Plays Chopin 2

1. Concerto for piano & orchestra No. 1 in E minor, Op. 11, CT 47
Composed by Fryderyk Chopin
with Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra , Alexander Brailowsky
Conducted by Julius Pruwer

2. Barcarolle for piano in F sharp major, Op. 60, CT 6
Composed by Fryderyk Chopin
with Alexander Brailowsky

3. Polonaise for piano in A flat major, Op. 53, CT 155
Composed by Fryderyk Chopin
with Alexander Brailowsky

4. Fantasy-Impromptu for piano in C sharp minor, Op. 66, CT 46
Composed by Fryderyk Chopin
with Alexander Brailowsky

5. Impromptu for piano in A flat major, Op. 29, CT 43
Composed by Fryderyk Chopin
with Alexander Brailowsky

6. Prelude for piano No. 6 in B minor, Op. 28/6, CT 171
Composed by Fryderyk Chopin
with Alexander Brailowsky

7. Prelude for piano No. 3 in G major, Op. 28/3, CT 168
Composed by Fryderyk Chopin
with Alexander Brailowsky

8. Prelude for piano No. 15 in D flat major, Op. 28/15, CT 180
Composed by Fryderyk Chopin
with Alexander Brailowsky

9. Mazurka for piano in B flat major, Op. 7/1, CT 56
Composed by Fryderyk Chopin
with Alexander Brailowsky

10. Nocturne for piano in E flat major, Op. 9/2, CT 109
Composed by Fryderyk Chopin
with Alexander Brailowsky

Tracks:

Piano Sonata No.3 In B Minor, Op.58: I. Allegro maetoso
Piano Sonata No.3 In B Minor, Op.58: II. Scherzo: Molto vivace
Piano Sonata No.3 In B Minor, Op.58: III. Largo
Piano Sonata No.3 In B Minor, Op.58: IV. Finale: Presto, non tanto
Mazurka No.36 In A Minor, Op.59 No.1
Mazurka No.37 In A-flat, Op.59 No.2
Mazurka No.38 In F-sharp Minor, Op.59 No.3
Nocturne No.4 In F, Op.15 No.1
Scherzo No.3 In C-sharp Minor, Op.39
Polonaise No.6 In A-flat, Op.53

Amazon.com's Best of 1999

Record-label politics prevented this awesome recording of Argentinean pianist Martha Argerich from being released for 34 years. The spitfire musician delivers a powerful set of Chopin's best-loved works that still sounds riveting today. Intense and gorgeous. --Jason Verlinde

Amazon.com essential recording

How can it be that a recording by one of today's indisputably unequaled pianists performing some of her prime repertory--made fresh within months of her triumph in the 1965 Warsaw International Chopin Competition--could languish for decades in the vaults before its official release? Chalk it up to the exclusivity clauses of rival recording companies and legal constraints from which not even Wotan with the help of Loge could extricate himself. Thankfully this belated EMI release--recorded in a few sessions at the Abbey Road studios--is finally available.

It's a significant complement to Argerich's other accounts of Chopin on disc. From the white-hot intensity of Argerich's way with the composer, you can easily extrapolate a sense of what had recently wowed the jury in Warsaw. The Argentinean pianist undertakes the Third Sonata as a vast, big-voiced, far-reaching statement that encompasses both molten power and moments of almost unbearably intimate lyricism (listen closely to her gestures of illumination in the Largo). With a characteristically unforced spontaneity, Argerich sounds the shattering chords that launch the finale (recorded in one take); her sense of flow in the Nocturne No. 4 is a perfect mesh for the illusion of improvising that is so central to Chopin. She commands the logic--both emotional and musical--of the composer's skittish turns in the Scherzo No. 3 and crafts three of the mazurkas into perfectly chiseled character pieces. The sheer force of Argerich's personality might seem overwhelming to those accustomed to a tamer Chopin--listen to how she dives into the A-flat Polonaise--but it's always at work dusting off tired clichés and uncovering the music's expressive wealth. For those who know about Argerich's artistry, this disc is indispensable; anyone who has yet to make that enviable discovery will find it (together with the Argerich anthology in Philips' Great Pianists series) a great place to begin. --Thomas May

Customer Reviews:

Lost is Found, finally.......2007-07-08

This Argerich Chopin performance, recorded by EMI in 1965 while she was actually under contract to DG is formidable for an artist so early in her career. Both the artistry and sound are superb and it's a shame we fans had to wait so long for this recording to appear. These Chopin performances completely justify the competition judges decision to award her the grand prize at the 1965 Warsaw International Chopin Competition. It's a collection must have!

Martha Argerich CD.......2007-06-12

Excellent service -- speedy, just as described, well-packaged. I'd definitely buy from this seller again.

Fabulous recording.......2007-04-12

A most interesting history in the liner notes and a fabulous recording. One of the best for a piano CD collection.

Excellent.......2007-04-12

Only one word: Excellent.
Though someone might have different feeling, I'm crazy on this 1965 recording.

A restored jewel in the Argerich catalog.......2006-09-03

If I had to pick a single CD to win awed admiration for Martha Argerich, this Chopin recital would be it. Only 24 when she made these long-suppressed recordings, Argerich's musicality and dazzling technqiue defy belief. Every ounce of praise for her Third Sonata is deserved--it's spontaneous, flexible, intense, by turns tender and declamatory. The most blessed quality is that she doesn't bang or harangue us--not always the case in later years. Her sense of urgency doesn't become eckless; the bursts of excitment aren't oerly explosive.

My only caveat would be for audiophiles. Although an Abbey Road studio recording, you get the feeling somewhat that Argerich is performing in a boomy hall. Also, in the loudest fortes there's mircophone shatter. For many listeners these drawbacks won't matter a whit, not in the face of an undisputed keyboard genius.

Gabriela Montero plays Chopin, Falla, Ginestera, etc. [Includes Bonus CD]

Average customer rating:

Gabriela Montero CDs
Non-professional Review
Absolutely Magnificent!
Improvisations Unbelievable!
A beautiful breath of fresh air!

Gabriela Montero plays Chopin, Falla, Ginestera, etc. [Includes Bonus CD]

Manufacturer: EMI Classics
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

Waltzes | Ballets & Dances | Classical | Styles | Music

Etudes | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music

Fantasies | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music

Preludes | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Symphonies | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

More Titles at Least 20% Off | Classical Music Blowout | Stores | Music

All Classical Music Blowout | Classical Music Blowout | Stores | Music

Opera & Vocal | Classical Music Blowout | Stores | Music
Similar Items:

Bach & Beyond - Gabriela Montero
Gabriela Montero en Concert à Montréal
Bach & Beyond [United Kingdom]
The Carnegie Hall Concert
Martha Argerich Plays Chopin: The Legendary 1965 Recording

ASIN: B0009VK0LO
Release Date: 2005-09-13

Tracks:

Moment Musical In E Mino Op. 12 No. 4
Prelude In G Op.32 No.5
Etude-Tableau In D Op.39 No.9
Prelude in D Flat Op.17 No.3
Prelude In E Flat Minor Op.16 No.4
Prelude In G Op.13 No.3
Etude in C Sharp Minor Op.42 No.5
La Vida Breve: First Spanish Dance - Manuel De Falla
Goyescas: Quejas O La Maya Y El Ruisenor
Danza Del Viejo Boyero
Danza De La Moza Donosa
Danza Del Gaucho Matrero
Nocturne In D Flat Op.27 No.2
Fantaisie-Impromptu In C Sharp Minor Op.66
Mephisto Waltz No.1

Tracks:

On Rachmaniov: Vocalise
On The Theme From Bach 'Goldberg Variations'
On Chopin: Nocturne In D Flat
On Rachmaninov: Piano Concerto No.2
Inspired By Scriabin
On Duermete Mi Nino
In The Style Of Tango
On Granados: 'Quejas O La Maya El Ruisenor'
In The Style Of Bach
On Chopin: Prelude In A
'Improvisation in Blue (Gabriela Montero)'
'Song for Natalia and Isabella (Gabriela Montero)'

Customer Reviews:

Gabriela Montero CDs.......2007-06-12

Excellent service -- speedy, just as described, well-packaged. I'd definitely buy from this seller again.

Non-professional Review.......2007-03-27

Okay, I listen almost exclusively to classical music, but I do so simply for the pleasure and nothing more. I cannot tell you about Gabriela Montero's technique, and, when she improvises, I have no ability to judge the music's intrinsic value, authenticity, or whatever. I can only tell you this: while I own many dozens of albums, running the full spectrum of the classical genre, I value none of them above Montero's Bach and Beyond and her Piano Recital. Pure listening joy!

Absolutely Magnificent!.......2007-03-09

I first saw Gabriela Montero on 60 Minutes a few months ago and was taken by her playing ability as well as her ability to improvise on the classics. Ms. Montero's fingers fly over the keyboard, playing Rachmaninoff more dramatically and key-perfect than I've heard in a long time. I decided to purchase this CD and have not been disappointed.

Improvisations Unbelievable!.......2007-01-26

Gabriela Montero is a tremendous talent, both in standard classical repertoire, and improvisation. I have know her since she was a young girl, and she was by far the best pianist around, even then. She is an undersung pianist of our age, and should rise to the top very soon!

A beautiful breath of fresh air!.......2007-01-20

What a sheer delight hearing her play. I've never heard anyone quite like her. A phenomenally gifted player, and it's a rare treat to hear someone who defies pigeonholing. I had heard her on the radio, and knew I was onto something when her improvisation on a very simple theme gave me the chills. I love both CD's in this collection.

It's interesting hearing the negative response coming from some classical musicians and fans. At times it can seem to roughly follow the stages of grief as proposed by Kubler-Ross. I'm a professional guitarist, and it's funny because it's almost identical to how guitarists react to hearing another guitarist, but with an big class-conscious overlay (all very civilized, of course). Think of the "guitarist screwing in a lightbulb" joke. To paraphrase and extrapolate on what someone might say upon hearing her improvisation:

1. Shock: Wow, he's good. Oh, and it's a woman!? And you say it's improvisation??

2. Denial: That can't possibly be improvisation. Classical musicians don't engage in that untidy process. What she's playing must be written out, and I can tell! Don't ask, I just know it.

3. Anger: This stuff is no good. Only permanent music is of value through the ages, and that's why classical music (and only the European kind) is better than any other music. Besides, I can't improvise, so I reject it - and only THOSE people engage in improvisation.

4. Depression: She can play all the classical music, and seemingly can improvise, or at least pass her stuff off as such. Not only that, she's getting attention and money, and we're not. Why is the world unfair?

5. Acceptance: (sort of) Well, I guess she's selling CD's, and is becoming successful. She is, I hate to admit it, a great player. Even if she is a faker. Of course, they're begging my Muffy to become artist-in-residence in Spoleto....

The other reviewer has a point when he says that she may be viewed as a curiosity. Because she's crossing genres, people may not know what to make of it, and this often causes reflexive hostility. As an improvisor, I would agree that it's hard to say that something is 100% improvised - players tend to have pet phrases and favorite general ideas they return to. But to me, Gabriela's playing is at the highest level of skill, beauty, and feeling, whether improvising or playing written pieces.

Arthur Rubinstein plays Chopin [Box Set]

Average customer rating:

THE GREATEST OF CHOPIN PIANISTS
The greatest interpretation
Not such a great album
Love it.
RECORDING QUALITY IS A FACTOR

Arthur Rubinstein plays Chopin [Box Set]

Manufacturer: EMI Classics
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

Mazurkas | Ballets & Dances | Classical | Styles | Music

Polonaises | Ballets & Dances | Classical | Styles | Music

Waltzes | Ballets & Dances | Classical | Styles | Music

Scherzo | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music

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

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

Classical | Box Sets | Stores | Music

Blowout Box Sets | Classical Music Blowout | Stores | Music

More Titles at Least 20% Off | Classical Music Blowout | Stores | Music

All Classical Music Blowout | Classical Music Blowout | Stores | Music

Opera & Vocal | Classical Music Blowout | Stores | Music
Similar Items:

Arthur Rubinstein: Ludwig Van Beethoven Piano Sonatas
Arthur Rubinstein - Chopin 19 Nocturnes (Vol. 49)
Great Recordings Of The Century - Dinu Lipatti
Schubert: The Piano Sonatas
Beethoven: The Complete Symphonies and Piano Concertos

ASIN: B000002S59
Release Date: 1994-03-15

Tracks:

Piano Concerto No. 1 In E minor, Op. 11: Allegro maestoso risoluto
Piano Concerto No. 1 In E minor, Op. 11: Romanze (Larghetto) -
Piano Concerto No. 1 In E minor, Op. 11: Rondo vivace
Piano Concerto No. 2 In F minor, Op. 21: Maestoso
Piano Concerto No. 2 In F minor, Op. 21: Larghetto
Piano Concerto No. 2 In F minor, Op. 21: Allegro vivace
Waltz In C Sharp Minor, Op. 64, No. 2
Nocturne No. 1 In B Flat Minor, Op. 9 No. 1
Nocturne No. 2 In E Flat Major, Op. 9 No. 2
Nocturne No. 3 In B Major, Op. 9 No. 3

Tracks:

Nocturne No. 4 In F Major, Op. 15 No. 1
Nocturne No. 5 In F Sharp Major, Op. 15 No. 2
Nocturne No. 6 In G Minor, Op. 15 No. 3
Nocturne No. 7 In C Sharp Minor, Op. 27 No. 1
Nocturne No. 8 In D Flat Major, Op. 27 No. 2
Nocturne No. 9 In B Major, Op. 32 No. 1
Nocturne No. 10 In A Flat Major, Op. 32 No. 2
Nocturne No. 11 In G Minor, Op. 37 No. 1
Nocturne No. 12 In G Major, Op. 37 No. 2
Nocturne No. 13 In C Minor, Op. 48 No. 1
Nocturne No. 14 In F Sharp Minor, Op. 48 No. 2
Nocturne No. 15 In F Minor, Op. 55 No. 1
Nocturne No. 16 In E Flat Major, Op. 55 No. 2
Nocturne No. 17 In B Major, Op. 62 No. 1
Nocturne No. 18 In E Major, Op. 62 No. 2
Nocturne No. 19 In E Minor, Op. 71 No. 1 (posth.)

Tracks:

Waltz In A-Flat Major, Op. 34, No. 1
Mazurka In F-Sharp Minor, Op. 6, No.1
Mazurka In C-Sharp Minor, Op. 6, No.2
Mazurka In E-Major, Op. 6, No.3
Mazurka In E-Flat Major, Op.6, No.4
Mazurka In B-Flat Major, Op. 7, No. 1
Mazurka In A-Minor, Op. 7, No.2
Mazurka In F-Minor, Op. 7, No. 3
Mazurka In A-Flat Major, Op. 7, No.4
Mazurka In C-Major, Op. 7, No. 5
Mazurka In B-Flat Major, Op. 17, No.1
Mazurka In E-Minor, Op. 17, No. 2
Mazurka In A-Flat Major, Op. 17, No. 3
Mazurka In A-Minor, Op. 17, No. 4
Mazurka In G-Minor, Op. 24, No. 1
Mazurka In C-Major, Op. 24, No. 2
Mazurka In A-Flat Major, Op. 24, No. 3
Mazurka In B-Flat Minor, Op. 24, No. 4
Mazurka In C-Minor, Op. 30, No. 1
Mazurka In B-Minor, Op. 30, No. 2
Mazurka In D-Flat Major, Op. 30, No. 3
Mazurka In C-Sharp Minor, Op. 30, No. 4
Mazurka In G-Sharp Minor, Op. 33, No. 1
Mazurka In D-Major, Op. 33, No. 2
Mazurka In C-Minor, Op. 33, No. 3
Mazurka In B-Minor, Op. 33, No. 4
Mazurka In C-Sharp Minor, Op. 41, No. 1
Mazurka In E-Minor, Op. 41, No. 2
Mazurka In B-Major, Op. 41, No. 3
Mazurka In A-Flat Major, Op. 42, No. 4
Mazurka In G-Major, Op. 50, No. 1
Mazurka In A-Flat Major, Op. 50, No. 2
Mazurka In C-Sharp Minor, Op. 50, No. 3

Tracks:

Mazurka In B-Major, Op. 56, No. 1
Mazurka In C-Major, Op. 56, No. 2
Mazurka In C-Minor, Op. 56, No. 3
Mazurka In A-Minor, Op. 59, No. 1
Mazurka In A-Flat Major, Op. 56, No. 2
Mazurka In F-Sharp Minor, Op. 56, No. 3
Mazurka In B-Major, Op. 63, No. 1
Mazurka In F-Minor, Op. 63, No. 2
Mazurka In C-Sharp minor, Op. 63, No. 3
Mazurka In G-Major, Op. 67, No. 1
Mazurka In G-Minor, Op. 67, No. 2
Mazurka In C-Major, Op. 67, No. 3
Mazurka In A-Minor, Op. 67, No. 4
Mazurka In C-Major, Op. 68, No. 1
Mazurka In A-Minor, Op. 68, No. 2
Mazurka In F-Major, Op. 68, No. 3
Mazurka In F-Monor, Op. 68, No. 4
Mazurka In A-Minor, Op. Posth. (A son ami Emile Gaillard)
Mazurka In A-Minor, Op. posth. (Notre temps)
Scherzi In B-Minor, Op. 20
Scherzi In B-Flat Minor, Op. 31
Scherzi In C-Sharp Minor, Op. 39
Scherzi In E-Major, Op. 54

Tracks:

Barcaolle In F-Sharp Major, Op. 60
Berseuse In D-Flar Major
Polonaise In C-Sharp Major, Op. 26, No. 1
Polonaise In E-Flat Major, Op. 26, No.2
Polonaise In A-Major, Op. 40, No. 1
Polonaise In C-Minor, Op. 40, No. 2
Polonaise In F-Sharp Major, Op. 44
Polonaise In A-Flat Major, Op. 53 (Heroic)
Polonaise In A-Flat Major, Op. 61 (Polonaise-Fantaisie)
Andante splanato & polonaise brillante In E-Flat Major, Op. 22

Customer Reviews:

THE GREATEST OF CHOPIN PIANISTS.......2007-03-01

These are the earlier discs of Rubinstein's Chopin, recorded by HMV in London during the 1930's. It is less complete than his later recordings for RCA - no Sonatas, no Ballades, no Etudes. The sound is naturally of its time - but in many ways more natural than the sharply-lit, slightly edgy piano sound RCA favoured in the 50's and 60's. Nevertheless, these are the Chopin performances I return to most.

Rubinstein's natural affinity with Chopin is legendary. He seemed always able to capture precisely the right degree of rubato at exactly the right moment in these pieces. And he had a unique ability in his countryman's music to balance the lyrical with the impassioned, what seems completely spontaneous with what is clearly deeply considered. The Nocturnes here are, I think, the best you'll hear anywhere on disc. In the greatest of them - the Opp.37 & 48 sets, for example - Rubinstein gets the contrast between the dreamy nocturnal outer sections with the darker, more impassioned central sections just right. These are not salon miniatures in his hands but big works, if not in length then in content. And no-one can match Rubinstein in the elusive diversity of this complete set of Mazurkas. The two Concerti both have Barbirolli as the sympathetic conductor, following Rubinstein's lead in the ebb and flow of phrases and whole sections of these gorgeous and often maligned works. Interestingly the recording of Concerto No.2 (actually the first composed) dates from before the pianist's famous withdrawal from public performance to reconstruct his technique and his approach, that of Concerto No.1 from after. Perhaps one can detect a touch more maturity and refinement in his approach to the latter, but they are both ravishing performances.

Many of the performances on these 5 discs are the greatest Chopin you're likely to hear. And the ear soon adjusts to the somewhat old-fashioned recorded piano sound. This is a highly desirable set for any lover of Chopin and/or great piano playing.

The greatest interpretation.......2007-02-17

The interpretation is stunning. Mono - but no matter for solo piano - and a wee bit hissy but still quite superb.

Not such a great album.......2007-01-12

This album was recorded from records as you can hear the scratches and skips. Don't recommend it!

Love it........2006-06-22

This is my favorite album. I think that not even Rubinstein's later recordings attain this quality of musical involvment.

There is a fair amount of background noise, but the music helps to forget it rather quickly overall.

RECORDING QUALITY IS A FACTOR.......2005-02-10

Otherwise, I would have given 5 stars. The fact that these have a hiss (and you can practically hear him close the piano on several numbers) should be mentioned. I guess we are spoiled to audio quality, but this is an expensive collection and this fact was glaringly omitted. That said, I have enjoyed the recordings, in spite of the very audible hiss.

Average customer rating:

AMAZING
An interesting release
Deep and Penetrating
I really wish DDD existed back then

Rachmaninoff Plays Chopin

Manufacturer: RCA
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

Mazurkas | Ballets & Dances | Classical | Styles | Music

Waltzes | Ballets & Dances | Classical | Styles | Music

Ballads | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music

Scherzo | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Classical | Styles | Music

$7.99 and Under | Classical Music Blowout | Stores | Music

All Classical Music Blowout | Classical Music Blowout | Stores | Music

Instrumental | Classical Music Blowout | Stores | 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:

Rachmaninoff plays Rachmaninoff
Rachmaninoff Plays Rachmaninoff
Rachmaninov Plays Rachmaninov--Ampico Recordings (1919-29)
A Window in Time: Rachmaninoff Performs His Solo Piano Works
Horowitz Plays Rachmaninoff/Concerto for Piano in Dm; Sonata for Piano No2/Vladimir Horowitz, Pianist

ASIN: B000003FOO
Release Date: 1994-08-16

Tracks:

Sonata No. 2 In B-Flat Minor, Op. 35, 'Funeral March': Grave; Doppio movimento
Sonata No. 2 In B-Flat Minor, Op. 35, 'Funeral March': Scherzo
Sonata No. 2 In B-Flat Minor, Op. 35, 'Funeral March': Marche funebre
Sonata No. 2 In B-Flat Minor, Op. 35, 'Funeral March': Presto
Nocturne In E-Flat, Op. 9, No. 2
Waltz In C-Sharp Minor, Op. 64, No. 2
Waltz In A-Flat, Op. 64, No. 3
Ballade In A-Flat, No. 3, Op. 47
Mazurka In A Minor, Op. 68, No. 2
Waltz In E Minor, Op. Posth.
Mazurka In C-Sharp Minor, Op. 63, No. 3
Nocturne In F-Sharp, Op. 15, No. 2
Waltz In E-Flat, Op. 18 'Grande valse brillante'
Waltz In F, Op. 34, No. 3 'Valse brillante'
Waltz In D-Flat, Op. 64, No. 1 'Minute'
Waltz In B Minor, Op. 69, No 2
Waltz In G-Flat, Op. 70, No. 1
Scherzo In C-Sharp Minor, No. 3, Op. 39
Waltz In D-Flat, Op. 64, No. 1 'Minute'
Waltz In A-Flat, Op. 42, 'Two-Four'
Waltz In A-Flat, Op. 64, No. 3

Customer Reviews:

AMAZING.......2006-01-07

Rachmaninoff's performance of the Chopin B flat sonata is Monumental, and the greatest performance that exists.

Lawrence

An interesting release.......2005-07-29

I suspect part of the fascination in Rachmaninov's playing is due to his being part of that increasingly rare and illustrious breed: the pianist-composer. The Funeral March sonata on this disc is perhaps the most famous of all. Noble as it is, I wouldn't proclaim it the account to end all others. The trademarks of this musician's pianism are apparent: clarity, poise, faultless execution. As another reviewer noted, the artist takes liberties with some scores but always in a tasteful manner. The nocturnes and waltzes are not without a certain charm, but Rachmaninov was never one to wear his heart on his sleeve.

Deep and Penetrating.......2003-02-16

This transfer of Rachmaninoff, while far from perfect, is much more than acceptable. It is much better than what we have from Piano Library which contains 99% of the same thing. Rachmaninoff's understanding of music is deep and penetrating: being a composer himself, he understood the structure of the pieces so well.

Here each piece has it's own life and identity each with a focal point. It is water tight compact and yet very much natural and alive. But it is not natural in Arrau's way, still less as oppressive as Horowitz or Richter. It is somewhere in between, closer to Argerich but with more consistency and depth. And like Casals' playing, it keeps our attention from the first note up to its focal point until its very end. But unlike Casals, he touches our hearts. It is very emotional but never to the point of being sentimental. His Chopin may not be as neurotic as Cortot. Nonetheless, he sheds light on the dark and nervous side of Chopin so well: a very throbbing interpretation that is so unique.

Sure, he did have fingers of steel that helped him to bring out whatever colour or atmostphere as appropriate. And despite that fact that there are some minor alterations on the scores like his Chopin, he is one of the few pianists who could really show you every note on the score counts and, above all, how it counts...

So, come and listen to the pianist with "arms of steel and heart of Gold" in action. It's hard to imagine how a listener fails to be touched by his playing.

I really wish DDD existed back then.......2000-06-19

A good album but the transfer is terrible. It sounds like this CD was recorded with a mono microphone held at the speaker of an old phonograph. The amount of noise is so great that sometimes it is really hard to hear the soft parts over it.

Abbey Simon Plays Chopin's Etudes and Waltzes (Complete)

Average customer rating:

Dionysian temperament!
What else can I say??
What else can I say??
Splendid interpretation
Chopin a su mayor nivel

Abbey Simon Plays Chopin's Etudes and Waltzes (Complete)

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

Waltzes | Ballets & Dances | Classical | Styles | Music

Etudes | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music

Simon Abbey: Chopin
Ravel: Complete Music for Solo Piano
Complete Works for Piano and Orchestra
Abbey Simon Play Chopin, Vol. 3
Abbey Simon Plays Chopin, Vol. 2

ASIN: B000001K5N
Release Date: 1996-10-22

Tracks:

Etudes, Op. 10: No. 1 In C
Etudes, Op. 10: No. 2 In A Minor
Etudes, Op. 10: No. 3 In E 'Tristesse'
Etudes, Op. 10: No. 4 In C Shrap Minor
Etudes, Op. 10: No. 5 In G Flat 'Black Key'
Etudes, Op. 10: No. 6 In E Flat Minor
Etudes, Op. 10: No. 7 In C
Etudes, Op. 10: No. 8 In F
Etudes, Op. 10: No. 9 In F Minor
Etudes, Op. 10: No. 10 In A Flat
Etudes, Op. 10: No. 11 In E Flat
Etudes, Op. 10: No. 12 In C Minor 'Revolutionary'
Etudes, Op. 25: No. 1 In A Flat 'Aeolian Harp'
Etudes, Op. 25: No. 2 In F Minor
Etudes, Op. 25: No. 3 In F
Etudes, Op. 25: No. 4 In A Minor
Etudes, Op. 25: No.5 In E Minor
Etudes, Op. 25: No. 6 In G Sharp Minor 'Etudes In Thirds'
Etudes, Op. 25: No. 7 In C Sharp Minor 'Cello'
Etudes, Op. 25: No. 8 In D Flat
Etudes, Op. 25: No. 9 In G Flat
Etudes, Op. 25: No. 10 In B Minor
Etudes, Op. 25: No. 11 In A Minor
Etudes, Op. 25: No. 12 In C Minor

Tracks:

Waltzes: No. 1 In E-Flat Op. 18
Waltzes: No.2 In A-Flat Op. 34, No. 1
Waltzes: No.3 In A Minor Op. 34, No. 2
Waltzes: No.4 In F Op. 34, No. 3
Waltzes: No. 5 In A-Flat Op. 45
Waltzes: No. 6 In D-Flat, Op. 64, No. 1
Waltzes: No. 7 In C Sharp Minor, Op. 64, No. 2
Waltzes: No. 8 In A-Flat Major, Op. 64, No. 3
Waltzes: No. 9 In A-Flat, Op. Posth 69, No. 1
Waltzes: No. 10 In B Minor, Op. Posth 69, No. 2
Waltzes: No. 11 In G-Flat, Op. Posth. 70 No. 1
Waltzes: No. 12 In F Minor, Op. 70 No. 2
Waltzes: No. 13 In D-Flat Op. 70, No. 3
Waltzes: No. 14 In A-Flat, B.I. 21
Waltzes: No. 15 In E, B.I. 44
Waltzes: No. 16 In E Minor, B.I. 56
Waltzes: No. 17 In A Minor, B.I. 150
Waltzes: No. 18 In E-Flat B.I. 133
Waltzes: 19 In E-Flat, B.I. 46

Customer Reviews:

Dionysian temperament! .......2006-11-11

Abbey Simon is an American pianist, gifted with astonishing skills and marvelous tune, an enviable technique and a vigorous temperament.

His Chopin is far to be widely known, but he is colorist and solvent player that will amaze you. He possesses imagination, expression, personality and vivid imagination, essential factors demanded to play Chopin efficiently.

Absolutely recommended.

What else can I say??.......2002-04-02

the program notes say it all: super-virtuoso. excellent performances of both etudes and waltzes. no technical problems present themselves, etudes and waltzes are both played perfectly. This disc is a great value.

What else can I say??.......2002-04-02

Splendid interpretation.......2001-12-26

I listened Abbey SIMON on a Philips record during 1970's years with the 2nd Beethoven concerto for piano. A few month later,
i dicovered Abbey simon with the CHOPIN music for piano and orchestra in 1974. After i found all CHOPIN'S recodings, and now, i buy the collection of Abbey SIMON'S cd records. The vyniles are nos pieces de collection as we say in FRANCE, and in PARIS, not possible to find those records. I think , in a few months , i will find PETER FRANKL'S integrale op the 16 Polonoaises de CHOPIN in the same collection

Chopin a su mayor nivel.......2000-09-07

De Abbey Simon se han dicho muchas cosas, pero nadie puede negar que se trata de uno de los pianistas más dotados de los últimos tiempos. Sus interpretaciones son muy llenas de sentimiento, y hacen que la música absorba al escucha de una forma tal que fácilmente puede olvidarse de que existe el mundo allá afuera. En esta colección de 2 discos, Simon nos presenta los Estudios Op. 10 y 25 de Chopin, así como los 19 valses que este compositor produjo a lo largo de su vida. La interpretación resulta fenomenal, y su vesión de los valses resulta superior a cualquier otra que haya escuchado anteriormente; si a esto añadimos un precio increíble por dos CDs (gracias al sello Vox), esta es una compra segura para quien admire la música para piano.

Average customer rating:

Debussy A La Moravec
Manificent playing of great music at a bargain price
ONE OF THE MOST BEAUTIFUL CD'S
Exquisite playing
Wonderful performances.

Ivan Moravec Plays Debussy & Chopin

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

Mazurkas | Ballets & Dances | Classical | Styles | Music

Polonaises | Ballets & Dances | Classical | Styles | Music

Waltzes | Ballets & Dances | Classical | Styles | Music

Preludes | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music

Chopin: Nocturnes
Chopin: Sonata in B-flat minor, Berceuse, etc.
Ivan Moravec Plays Beethoven
Chopin: 24 Preludes Ballade in F Minor
Moravec Plays Schumann & Franck

ASIN: B000001K47
Release Date: 1994-08-22

Tracks:

Image (Book 1): Reflets Dans L'eau
Image (Book 1): Hommage A Rameau
Image (Book 1): Mouvement
Image (Book 2): Cloches a travers les feuilles
Image (Book 2): Et la lune descend sur le temple qui fut
Image (Book 2): Poissons d'or
Prelude (Book 1, No. 6): Des pas sur la neige
Estampe: Pagodes
Estampe: Soiree dans Grenade
Estampe: Jardins sous la pluie

Tracks:

F Minor, Op. 63, No. 2
A Minor, Op. 68, No. 2
B Flat Major, Op. 7 No. 1
C Sharp Minor, Op. 30, No. 4
B Minor, Op. 33, No. 4
A Minor, Op. 34, No. 2
C Sharp Minor, Op. 64, No. 2
E Minor, Op. Posth
C Sharp Minor, Op. 26, No. 1
Polonaise Fantasie In A Flat major, Op. 61

Amazon.com

These two CDs were digitally recorded for LP release in 1982-83, and thus add up to just under 95 minutes. With playing on this level, though, they'd still be a bargain at almost any price. The color, shading, and imagination Ivan Moravec applies to Debussy makes the music glow and shimmer. His Chopin playing is some of the best in the business; sample the idiomatic rhythms of the Mazurkas, or the memorable journey he makes out of the Polonaise- Fantaisie. As it happens, the discs sell for a very low price (less than that of a standard full-price single disc), making this set a major bargain. --Leslie Gerber

Amazon.com

Ivan Moravec isn't a superstar in terms of having a glitzy career. But to critics and connoisseurs, he is one of the greatest pianists. His relatively few recordings are scattered among a variety of labels. This collection, from two early-eighties digital LPs, is particularly well recorded--important for a pianist with such wonderful tonal variety. The composers are two of Moravec's specialties, and he gives them consistently colorful, imaginative performances. The short timing (94:00) is compensated by the ultra-low price, making this set a great piano bargain. --Leslie Gerber

Customer Reviews:

Debussy A La Moravec.......2006-01-13

Short and to the point.
Hey go ahead and ignore my opinion, go buy this and forget Roge.
But after you buy this cd, then buy Roge, and you tell me which you prefer.
I even prefer Michelangeli(4 stars) over Moravec.

Manificent playing of great music at a bargain price.......2001-11-18

This is was the first Moravec recording that I purchased. I bought it despite some reservations by a friend who had heard the Vox LPs and whose opinions on music I take very seriously. He changed his tune when he heard this recording.

Where should I begin? Moravec's technique is fabulous. His articulation is crisp, and his tone is gorgeous. What's more, his personality is expressed here not by showboating but by his unerring ability to bring out the characteristics of Debussy and Chopin. With Debussy, the shocking dissonances are made clear but, at the same time, are sweetened by a lucious tone and a sensitivity to Debussy's underappreciated tunefulness. In the Chopin, Moravec's precise technique is coupled with his sensitivity to rhythm so that the different types of pieces (mazurkas, waltzes, polonaises) are indeed unmistakably different, each type pleasing in very different way.
And all this for (the price).

Those who want to hear more Moravec should immediately purchase his Chopin Nocturnes and his Schumann Kinderszenen, both of which are, in my view, the finest that have been recorded. Period.

Finally, I heard the pianist recently in Toledo (of all places) and spoke to him after his performance. He is a kind and thoughful fellow, and I enjoy supporting him by buying his recordings.

ONE OF THE MOST BEAUTIFUL CD'S.......2001-03-23

This is truly one of the most beautiful CD's I own. I first heard of it about 15 years ago, before I owned a CD player: I read in a British classical music magazine that Moravec's playing of Chopin was inspired and that his playing of Debussy was reason enough to buy a disc player. The writer called CD's "silver cookies" and this disc was right at the top of his list of ten favorites. I have listened over and over and still continue to marvel at the subtleties of Moravec's pianism. Gorgeous and delicate, but these are not wispy interpretations which melt like cotton candy. Moravec plays with strength. I love the Chopin CD and think it honestly compares favorably with Rubenstein, but it is the Debussy interpretations that have stayed with me and that I come back to time and time again for a 45 minute vacation from life in New York City. The price listed above is unbeatable...about 1/2 of what I paid. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED.

Exquisite playing.......1999-12-08

It irked the French of my Dad's generation that the greatest interpreter of Debussy piano music was Walter Gieseking - not exactly a Frenchman.

I don't know if it bothers the French today that the mantle has passed to a Czech. If it does, they should get past it, and just be grateful that anyone can play this beautifully.

The Chopin Mazurkas are I think as close to Moravec's heart as they were to the composer. He often offers them as encores at recitals, and invariably reduces the audience to hushed rapture.

All music lovers should snap up any Moravec album they come across - especially if it includes a Chopin Mazurka.

Wonderful performances........1999-11-16

I stumbled across this album several years ago and couldn't believe my good fortune. I've listened to recorded piano music for a number of years, and while I would by no means consider myself to have any special expertise, I consistently find Mr. Moravec to be the single most communicative pianist in my experience. This set, along with all of his recordings reissued on VAI that I've been able to hear, are simply wonderful.

Horszowski Plays Schumann, Mozart and Chopin

Average customer rating:

One of the greatest ever
Sheer Magic...
A Good CD

Horszowski Plays Schumann, Mozart and Chopin

Manufacturer: Nonesuch
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

Dances | Ballets & Dances | Classical | Styles | Music

Mazurkas | Ballets & Dances | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Classical | Styles | Music
Similar Items:

Bach: French Suite No. 6; Schumann: Papillons; Chopin: Preludes; Mazurka
Bach Recital
Schubert Recital; Bach & Mozart Concertos
J.S. Bach: The Well-Tempered Clavier, Book 1 Complete

ASIN: B000005IZG
Release Date: 1992-05-28

Tracks:

Sonata In D Major, K. 576: Allegro
Sonata In D Major, K. 576: Adagio
Sonata In D Major, K. 576: Allegretto
Sonata in F major, K.332 -: Allegro
Sonata In F Major, K.332: Adagio
Sonata In F Major, K.332: Allegro assai
Mazurka in C major, Op. 24, No. 2
Nocturne in Bb minor, Op. 9, No. 1
Mazurka in B minor, Op. 33, No. 4
Arabeske, Op. 18
Kinderszenen, Op. 15: Von fremden Laendern und Menschen
Kinderszenen, Op. 15: Curiose Geschichte
Kinderszenen, Op. 15: Hasche-Mann
Kinderszenen, Op. 15: Bittendes Kind
Kinderszenen, Op. 15: Glueckes genug
Kinderszenen, Op. 15: Wichtige Begebenheit
Kinderszenen, Op. 15: Traeumerei
Kinderszenen, Op. 15: Am Camin
Kinderszenen, Op. 15: Ritter vom Steckenpferd
Kinderszenen, Op. 15: Fast zu ernst
Kinderszenen, Op. 15: Fuerchtenmachen
Kinderszenen, Op. 15: Kind im Einschlummern
Kinderszenen, Op. 15: Der Dichter spricht

Amazon.com

These are nearly ideal performances, without exception. Mieczyslaw Horszowski's Mozart is played directly, but with a wealth of nuance that conveys every subtle flicker of emotion in the music. The comfortable way he plays the tricky finale of K. 332 is remarkable. Three Chopin pieces--two mazurkas and a nocturne--are kept within fairly strict rhythmic bounds, while almost imperceptible emphases point our attention towards every expressive intention. The two Schumann works are equally remarkable. Only a faint hint of blurring in moments of Kinderszenen, barely noticeable, provides a clue that the pianist was almost 96 when he recorded this exquisite disc. --Leslie Gerber

Customer Reviews:

One of the greatest ever.......2007-06-15

Listen to this, or any other Horszowski recording, and you'll come to the inescapable conclusion that he is definitely one of the greatest pianists ever. His playing of Mozart is, in my opinion, without peer. The sonatas, on this disc, and the concertos, played elsewhere, are performed with such skill and beauty that they must be listened to.
I'm not sure what's "in the water" in Poland, but that country has produced some of the greatest ever, and we're lucky that Horszowski is one of the few that we can hear great digital-quality recordings of.

Sheer Magic..........2005-09-27

Mieczyslaw Horszowski lived to the age of 101 and enjoyed the longest career in the history of the performing arts. He never achieved, or aspired to, the notoriety of his friends Arthur Rubinstein and Vladimir Horowitz. But in his last decade, he became something of a cult figure, his performances and recordings sought out by those curious about this last link to the Golden Age of Piano Playing, and those simply wondering whether someone so elderly could still move his fingers.

As record producer Max Wilcox wrote, "the fact that his body is old is beside the point." Wilcox, who worked with Rubinstein, signed Horszowski to the Nonesuch label in the mid-1980s, and together they made four fine recordings. This one, from 1988, is the second of those four.

From the first bar of the two Mozart Sonatas, one's ears are caressed by the beauty and variety of Horszowski's tone. It's not for nothing that he was a pupil of the great Leschetitzky, who worked ceaselessly on tonal production. (We are fortunate that Horszowski lived long enough to pass this gift onto his pupils Murray Perahia and Radu Lupu.) Horszowski neither confines the sonatas to a small scale, nor hammers compositional points home (ALA Glenn Gould), but simply plays the music in a sensible tempo, with discrete rubato and dazzlingly even passage work--which serve to remind one that Mozart was a virtuoso pianist as well as a composer.

Horszowski's Chopin is ravishing, as befits a fellow Pole--whose mother studied with Karl Mikuli, himself a pupil of Chopin. Sometimes referred to as a Romantic pianist, Horszowski is Classically oriented in all respects save two: his way of phrasing a group of notes as a singer would, and his de-emphasis of the bar line. His Mazurkas have an irresistible rhythmic lilt, and I've never heard the C major Mazurka played better.

Horszowski brings tender longing to Schumann's Arabeske, with a beautiful legato touch. He gives the Kinderszenen as if experienced in childhood, rather than as an adult's reminiscence. I don't agree with this approach. What is the disillusionment of the last piece "the Poet Speaks" if not the work of an adult composer? But, within his conception, Horszowski's performance, innocent and with flashes of humor, works on it own terms.

Recorded at Philadelphia's Curtis Institute of Music, where Horszowski taught for fifty years, the sound is clear,
spacious, and natural.

A Good CD.......1999-01-01

I believe this CD should be noted for the excellent representation of Kinderszenen it holds. Horszowski's playing is swift and steady, a good heuristic look into the life of Shumann, who was estranged from his inamorata for what she called the pianist's "immaturity" (prompting him to write these pieces). His playing is quick and apt to grow on the listener.

Hélène Grimaud plays Chopin & Rachmaninov

Average customer rating:

Reality Check
Student-like playing!
Wonderfully Played. Imaginative, with Feeling
Is this the new Argerich or just heavy weather?
Deep understanding

Hélène Grimaud plays Chopin & Rachmaninov

Manufacturer: Deutsche Grammophon
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music

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

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

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

Reflection
Credo
Wild Harmonies: A Life of Music and Wolves
Hélène Grimaud ~ Chopin · Schumann · Liszt
Hélène Grimaud ~ Brahms - Piano Pieces Op. 116-119

ASIN: B00061H2UE
Release Date: 2005-03-08

Tracks:

Grave - Doppio Movimento
Scherzo
Marche Funebre. Lento
Finale. Presto
Allegro Agitato
Non Allegro - Lento
L'Istesso Tempo - Allegro Molto
Andante
Allegretto

Amazon.com

Hélène Grimaud's releases on DG have each been built around a "concept." Here, it's death and transcendence. The philosophically bent can get Grimaud's explanation in the booklet notes, while the musical among us can just listen to a stimulating program of standard repertory freshened by one of today's outstanding younger pianists. In the Chopin Sonata, Grimaud's volatile first movement and delicately colorful finale provide the tone and resolution required by both composer and her own philosophical outlook. The latter, though, means a dry-eyed Funeral March shorn of any trace of sentimentality yet not lacking power, more a contemplation of mourning rather than the thing itself. The Rachmaninov Sonata is his 1931 revision with Grimaud's restoration of sections of the 1913 original. As in the Chopin, Grimaud's gorgeous tone and the clarity of her articulation help make this an outstanding performance. The program closes with a pair of Chopin's most affecting works, the Berceuse and the Barcarolle, both beautifully played. --Dan Davis

Customer Reviews:

Reality Check.......2007-05-18

To the Reviewers that tend to harshly rate with diminutive stars. Dear Sirs your reviews are very helpful to all of us. Your input does not appear without true studies. But the reality of judging any Interpreter or recording artist of this type of material anything less than 5 stars is frankly not realistic. If you are a Piano Competition judge then shurly you wouldn't give the Competition away to anyone playing Schubert or Mozart verses Chopin, Shubert & Rachmaninov. Although they are equal in their versatility, Education and understanding of music. To the contrary the Piano Instrument was modernized for further Complicated and faster Interpretation. Thus allowing this Virtous material.
And to the Musicians & recording artists whom are seriously recording this great material. Either of which are a handful on the face of the Earth at any given time, mind you. Please disregard the Harsh and unfair way of judging with this 5 star system. At this point there is no way to judge with any scale. Please disregard these self seeking attention and Low rating Critics that might be in the midst of their highly acclaimed and judgmental exhausting work or experience. Yet a listener does not even compare to any Interpreter of this minute great music. There is an old saying that goes with true experience : ( The bigger they are, The nicer they are). A sobering thought.

Student-like playing!.......2007-04-16

It is amazing that critics as well as audiences can praise such mediocre Chopin playing!!! Did you forget people like Dinu Lipatti, Sergei Rachmaninoff, Ignaz Friedman, Josef Hoffmann, and just recently Radu Lupu, Martha Argerich, and the brilliant Adam Harasiewicz, not to mention such excellent, if not brilliant, talents like Murray Perahia and the most successful piano comedian Lang Lang. Even the recent mediocre competition winners like Yundi Li and Alexander Kobrin play way better than Grimaud can ever even dream of.

Grimaud's Chopin and Rachmaninoff as well as Brahms and Ravel are on the student level: overpedalled, generic, technically inferior, lack musical ideas, not to mention having new ones, in one word - boring!

In addition, the cover photo is nothing much to look at. The eyes are beastly empty and express only nothingness, exactly like the playing. The pretentious, quasi-philosophical booklet writings only confirm the impression from the photos and the performances.

Wonderfully Played. Imaginative, with Feeling.......2006-09-22

I'm no critic here, I won't even attempt it. But I love Chopin, and Helene Grimaud's playing is masterful. I have read the knowledgeable reviews from other's who rate this poorly. It's surprising that their ears are so narrow and their minds so tight, full of their own genius.
This is wonderfully played. A must have. The Berceuse I have played for hours and it's magical intepretation stirs me each time. The Sonata No. 2, is simply amazing. I'm not even a Rachmanioff fan, but her playing makes me want to learn his music. Buy this and expand your ears, mind, and emotions. As for the critics, sorry you didn't enjoy this. I think you missed something called listening to creative artistry and enjoying Chopin.

Is this the new Argerich or just heavy weather?.......2006-08-28

DG rarely signs on new pianists, and their faith in Helene Grimaud must be based on a gamble that she will tke off like their discovery forty years ago, Martha Argerich. Like Argerich, Grimaud has a powerhouse technique. She eschews lady-liike sensitivity, and often pounds heavily like Claudio Arrua, as if this equates with profundity. I'm not sure I'm a fan yet. I admire the fact that Grimaud wants to say something new in each work. She phrases the thrice-familiar Chopin Second her way, and yet is her way really original and inspiring? To me it's not, although I'd rather hear her, heavy weather and all, than a run-of-the-mill account from a pianist with no ideas. Grimaud occasionally lapses into routine phrasing, as in the middle of the Funeral March, which detracts from any sense of personal involvement.

The sprawling Rachmaninov Sonata #2 is an opulent showpiece that dares newcomers to match Horowitz, if not the composer himself. Grimaud is more solid and straightforward--Germanic if you will--than the volatile, nervy Horowitz. She doesn't exhaust us the way he does, which is all to the good, since this ultra-virtuosic music is exhausting enough to begin with. Her phrasing is songful and simple. Persoanlly, I like her in this music better than in Chopin, and one's pleasue is increased by the beautiful piano sound provided by DG's engineers.

Deep understanding.......2005-06-18

Helene Grimaud plays the structure of the piece. In this she is very unusual. In our music lessons, we learned about phrases--how that arc over some notes means to begin anew, to rise in strength, then fall back again. And maybe even how larger phrases contain smaller ones. And we remember how difficult it was to play the phrases, especially when they contained other ones. Grimaud's phrasing is incomparable. At every moment there are several phrases going: the immediate one, and all the levels above it. She tells us not only what is now, but what is ending and what is to come. Her playing has the extremely rare quality of anticipation, so that even in pieces new to us, we feel them developing, and in familiar pieces we revel in the hints and beginnings of the next idea. Sometimes the phrases are borne by different voices, and it can seem that more than one person is playing, so clear is Grimaud's articulation. She has said that she practices mainly by studying the score. This must be the secret of her music's almost incredible three-dimensionality.

In the great Chopin sonata on this record, Helene Grimaud combines her structural understanding with emotional strength and universality to achieve an interpretation that to me is substantially new and compelling. As she says in the notes, the sonata is about death, and its first movement, which she says is the heart of the work, "reflects the revolt and supplications of a tragic struggle against hopeless destiny". This seems to me exactly how she plays it. The whole movement--the phrase of the whole--is played with a driving, passionate intensity, never letting up, never denying, but still containing and letting breathe the beautiful "supplication" and noble "revolt" sub-phrases that contrast with death's relentlessly returning tocsin. The overall structure is constantly present and reinforced. Grimaud never indulges in idiosyncrasy or feeling for its own sake; she seems intent on letting the composer's idea and purpose come through, and does so using her enormous understanding and expressive power, aided, I must say, by the fabulous sound of her piano.

The rest of the sonata is equally rewarding. I would just mention how in the "Funeral March" movement, the tempo and dynamics of the march sections are almost utterly steady--surprisingly, one taps one's foot--removing all personal sentiment, as though we are seeing an historical black-and-white film. The sense of distance is complemented by the sweet, ethereal passages that interweave the march; Grimaud plays them limpidly and wonderfully slowly.

The other sonata on this disc, Rachmaninov's 2nd, is new to me and I am still "learning it" from the pianist. But her playing displays the same structural insight, anticipation, and voicing that I have mentioned, underlying her characteristically beautiful expression both in the strong passages and the gentle ones. I have all of her CDs, and a very special quality, evident here, is Grimaud's ability to be interesting wherever she is in a piece. There are no dead spots or contentless transitions: every passage always has something going on that holds interest, even fascination. In a sense she is a miniaturist in her immediate playing--I think that is the result of her deep grasp of what the piece, at every point, is saying.

The Berceuse in D flat and Barcarolle in F sharp, familiar to every listener, complete this program of Helene Grimaud's. They are beautifully rendered--the Berceuse with exceptional tenderness, the Barcarolle in all its unique originality. I give this recording five stars as a marvelous example of the work of a still relatively unknown pianist of exceptional quality whose approach and understanding and expressive power will, I believe, soon bring her recognition as one of the greatest pianists.

Average customer rating:

Nocturnes of Love
Interpretation of genius

Horowitz plays Chopin vol.3

Manufacturer: RCA
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

Mazurkas | Ballets & Dances | Classical | Styles | Music

Polonaises | Ballets & Dances | Classical | Styles | Music

Waltzes | Ballets & Dances | Classical | Styles | Music

Ballads | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music

Scherzo | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Chamber Music | 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:

Horowitz Plays Chopin, Vol. 1
Horowitz Plays Chopin, Vol. 2
Vladimir Horowitz: Favorite Chopin, Vol. 2
Horowitz: Favorite Chopin
Horowitz Plays Mussorgsky, Scriabin, Prokofiev, and others

ASIN: B000003F8Q
Release Date: 1993-04-06

Tracks:

Scherzo No. 1, Op. 20
Mazurka, Op. 59, No. 3
Mazurka, Op. 41, No. 1
Mazurka, Op. 50, No. 3
Nocturne, Op. 9, No. 3
Nocturne, Op. 15, No. 1
Ballade No. 4, Op. 52
Mazurka, Op. 63, No. 2
Mazurka, Op. 63, No. 3
Waltz, Op. 34, No. 2
Nocturne, Op. 72, No. 1
Mazurka, Op. 7, No. 3
Polonaise-Fantaisie, Op. 61
Scherzo No. 2, Op. 31

Amazon.com

Vladimir Horowitz's Chopin mazurkas stand out for their tonal opulence and intriguing neuroticism. His coiled ferocity in the live 1953 First Scherzo contrasts with the ruminative F Major and C Sharp Minor Nocturnes and intense but relaxed Scherzo #2. A live 1951 Polonaise-fantaisie lacks the flexibility and introspection of the 1966 CBS recording, but Horowitz's 1952 Fourth Ballade best exemplifies what Schumann meant when he described Chopin's music as "cannons buried in flowers." One caveat: the pitch sags near the end of Ballade, due to a faulty tape splice. --Dan Davis

Customer Reviews:

Nocturnes of Love.......2006-08-28

The Nocturnes always move me, but Horowitz is by far the master of the piano - he brings Chopin to life in a way not heard before or since in this century. Horowitz and Chopin together - it doesn't get ANY better!

Interpretation of genius.......2005-08-19

The pieces from third collection of Chopin works were recorded between 1945 and 1957. At that time Master was evidently in the top form. He performs Chopin with his individual, inimitable style, which makes listening to this music breathtaking experience.

In my humble opinion Horowitz's electrifying pianism shines best in the Mazurkas. There are six Mazurkas and I would like to hightlight Op.63, No.2. - really captivating achievent and definitive version.

The sound quality varies, but in general is acceptable (solid mono ADD recordings). If you like Chopin, you should buy this album. And if you like Horowitz, you don't need my review...