind of music that he plays. His Rachmaninoff is disappointingly tepid and his Chopin uninteresting. His Liszt recordings, while being technically assured, often lacks a sense of abandon and frisson (or should I say "showmanship") which, in my view, is an indispensable element in that kind of music, and his Schubert (as heard in the soundtrack for ) sounds contrived and mannered.

However, he is definitely a force to be reckoned with in his native French repertoire, as shown by his marvellous traversal of Ravel's piano pieces in 1992, a set which has won lots of accolades and unanimous praise from critics. He then embarked on a project to record all the solo piano works of Debussy and, in 1996, released the first instalment thereof, a 2-CD set which includes the Preludes, Estampes and Pour le piano. While these recordings aren't able to efface one's memory of the legendary recordings of Walter Gieseking, they're convincing interpretations which further confirm Thibaudet's stature in this repertoire.

Decca has now released the 2nd (and concluding) volume of Debussy's solo piano pieces with Thibaudet, and the results are, if anything, even better. As Thibaudet employs the pedal comparatively sparingly, he doesn't perhaps command the magically luminous and shimmering tone which is the hallmark of Gieseking's Debussy recordings (as can be heard in a 4-CD set released by EMI). Nevertheless, Thibaudet offers here an extraordinary wide range of tonal colours (mostly achieved by the pianist's fingers alone, and is therefore no less impressive from a technical perspective), as well as great sensitivity in phrasing and tempo adjustments that always sound natural and even enchanting while at the same time bringing out the music's many possibilities. Besides, in certain instances (for example in some of the pieces in Children's Corner and the Valse romantique), there exist a degree of charm, wit and sarcastic humour which are mostly absent in Gieseking's recordings of the same pieces.

Thibaudet's performance of the Images is mesmerising. His reading is wonderfully evocative and deeply atmospheric and his tonal gradations and sense of control are both cause for marvel. Under Thibaudet's crisp fingers and sensitive hands, the Etudes are not merely virtuosic pieces composed in an innovative idiom, but are also subtly expressive and musically imaginative vignettes, making one wonder why these gems of the keyboard aren't being performed (and recorded) more often. Indeed, such is the standard of the performances here that, besides some faster than average tempo choices for a few of the pieces (which, however, still sound convincing even if they may not actually be sanctioned by Debussy's markings in the relevant scores), this reviewer has hardly any reservation throughout the 151 minutes of music on offer in this 2-CD set. In fact, the recordings, which are well supported by the Decca engineers, are so musically fascinating and tonally alluring that this reviewer was immediately transported to a trance like state when listening to them for the very first time! This, surely, is one of the most enjoyable new piano releases that have come out in the past few years.

Highly recommended and definitely a set worthy of being investigated by pianophiles.

Average customer rating:

Schubert: Four-Hand Piano Works, Vol 1 ...

A program that deserves the highest praise

A Masterpiece of Rare Treasures

Schubert: Four-Hand Piano Works, Vol. 1: Rondo in D Major, D. 608; Sonata in B-Flat Major, D. 617; Duo in A Minor, D. 947 ("Lebensstürme"); Rondo in A Major, D.951; Fantasy in F Minor, D. 940; Fugue in E Minor, D. 952
Franz Schubert , Aebersold and Neiweem Piano Duo , Clare Aebersold , and Ralph Neiweem
Manufacturer: Summit(Classical)
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

Chamber Music | Forms & Genres | Classical (c.1770-1830) | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music
General | Classical | Styles | Music
General | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music
Similar Items:

Schubert: Four-Hand Piano Works, Vol. 2

Schubert: Piano Works for Four Hands, Vol. 3

Mozart: Music for Two Pianos & Piano Duets

Music for More than One Piano: An Annotated Guide

Schubert: Piano Works for Four Hands, Vol. 2

ASIN: B00006JKG7
Release Date: 2002-10-01

Tracks:

Rondo in D Major, D. 608
Allegro Moderato
Andante
Allegretto
Duo in A Minor, D. 947
Rondo in A Major, D. 951
Fantasy in F Minor, D. 940
Fantasy in F Minor, D. 940
Fantasy in F Minor, D. 940
Fantasy in F Minor, D. 940
Fague in E Minor, D. 952

Customer Reviews:

Schubert: Four-Hand Piano Works, Vol 1 ..........2007-05-31

This is a great CD, I love the interpretation of this Duo Team. I think that Four-Handed piano literature is very important to all students of the piano.

A program that deserves the highest praise.......2006-05-03

Like its companion volume, the first installment of Schubert's four-hand piano music from Aebersold nad Neiween brings musicianship of the highest caliber. Both are superb players, and it is uncanny how hard one has to try to detect that there are two minds, much less four hands, at play. The program contains nothing but wonderful music, but the A major "Grand Rondo" and F minor Fantasy represent late Schubert at his most inpsired, which means that this is music of Elysian beauty. Musicians love to join at the keyboard, but audiences don't love to pay to hear them. This CD contains no stellar names, but it is altogether delightful and deserves a wide reputation.

A Masterpiece of Rare Treasures.......2005-08-03

The first thing I noticed about this recording was that its recording quality is very high. The Steinway piano sounds rich and beautiful, and you can here everything clearly--which is very important for duets. It does not sound muddy, and the treble is not weak.

Second, I had never heard of Aebersold and Neiweem before, not knowing what to think of them, but I checked vol. 2 of this series, and saw the critic's reviews, the Washington Post, "brilliant...dazzling the full house," and Gramophone, "Utterly charming...Aebersold and Neiweem play together like one extremely refined and dexterous pianist." I agree 100%. They ARE simply amazing, their performance style is great, and I'm surprised that I'm the first person to review them on Amazon.

However, the music selections on this CD, even fans of Schubert may feel, is at times slightly dry or lifeless--that is sometimes the nature of Schubert's or other composer's piano duets. The Lebensstrume, for example, is one movement and 12 minutes, and at times doesn't seem to be going anywhere. But most of the Cd isn't like that.

Also, the main pieces on here are the double sonata no. 1 in B-flat, the Fantasie in F-minor, and the outer movements of an incomplete 3rd sonata. Fortunately another great recording of Schubert piano duets is the Barenboim/Lupu Cd on TelDec Records with the Military Marches, and the sonata no. 2. The selections on the Cd's don't overlap each other, and together constitute all of the great Schubert piano duet pieces! They make a great pair of recordings of each other. How lucky is that? Most of Schubert's other piano duet music are pretty much just variations for amateur pianists.

I consider this recording to be at as high a level as the popular Silk-Thories/Matthies series of Brahms piano duets on the Naxos label. The only thing bad about this Cd is the price, $19, which is a lot. There is also a competing Album of Hinterhuber/Gulda on Naxos with the Fantasie and incomplete 3rd sonata, but without the 1st sonata, for $7, which is a steal. It is not quite as high quality as this album, but still very good. Either way, this recording is highly recommended.

Average customer rating:

Lowell Liebermann: Piano Works, Vol. 2

Manufacturer: Koch Int'l Classics
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music

Lowell Liebermann: Piano Music, Vol. 1
Liebermann: Piano Concertos
Chamber Music of Lowell Liebermann
Liebermann: Symphony No. 2 / Concerto for Flute & Orchestra
Lowell Liebermann: Complete Chamber Music for Flute

ASIN: B00023P3ZC
Release Date: 2004-06-29

Tracks:

Gargoyles, op. 29: Presto
Gargoyles, op. 29: Adagio semplice, ma con molto rubato
Gargoyles, op. 29: Allegro moderato
Gargoyles, op. 29: Presto feroce
Variations on a theme by Anton Bruckner, op. 19
Piano Sonata No. 1, op. 1: Adagio
Piano Sonata No. 1, op. 1: Scherzo: Presto
Piano Sonata No. 1, op. 1: Lento
Piano Sonata No. 1, op. 1: Scherzo: Presto strepitoso
Piano Sonata No. 2 ("Sonata Notturna"), op. 10
Album for the Young, op. 43: Dance
Album for the Young, op. 43: Song
Album for the Young, op. 43: Endless Melody
Album for the Young, op. 43: Boogieman
Album for the Young, op. 43: Ghost Waltz
Album for the Young, op. 43: Ostinato
Album for the Young, op. 43: Marching off to War
Album for the Young, op. 43: Rainy Day
Album for the Young, op. 43: Broken Heart
Album for the Young, op. 43: Lullaby
Album for the Young, op. 43: Starry Night
Album for the Young, op. 43: Hommage - Faure
Album for the Young, op. 43: Funeral March for a Pet Rat
Album for the Young, op. 43: Hommage - Alka
Album for the Young, op. 43: Melancholy
Album for the Young, op. 43: Barcarolle
Album for the Young, op. 43: The Little Baby Rhino
Album for the Young, op. 43: Toccata

Complete Beethoven Edition, Vol. 14: Misc. Chamber Works

Average customer rating:

The "Unknown" Beethoven...
Simply Delightful!
Brilliant if sometimes odd rhythm and tempo

Complete Beethoven Edition, Vol. 14: Misc. Chamber Works

Manufacturer: Deutsche Grammophon
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

Duets | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music

Quartets | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music

Quintets | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music

Septets | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music

Sextets | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music

Trios | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Classical | Styles | Music

Deutsche Grammophon: Music | Specialty Stores | Music
Similar Items:

Complete Beethoven Edition Vol. 6 - Piano Works / Demus, Alder, Gilels, Mustonen, Kempff, Barenboim
Complete Beethoven Edition, Vol. 7: Violin Sonatas
Complete Beethoven Edition, Vol. 2: Concertos
Complete Beethoven Edition, Vol. 9: Piano Trios
Complete Beethoven Edition, Vol. 11: Early String Quartets

ASIN: B000001GZH
Release Date: 1997-12-09

Tracks:

No. 1 In E Flat Major: 1. Adagio assai - attacca - Ludwig Van Beethoven
No. 1 In E Flat Major: 2. Allegro con spirito - Ludwig Van Beethoven
No. 1 In E Flat Major: 3. Tema. Cantabile - Variazioni I-VI - Tema. Allegretto - Ludwig Van Beethoven
No. 2 In D Major: 1. Allegro moderato - Ludwig Van Beethoven
No. 2 In D Major: 2. Andante con moto - Ludwig Van Beethoven
No. 2 In D Major: 3. Rondo. Allegro - Ludwig Van Beethoven
No. 3 In C Major: 1. Allegro vivace - Ludwig Van Beethoven
No. 3 In C Major: 2. Adagio con expressione - Ludwig Van Beethoven
No. 3 In C Major: 3. Rondo. Allegro - Ludwig Van Beethoven

Tracks:

Trio For Piano, Flute, And Bassoon In G Major: 1. Allegro - Ludwig Van Beethoven
Trio For Piano, Flute, And Bassoon In G Major: 2. Adagio - Ludwig Van Beethoven
Trio For Piano, Flute, And Bassoon In G Major: 3. Tema andante con Variazioni - Ludwig Van Beethoven
Sonata For Piano And Horn In F Major: 1. Allegro moderato - Ludwig Van Beethoven
Sonata For Piano And Horn In F Major: 2. Poco Adagio, quasi Andante - Ludwig Van Beethoven
Sonata For Piano And Horn In F Major: 3. Rondo. Allegro moderato - Ludwig Van Beethoven
Sextet For 2 Horns, 2 Violins, Viola And Cello In E Flat Major: 1. Allegro con brio - Ludwig Van Beethoven
Sextet For 2 Horns, 2 Violins, Viola And Cello In E Flat Major: 2. Adagio - Ludwig Van Beethoven
Sextet For 2 Horns, 2 Violins, Viola And Cello In E Flat Major: 3. Rondo. Allegro - Ludwig Van Beethoven

Tracks:

Quintet For Piano, Oboe, Clarinet, Horn And Bassoon In E Flat Major: 1. Grave - Allegro, ma non troppo
Quintet For Piano, Oboe, Clarinet, Horn And Bassoon In E Flat Major: 2. Andante cantabile
Quintet For Piano, Oboe, Clarinet, Horn And Bassoon In E Flat Major: 3. Rondo. Allegro, ma non troppo
Serenade For Flute, Violin And Viola In D Major, Op. 25: 1. Entrada. Allegro
Serenade For Flute, Violin And Viola In D Major, Op. 25: 2. Tempo ordinario d'un Minuetto
Serenade For Flute, Violin And Viola In D Major, Op. 25: 3. Allegro molto
Serenade For Flute, Violin And Viola In D Major, Op. 25: 4. Andante con Variazioni
Serenade For Flute, Violin And Viola In D Major, Op. 25: 5. Allegro scherzando e vivace
Serenade For Flute, Violin And Viola In D Major, Op. 25: 6. Adagio - Allegro vivace e disinvolto
Sonatina In C Minor: Adagio
Adagio In E Flat Major: Adagio (ma non troppo)
Sonatine In C Major: Allegro
Variations In D Major

Tracks:

Trio For Piano Clarinet And Cello In B Flat Major: 1. Allegro con brio
Trio For Piano Clarinet And Cello In B Flat Major: 2. Adagio
Trio For Piano Clarinet And Cello In B Flat Major: 3.Tema. 'Pria ch'io l'impegno'. Allegretto - Allegro
Septet For Violin, Viola, Clarinet, Horn, Bassoon, Cello And Double Bass In E Flat Major: 1. Adagio - Allegro con brio
Septet For Violin, Viola, Clarinet, Horn, Bassoon, Cello And Double Bass In E Flat Major:: 2. Adagio cantabile
Septet For Violin, Viola, Clarinet, Horn, Bassoon, Cello And Double Bass In E Flat Major:: 3. Tempo di Menuetto
Septet For Violin, Viola, Clarinet, Horn, Bassoon, Cello And Double Bass In E Flat Major: 4. Tema. Andante con Variazioni
Septet For Violin, Viola, Clarinet, Horn, Bassoon, Cello And Double Bass In E Flat Major: 5. Scherzo. Allegro molto e vivace
Septet For Violin, Viola, Clarinet, Horn, Bassoon, Cello And Double Bass In E Flat Major: 6. Andante con moto alla Marcia - Presto
Fugue For String Quintet In D Major: Allegretto

Tracks:

Quintet For 2 Violins, 2 Violas And Cello In C Major: I. Allegro
Quintet For 2 Violins, 2 Violas And Cello In C Major: II. Adagio molto espressivo
Quintet For 2 Violins, 2 Violas And Cello In C Major: III. Scherzo. Allegro
Quintet For 2 Violins, 2 Violas And Cello In C Major: IV. Presto
Prelude And Fugue For 2 Violins And Cello In E Minor: Praeludium
Prelude And Fugue For 2 Violins And Cello In E Minor: Fuge
Six Minuets For Two Violins And Bass: No. 1 In E Flat Major
Six Minuets For Two Violins And Bass: No. 2 In G Major
Six Minuets For Two Violins And Bass: No. 3 In C Major
Six Minuets For Two Violins And Bass: No. 4 In F Major
Six Minuets For Two Violins And Bass: No. 5 In D Major
Six Minuets For Two Violins And Bass: No. 6 In G Major
Duet For Viola And Cello In E Flat Major: Allegro
Duet For Viola And Cello In E Flat Major: Allegretto
Six Landler For Two Violins And Bass: No. 1 In D Major
Six Landler For Two Violins And Bass: No. 2 In D Major
Six Landler For Two Violins And Bass: No. 3 In D Major
Six Landler For Two Violins And Bass: No. 4 In D Minor
Six Landler For Two Violins And Bass: No. 5 In D Major
Six Landler For Two Violins And Bass: No. 6 In D Major
Duet For Two Violins In A Major
Canon In A Major (Probably For Two Violins)

Tracks:

Six Themes With Variations For Piano And Flute: 1. Air ecossais: 'The Cottage Maid'. Tema. Andantino quasi Allegretto - Var. I-II - Var. III. Allegro - Tempo I
Six Themes With Variations For Piano And Flute: 2. Air ecossais: 'Von edlem Geschlect war Shinkin'. Tema. Allegretto scherzoso - Var. I-II - Var. III. Allegretto-Allegro
Six Themes With Variations For Piano And Flute: 3. Air autrichien: 'A Schusserl und a Reindl'. Tema. Andantino - Var. I-IV - Var. V. Adagio sostenuto, ma non troppo - Var. VI. Andante con moto
Six Themes With Variations For Piano And Flute: 4. Air ecossais: 'The Last Rose Of Summer'. Tema. Andante expressivo assai - Var. I-III
Six Themes With Variations For Piano And Flute: 5. Air ecossais: 'Chiling O'Guiry'. Tema. Allegretto spiritoso - Var. I-II - Var. III. Allegro assai
Six Themes With Variations For Piano And Flute: 6. Air ecossais: 'Paddy Whack'. Tema. Allegretto piu tosto vivace - Var. I-IV
Ten Themes With Variations For Piano And Flute: 1. Air tirolien: 'I bin a Tiroler Bua'. Tema. Moderato - Var. I-III - Var. IV. Allegro
Ten Themes With Variations For Piano And Flute: 2. Air ecossais: 'Bonnie Laddie, Highland Laddie'. Tema. Allegretto, quasi vivace - Var. I-III - Var. IV. Andante mosso, alla Siciliano - Allegro
Ten Themes With Variations For Piano And Flute: 3. Volkslied aus Kleinrussland. Tema. Vivace - Var. I-IV - Var. V. Adagio sostenuto - Tempo I
Ten Themes With Variations For Piano And Flute: Air ecossais: 'St .Patrick's Day'. Tema. Allegretto scherzoso - Var. I - Var. II. Poco adagio - Vivace - Moderato - Tempo I
Ten Themes With Variations For Piano And Flute: 5. Air tirolien: 'A Madel, ja a Madel'. Tema. Moderato - Var. I-II - Var. III. Maestoso - Allegro
Ten Themes With Variations For Piano And Flute: 6. Air ecossais: 'Peggy's Daughter'. Tema. Andante comodo - Var. I-III - Var. IV. Vivace
Ten Themes With Variations For Piano And Flute: 7. Air russe: 'Schone Minka'. Tema. Andante - Var. I-IV - Var. V. Andante moderato - Var. VI. Allegro - Adagio - Andante commodo - Poco vivace
Ten Themes With Variations For Piano And Flute: 8. Air ecossais: 'O Mary At Thy Window Be'. Tema. Andantino quasi Allegretto - Var. I-III - Var. IV. Un poco piu mosso - Allegro assai
Ten Themes With Variations For Piano And Flute: 9. Air ecossais: 'Oh, Thou Art The Lad Of My Heart'. Tema. Allegretto piu tosto vivace - Var. I - Var. II. Cantabile e legato - Var. III - Var. IV. Andante espressivo - Var. V. Vivace
Ten Themes With Variations For Piano And Flute: 10. Air ecossais: 'The Highland Watch'. Tema. Spiritoso e marziale - Var. I-II - Var. III. Piu moto - Var. IV. Adagio espressivo - Var. V. Allegro
Duo For Two Flute In G Major: Allegro con brio
Duo For Two Flute In G Major: Minuetto quasi Allegretto

Customer Reviews:

The "Unknown" Beethoven..........2005-01-03

I think it would not be wrong to say that most casual listeners of classical music know Beethoven mostly by his orchestral works--the symphonies, piano concertos, violin concerto, and overtures. Those who go a little deeper might know him by the piano sonatas, violin sonatas, and string quartets; however, this misses a significant portion of his oeuvre--and a major facet of his ethos and art: specifically, the chamber works and lieder: this is the "unknown" Beethoven.

This collection is absolutely the best, finest, and most excellent presentation of Beethoven's chamber works: the Horn Sonata; the Piano-Wind Quintet; the Serenade for Flute, Violin, and Viola; the Clarinet Trio; the Septet for mixed strings & winds; and the String Quintet.

Plus, some really nice esoterica: the early piano quartets; trio for piano, flute & bassoon; pieces for mandolin & piano; and pieces for flute & piano.

All of these works fall into Beethoven's First Period; yet, they must not be considered "juvenalia": Beethoven was the greatest artist/poet who ever lived, and his genius was manifest from his teenage years.

Simply Delightful!.......2004-12-23

This is a wonderful collection of Beethoven chamber music. The recordings are intimate, the musicianship is superb...the music is timeless. The piano concerti are the real highlights here; I don't think they can be any better, and the other selections are very pleasant. If you like Beethoven chamber music (and I can't imagine NOT liking it), then this set is highly recommended. Every now and then you come across a boxed set of recordings that you can listen to over and over. This is one such set.

Brilliant if sometimes odd rhythm and tempo.......2001-01-10

This CD, part of the magnus opus of Beethoven's works committed to CD is wonderfully brilliant and evocative of the renditions of the early 1950's.

Although there are the rare rhythmic, and very rare tempo peculiarities this must remain as one of the finest renditions of Beethoven's Chamber Works. This is of course to be expected from works produced by DDG.

Tracks:

Suite begamasque: Prelude
Suite begamasque: Menuet
Suite begamasque: Clair de lune
Suite begamasque: Passepied
Nocturne
Danse bohenne
Rrie
Mazurka
Arabesque 1
Arabesque 2
Valse romantique
Ballade
Danse
Suite: Pur le piano: Prelude
Suite: Pur le piano: Sarabande
Suite: Pur le piano: Toccata

Customer Reviews:

Something missing.......2003-11-06

It's very hard to find fault with this recording, but at the same time something's missing. The piano sounds a bit muted, a little hollow, but that's not the problem - from Debussy I'd hope for a little more playfulness, a little more emotional range. Thiollier performs admirably but a little mechanically.

On the other hand, this is brilliant music, flawlessly (if blandly) performed. For a budget CD, you can not go wrong. If you just want to listen to Debussy's piano music playing in the background on a Sunday afternoon, buy this record. If you want to be swept away, look on.

Beethoven: Mondschein & Pastorale - Sonatas Op 26, 27 & 28 (Complete Works for Solo Piano Vol 4) /Brautigam
Average customer rating:

Another winner by Brautigam

Beethoven: Mondschein & Pastorale - Sonatas Op 26, 27 & 28 (Complete Works for Solo Piano Vol 4) /Brautigam

Manufacturer: BIS
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

All Works by Beethoven | Beethoven, Ludwig van | ( B ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music
Sonatinas | Sonatas | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music
Chamber Music | Forms & Genres | Classical (c.1770-1830) | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music
General | Classical (c.1770-1830) | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music
Chamber Music | Forms & Genres | Romantic (c.1820-1910) | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music
General | Classical | Styles | Music
General | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music
Classical | Imports | Stores | Music
Similar Items:

Beethoven: Die Verliebte - Sonatas Op 7; Op 10 Nos 1-3 (Complete Works for Solo Piano Vol 3) /Brautigam

Beethoven: Early Vienna Sonatas - Sonatas Op. 2, Nos. 1-3; Op. 29, Nos. 1-2 (Complete Works for Solo Piano Vol 2) /Brautigam

Beethoven: Sonatas Op 13 'Pathetique', Op 14 Nos 1 & 2, Op 22 (Complete Works for Solo Piano Vol 1) /Brautigam

Beethoven: Complete Works for Solo Piano, Vol. 5 [Hybrid SACD]

Beethoven: String Quartets Opus 18 Nos. 2 & 3

ASIN: B000M4REYE
Release Date: 2007-01-30

Customer Reviews:

Another winner by Brautigam .......2007-06-26

Fully up to the standard of the other Beethoven sonatas in this series played on fortepiano by Ronald Brautigam. No-nonsense,powerful, straightforward accounts of these early masterworks. Can't wait for the next couple of editions, which should contain Op.31, the Waldstein and Appassionata.