Rubinstein Plays Chopin

1. Concerto for piano & orchestra No. 1 in E minor, Op. 11, CT 47
Composed by Fryderyk Chopin
Performed by London Symphony Orchestra with Artur Rubinstein
Conducted by Sir John Barbirolli

2. Concerto for piano & orchestra No. 2 in F minor, Op. 21, CT 48
Composed by Fryderyk Chopin
Performed by London Symphony Orchestra with Artur Rubinstein
Conducted by Sir John Barbirolli

3. Nocturne for piano in F minor, Op. 55/1, CT 122
Composed by Fryderyk Chopin
with Artur Rubinstein

4. Nocturne for piano in E flat major, Op. 55/2, CT 123
Composed by Fryderyk Chopin
with Artur Rubinstein

Rubinstein Plays Chopin,Rubinstein,Chopin,Barbirolli,Lso,Grammofono 2000,Chamber Music & Recitals,Classical,Classical Composers

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 All Works by Beethoven | Beethoven, Ludwig van | ( B ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Chopin | Chopin, Frédéric | ( C ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music General | Concertos | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music Nocturnes | Short Forms | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music Overtures | Theatrical, Incidental & Program Music | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music Scherzo | 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 General Modern | Modern, 20th, & 21st Century | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music Piano | Keyboard | Instruments | 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 Beethoven, Ludwig van | ( B ) | Composers, A-Z | Classical Music Blowout | Stores | Music Chopin, Frédéric | ( C ) | Composers, A-Z | 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:

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

Tracks:

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

Tracks:

1. Waltz In A-Flat Major, Op. 34, No. 1
2. Mazurka In F-Sharp Minor, Op. 6, No.1
3. Mazurka In C-Sharp Minor, Op. 6, No.2
4. Mazurka In E-Major, Op. 6, No.3
5. Mazurka In E-Flat Major, Op.6, No.4
6. Mazurka In B-Flat Major, Op. 7, No. 1
7. Mazurka In A-Minor, Op. 7, No.2
8. Mazurka In F-Minor, Op. 7, No. 3
9. Mazurka In A-Flat Major, Op. 7, No.4
10. Mazurka In C-Major, Op. 7, No. 5
11. Mazurka In B-Flat Major, Op. 17, No.1
12. Mazurka In E-Minor, Op. 17, No. 2
13. Mazurka In A-Flat Major, Op. 17, No. 3
14. Mazurka In A-Minor, Op. 17, No. 4
15. Mazurka In G-Minor, Op. 24, No. 1
16. Mazurka In C-Major, Op. 24, No. 2
17. Mazurka In A-Flat Major, Op. 24, No. 3
18. Mazurka In B-Flat Minor, Op. 24, No. 4
19. Mazurka In C-Minor, Op. 30, No. 1
20. Mazurka In B-Minor, Op. 30, No. 2
21. Mazurka In D-Flat Major, Op. 30, No. 3
22. Mazurka In C-Sharp Minor, Op. 30, No. 4
23. Mazurka In G-Sharp Minor, Op. 33, No. 1
24. Mazurka In D-Major, Op. 33, No. 2
25. Mazurka In C-Minor, Op. 33, No. 3
26. Mazurka In B-Minor, Op. 33, No. 4
27. Mazurka In C-Sharp Minor, Op. 41, No. 1
28. Mazurka In E-Minor, Op. 41, No. 2
29. Mazurka In B-Major, Op. 41, No. 3
30. Mazurka In A-Flat Major, Op. 42, No. 4
31. Mazurka In G-Major, Op. 50, No. 1
32. Mazurka In A-Flat Major, Op. 50, No. 2
33. Mazurka In C-Sharp Minor, Op. 50, No. 3

Tracks:

1. Mazurka In B-Major, Op. 56, No. 1
2. Mazurka In C-Major, Op. 56, No. 2
3. Mazurka In C-Minor, Op. 56, No. 3
4. Mazurka In A-Minor, Op. 59, No. 1
5. Mazurka In A-Flat Major, Op. 56, No. 2
6. Mazurka In F-Sharp Minor, Op. 56, No. 3
7. Mazurka In B-Major, Op. 63, No. 1
8. Mazurka In F-Minor, Op. 63, No. 2
9. Mazurka In C-Sharp minor, Op. 63, No. 3
10. Mazurka In G-Major, Op. 67, No. 1
11. Mazurka In G-Minor, Op. 67, No. 2
12. Mazurka In C-Major, Op. 67, No. 3
13. Mazurka In A-Minor, Op. 67, No. 4
14. Mazurka In C-Major, Op. 68, No. 1
15. Mazurka In A-Minor, Op. 68, No. 2
16. Mazurka In F-Major, Op. 68, No. 3
17. Mazurka In F-Monor, Op. 68, No. 4
18. Mazurka In A-Minor, Op. Posth. (A son ami Emile Gaillard)
19. Mazurka In A-Minor, Op. posth. (Notre temps)
20. Scherzi In B-Minor, Op. 20
21. Scherzi In B-Flat Minor, Op. 31
22. Scherzi In C-Sharp Minor, Op. 39
23. Scherzi In E-Major, Op. 54

Tracks:

1. Barcaolle In F-Sharp Major, Op. 60
2. Berseuse In D-Flar Major
3. Polonaise In C-Sharp Major, Op. 26, No. 1
4. Polonaise In E-Flat Major, Op. 26, No.2
5. Polonaise In A-Major, Op. 40, No. 1
6. Polonaise In C-Minor, Op. 40, No. 2
7. Polonaise In F-Sharp Major, Op. 44
8. Polonaise In A-Flat Major, Op. 53 (Heroic)
9. Polonaise In A-Flat Major, Op. 61 (Polonaise-Fantaisie)
10. 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: Glad to have this in my collection Chopin at his best

Plays Chopin Nocturnes 1-16 Manufacturer: Classica D'oro ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD All Works by Chopin | Chopin, Frédéric | ( C ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music Chamber Music | Forms & Genres | Classical (c.1770-1830) | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music General Modern | Modern, 20th, & 21st Century | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music General | Classical | Styles | Music General | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music CDs $7 - $10 | Classical General | Classical | Today's Deals in Music | Formats | Music All Bargain Titles | Classical General | Classical | Today's Deals in Music | Formats | Music 4-for-3 Classical | 4-for-3 Music | Stores | Music 4-for-3 All Music | 4-for-3 Music | Stores | Music ASIN: B00005JI4Y Release Date: 2001-08-07

Tracks:

1. Nocturne No.1 in b flat, Op.9 No.1
2. Nocturne No.2 in E flat, Op.9 No.2
3. Nocturne No.3 in B, Op.9 No.3
4. Nocturne No.4 in F, Op.15 No.1
5. Nocturne No.5 in F#, Op.15 No.2
6. Nocturne No.6 in g, Op.15 No.3
7. Nocturne No.7 in c#, Op.27 No.1
8. Nocturne No.8 in D flat, Op.27 No.2
9. Nocturne No.9 in B, Op.32 No.1
10. Nocturne No.10 in A flat, Op.32 No.2
11. Nocturne No.11 in g, Op.37 No.1
12. Nocturne No.12 in G, Op.37 No.2
13. Nocturne No.13 in c, Op.48 No.1
14. Nocturne No.14 in f#, Op.48 No.2
15. Nocturne No.15 in f, Op.55 No.1
16. Nocturne No.16 in E flat, Op.55 No.2

Customer Reviews:

Glad to have this in my collection.......2002-11-20

Rubinstein has such an amazing combination-- the flare and fire of a passionate and seasoned concert pianist, but the intimacy as if he were playing it just for you. I appreciate his pearly execution of Chopin's runs-- he never lets them interfere with the unique texture, so reminiscent of water. I have a couple of gripes... the first Nocturne is played with a little twist-- he makes the opening notes in the right hand into octaves. I like it better as written, but that's just my opinion. There are a few nocturnes that seem to have some kind of noise in the background-- granted he did record these in the 30's, but I was still a little surprised-- especially on the F# Major. Even with a few things less than ideal, I'm really enjoying the CD and find such a beauty of atmosphere in my home when I play it. I highly recommend, but will probably keep my eyes open for other recordings of the F#.

Chopin at his best.......2001-06-26

In addition to various etudes and a collection of preludes, Frederic Chopin has also composed nocturnes, and this cd offers some of his best work at a phenomenal value. Any lover of classical music will be pleased with this cd, which consists of the sixteen extraordinary nocturnes written by the composer throughout his lifetime. Each nocturne varies, since each deals with a different mood or theme. Even those who have never listened to Chopin should purchase this cd, due to the fact that it will give everyone a taste of the talent of this popular classical master. His nocturnes are played beautifully in this cd, and the sound is remarkable.

Average customer rating: Romantic Pianism The No.1 in Moiseiwitsch's Eyes A Pianist of the Highest Calibre Worth it for the mazurkas GREAT playing, bad marketing

Great Pianists (series) - Ignaz Friedman plays Beethoven, Chopin, Hummel, Mendelssohn, etc. Manufacturer: Philips ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD Mazurkas | Ballets & Dances | Classical | Styles | Music Polonaises | Ballets & Dances | Classical | Styles | Music Waltzes | Ballets & Dances | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Beethoven | Beethoven, Ludwig van | ( B ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Chopin | Chopin, Frédéric | ( C ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Liszt | Liszt, Franz | ( L ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Rubinstein | Rubinstein, Anton | ( R ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Weber | Weber, Carl Maria von | ( W ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Mendelssohn | Mendelssohn, Felix | ( M ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Hummel | Hummel, Johann Nepomuk | ( H ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music Ballads | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music Etudes | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music Fantasies | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music Preludes | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music Rondos | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music Impromptus | Short Forms | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music Nocturnes | Short Forms | Forms & Genres | 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 General Modern | Modern, 20th, & 21st Century | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music Chamber Music | Forms & Genres | Romantic (c.1820-1910) | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music General | Keyboard | Instruments | Classical | Styles | Music General | Classical | Styles | Music General | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music Lullabies & Berceuse | Vocal Non-Opera | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Similar Items: Leopold Godowsky Wilhelm Kempff 3 (III) (Great Pianists of the Century series) - Beethoven / Brahms / Faure / Mozart /Schubert Artur Rubinstein 3 Benno Moiseiwitsch Daniel Barenboim ASIN: B00000IX8J Release Date: 1999-06-01

Tracks:

1. Ballade No.3 In A Flat, Op.47
2. Impromptu No.2 In F Sharp, Op.36
3. Polonaise No.6 In A Flat, Op.53 'Heroic'
4. Polonaise No.9 In B Flat, Op.71 No.2
5. Prelude In D Flat, Op.28 No.15 'Raindrop'
6. Prelude In E Flat, Op.28 No.19
7. Nocturne No.16 In E Flat, Op.55 No.2
8. Mazurkas: In B Flat, Op.7 No.1
9. Mazurkas: In A Minor, Op.7 No.2
10. Mazurkas: In F Minor, Op.7 No.3
11. Mazurkas: In D, Op.33 No.2
12. Mazurkas: In B Flat Minor, Op.24 No.4
13. Mazurkas: In B Minor, Op.33 No.4
14. Mazurkas: In C Sharp Minor, Op.41 No.1
15. Mazurkas: In A Flat, Op.50 No.2
16. Mazurkas: In C Sharp Minor, Op.63 No.3
17. Mazurkas: In C, Op.67 No.3
18. Mazurkas: In A Minor, Op.67 No.4
19. Mazurkas: In A Minor, Op.68 No.2
20. Berceuse In D Flat, Op.57
21. Waltz In A Minor, Op.34 No.2
22. Piano Sonata No.2 In B Flat Minor, Op.35: Marche funebre. Lento
23. Piano Sonata No.2 In B Flat Minor, Op.35: Finale. Presto

Tracks:

1. Waltz In D Flat, Op.64 No.1 'Minute'
2. Etudes: In G Sharp Minor, Op.25 No.6
3. Etudes: In G Flat, Op.10 No.5 'Black Keys'
4. Etudes: In G Flat, Op.25 No.9 'Butterfly'
5. Etudes: In C, Op.10 No.7
6. In C Minor, Op.10 No.12 'Revolutionary'
7. Hark! Hark! The Lark
8. La campanella
9. Hungarian Rhapsody No.2
10. Rondo favori In E flat, Op.11
11. Valse caprice
12. Aufforderung zum Tanz
13. Lieder ohne Worte: Op.19 No.3 'Jagerlied'
14. Lieder ohne Worte: Op.19 No.6 'Venezianisches Gondellied'
15. Lieder ohne Worte: Op.102 No.5
16. Lieder ohne Worte: Op.30 No.6 'Venezianisches Gondellied'
17. Lieder ohne Worte: Op. 38 No.2
18. Lieder ohne Worte: Op.38 No.6
19. Lieder ohne Worte: Op.53 No.2 'Widmung'
20. Lieder ohne Worte: Op.53 No.4
21. Lieder ohne Worte: Op.67 No.2
22. Scherzo In E Minor, Op.16 No.2
23. Piano Sonata In C Sharp Minor, Op.27 No.2 'Moonlight': Adagio sostenuto
24. Piano Sonata In C Sharp Minor, Op.27 No.2 'Moonlight': Allegretto
25. Piano Sonata In C Sharp Minor, Op.27 No.2 'Moonlight': Presto agitato

Customer Reviews:

Romantic Pianism.......2004-01-29

Ignaz Friedman (1882-1948)studied the piano with Theodore Leschitzy and gave over 3000 concerts in Europe, North and South America, and Australia in a long performing career. His recorded legacy is, alas, small; but much of it is included on this two-CD set which is part of an outstanding series called "Great Pianists of the 20th Century". The disc includes informative and balanced liner notes and a short biography of the artist. Friedman richly deserves to be included among the great pianists. The recordings on this compiliation date from 1923--1936.

Friedman had a virtuoso, powerhouse technique and a romantic playing style. He played with a great sense of rhythmic freedom and individuality. Notoriously, he did not always follow strictly the notes in the score but improvised and added. His style was controversial then and, more so, today. I recently read a review of a variety of Chopin recordings which criticized Friedman's rendition of Chopin's "heroic" polonaise, opus 53, included in this collection, as mostly empty thumping. I listened and listened again to the recording and couldn't bring myself to agree.

This set includes a great variety of Chopin but none of the complete sets (say complete mazurkas, nocturnes) common in modern recordings. The sound as as good as can be expected given the age of the pressings, but undoubtedly much of Friedman's beauty of tone fails to come through. The highlight of the collection is the recording of 12 Chopin mazurkas with Friedman's intensity, rhythmic idiosyncracy, and sense of melancholy which pervades most of these pieces. They are a beautiful introduction to Chopin.

I also enjoyed the selection of 5 Chopin etudes, particularly the devilish "study in thirds", opus 25 no. 6 which captures Friedman's masterly technique. The Berceuse, opus 57 with its fluttering thirds, and the two movements presented here of Chopin's second piano sonata, opus 35 also are fine performances and show Friedman at his best.

The other major highlight of this disc for me was Friedman's performance of 9 of Mendelsson's "Songs without Words". This music is frequently underestimated. Friedman takes these pieces seriously and performs them with thought and individuality, making it difficult to conceive of these pieces as mere parlor-music.

The disc also includes several works that are infrequently heard today. I enjoyed the piano rendition of Weber's "Invitation to the Dance" which is heard most often nowadays in orchestral transcription. The short pieces by Anton Rubenstein and Hummel were also unfamiliar to me and idiomatically played.

The only large-scale work performed in full on this disc is Beethoven's "Moonlight" sonata, opus 27 no. 2. Friedman takes the first movement very slowly and the second movement somewhat ponderously. The third movement is all speed and lightening, with the long prestissimo passages blurred in some cases.

Friedman was a virtuoso performer who played in a romantic style that was greatly influential two or three generations ago but is mostly out of fashion today. But it is still a beautiful way to make music. The listener unfamiliar with this music will be moved by it and by Friedman's pianism. Listeners who know and love the piano will enjoy this great performer of the past.

The No.1 in Moiseiwitsch's Eyes.......2003-05-13

I have just gone back to some of the historic recordings in particular Horszowski, Hofmann, Rachmaninoff, Rosenthal and Friedman and some others.

Rosenthal was simply too old when he made his first record ( Pupils of Liszt contains excellent transfer of his); and Horszowski or even Moiseiwitsch are not quite as interesting as the other three. Hofmann's superb legato touch is stunning ( only Sauer's Blue Danube was any better): piano in his hands sounds like a small but extremely refined orchestra. Some, including Rachmaninoff, ranked him the No.1 pianist of the century.

Rachmaninoff as a pianist on the other hand lacked Hofmann's glamour, but he was armed with the depth and insight of a composer, the so-called "a heart of gold", something which he compared favourably with Hofmann.

But Friedman had got the strong points of both of them. Like Hofmann, he was a child prodigy who was later landed with a Degree from Leizig University in Composition, Philosophy and Esthetics. He soon become a pupil of and later the assistant of Leschetisky.

He had composed over 100 works and had made extensive scholarly editions of music scores! And above all, he was also an enormously successful performer since his early 20's-- with a success much bigger than Horowitz. If one ever finds Schnabel ( his fellow Leschetiskian ) interesting or musically illuminating, do not miss out Friedman: Schnabel's playing tells you WHAT IS MUSIC, but Friedman's tells you WHAT MUSIC IS!

What Friedman undertook and succeeded in doing was most challenging: he didn't just capture life but recreated it in his music. (Cortot did that too but only in a different way.) This involves a lot of originality and imagination. His rhythm is full of life. (Cortot's was instead full of dreams and adventures!) His Mazurkas well illustrated this point: the beats are organized in accordance with the movements of the dancers, not with the metronome. The balance of both his hands are so subtle and again so full of life. Pedal was so sparingly and carefully used...

Needless to say, other pieces including his own are equally interesting. There is so much drama in his music, more than either Hofmann or Rachmaninoff. The rhythm,the skeleton of music is astoundingly under control and the colour, the so called flesh and blood of music, is amazingly beyond the imagination of Horowitz on whom his influence was quite strong. ( But Horowitz simply lacked one whole dimension! ) He had a technique even more colossal than Rachmaninoff: his repertoire is virtually limitless, and he could play, especially his left hand, as daring as Cziffra plus Rachmaninoff's depth and above all, with more colours! It's as if his ten fingers are literally independent, each capble of creating a different timbre, a different rhythm and yet the whole thing is as subtle and breathing as if with life. Yes, you can really feel the breath and pulses of his music: a four-dimensional playing something which so far on record ONLY a few like D'albert, De Greef and Erno Dohnanyi were capble of ( but the colour of the latters are not so well captured ). And he played music more from a performer's ( like Horowitz ) rather than from a composer's point of view like Rachmaninoff.

That helps to explain why Friedman's playing is so fresh and exciting and why Moiseiwitsch ranked him the No.1.

A Pianist of the Highest Calibre.......2003-02-13

Ignaz Friedman is a pianist of the highest calibre. He assisted in teaching Leschetizky's pupils. The latter remarked that technically he was even better than himself; and Moiseisitsch bowed to Friedman and ranked him on par with Rachmaninoff and Moriz Rosenthal and Moiseiswitsch wasn't alone doing so.

Friedman was most imaginative in breathing life into music and his mazurkas are particularly vivid and exciting. Some may criticise him for taking the liberty of some more notee and another octave here and there to bring out more colour and sensation. But each performer has his own whims and hence showmanship. In Europe Friedman was a huge success having given literally thousands of concerts so much so that even Horowitz felt flattered to have him attending one of his recitals, and Casal often teamed up with him playing chamber music.

In terms of talents, he compares favourably with Horowitz as he had a colossal musical background very much parallel to Hofmann save that he had a decent education something which both Hofmann and Horowitz lacked. The result, he arranged and composed so much music with such ease that Horowitz could only dream of. Even in terms of technique, no matter it was sight-reading or memory, Friedman was even more exciting. But the American audience for some obscure reason was not particularly impressed.

In this regard, Friedman wasn't alone. Arrau and even Cortot until very recently weren't very popular either. Even then, Dohnanyi, Egon Petri, Backhaus and quite a few more were allowed to go into oblivion!! Brendel is more fortunate but not as much as he deserves. Thus being the fate of the artists. Yes, most preposterous and that partly explains the need and worth of showmanship.

Poor marketing these CDs may be, but there are some who are not sure who Ignaz Friedman was, nor Leschetizky nor even Czerny. How can we expect them to buy a 4CD box set, when a 2 CD set is already too much a luxury! Buy them unless you can afford the 4CD set, they are such a treasure.

Worth it for the mazurkas.......2001-07-17

It is interesting to see how widely opinion on Friedman's interpretations varies! The liner notes to this 2CD set address this point, and a reading of the few user comments here attests to the fact as well. These are unique interpretations, which do occasionally--far less than one reviewer below indicates, I would certainly argue--take liberties with the score. Chopin wrote these pieces as interpretations of his native Poland's folk dances, and in listening to the great interpreters, particularly Rubinstein (through the years) one can only conclude, after study, that spontaneity is a large part of what the composer was attempting to capture in these little gems, and that studied, classically-true, concert hall performance doesn't really do these pieces justice. As a jazz pianist myself, I admit partiality to freer interpretation of folk-music-derived melody, but I am also a product of classical training, and appreciate the importance of adherence to the composer's line. The preludes--there, I will take Rubinstein. Still, given all this, I truly encourage any admirer of Chopin's music to hear what Friedman does. Even given the rough mono sound of these early recordings, you can hear the sheer joy this man finds in these pieces--it is an impulsive, happy naturalness which, I think, is quite rare in the whole of recorded music. I can't say nearly as much about the Beethoven or other couplings, but this Chopin is magical stuff. Not totally by the book. But what art. Don't miss it.

GREAT playing, bad marketing.......2001-03-20

DO NOT BUY THIS CD. If you want to listen to the great Ignaz Friedman, buy the 4 CD set released by Pearl-Koch "The Complete Solo Recordings of Ignaz Friedman". I bought this CD only to realize that that set existed, and i've wasted my money.

Average customer rating:

Arthur Rubinstein plays Chopin [Germany] Rubentstein , Wallenstein , and Symphony of the Air Manufacturer: RCA Red Seal ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD General | Classical | Styles | Music Classical Music | The Sony BMG Masterworks Store | Amazon.com Label Stores | Stores | Music ASIN: B000024HI6 Release Date: 1997-03-03

Tracks:

1. Waltz, Op.34/1 In A Flat Major, 'Valse Brilliante'
2. Scherzo No.2 Op.31 In B Flat Minor
3. Polonaise, Op.40/1 In A Major, 'Militare'
4. Mazurka, Op.68/2 In A Minor
5. Ballade No.1, Op.23 In G Minor
6. Mazurka, Op.7 No.1 In B Flat Major
7. Nocturne, Op.9 No.2 In E Flat Major
8. Impromptu No.4 Op.66 In C Sharp Minor 'Fantasie-Impromptu'
9. Waltz, Op.Post. In E Minor
10. Sonata No.2, Op.35 In B Flat Minor, 'Funeral March'
11. Waltz, Op.64/1 In D Flat Major, 'Minute'
12. Barcarolle, Op.60 In F Sharp Major
13. Mazurka, Op.33 No.2 In D Major
14. Nocturne, Op.37/1 In G Minor
15. Polonaise, Op.53in A Flat Major, 'Heroique'
16. Berceuse, Op.57 In D Flat Major
17. Concerto For Piano And Orchestra No.2 In F Minor

Average customer rating: The Authentic stuff !

Arthur Rubinstein Plays Chopin Chopin , and Rubinstein Manufacturer: Enterprise 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 ASIN: B000003UBD Release Date: 2005-09-02

Tracks:

1. I. Allegro Maestoso E Risoluto
2. II. Romanza (Larghetto)
3. III. Rondo Vivace
4. I. Maestoso
5. II. Larghetto
6. III. Allegro Vivace
7. Nocturne No.15 In F Minor Op.55 No.1
8. Nocturne No.16 In E Flat Major Op.55 No.2

Customer Reviews:

The Authentic stuff !.......2001-03-01

You can never go wrong with Artur Rubinstein when it comes to interpreting Chopin's music .These piano concertos are laced with all the subtlety ,delicacy and nuance which are the lifeblood of Chopin's music .The slow movement of the first concerto is particularly cleansing . Rubinstein gives you a direct spiritual nexus to Chopin's music which in no small part has to do with his own Polish roots .This is the definitive recording of this music ,though Vladimir Ashkenazy among contemporary pianists comes pretty close .

Average customer rating:

Arthur Rubinstein Plays Chopin Manufacturer: Fabula Classica ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD Waltzes | Ballets & Dances | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Chopin | Chopin, Frédéric | ( C ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music Ballads | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music Etudes | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music Fantasies | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music Preludes | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music Nocturnes | Short Forms | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music Sonatinas | Sonatas | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music Chamber Music | Forms & Genres | Classical (c.1770-1830) | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music General Modern | Modern, 20th, & 21st Century | 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 Lullabies & Berceuse | Vocal Non-Opera | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Classical | Imports | Stores | Music ASIN: B000GGSM12 Release Date: 2006-07-25

Average customer rating:

Arthur Rubinstein Plays Chopin Manufacturer: Grammofono 2000 ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD All Works by Chopin | Chopin, Frédéric | ( C ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music General | Concertos | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music General Modern | Modern, 20th, & 21st Century | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music Piano | Keyboard | Instruments | Classical | Styles | Music General | Classical | Styles | Music General | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music ASIN: B000003UG8 Release Date: 1995-06-20

Tracks:

1. Pno Con No.1 in e, Op.11: I. Allegro Maestoso E Risoluto
2. Pno Con No.1 in e, Op.11: II. Romanza. Larghetto
3. Pno Con No.1 in e, Op.11: III. Rondo Vivace
4. Pno Con No.2 in f, Op.21: I. Maestoso
5. Pno Con No.2 in f, Op.21: II. Larghetto
6. Pno Con No.2 in f, Op.21: III. Allegro Vivace
7. Nocturne No.15 in f, Op.55, No.1
8. Nocturne No.16 in E flat, Op.55, No.2

Average customer rating:

Volume. 1-Plays Chopin Concerto Piano 1/2 Artur Rubinstein Manufacturer: Hpc ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD General | Classical | Styles | Music ASIN: B00000HZFA Release Date: 1999-01-19

Average customer rating:

Rubinstein Plays Chopin (Box Set) Chopin , Rubinstein , Lso , and Barbirolli Manufacturer: Classica D'oro 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 ASIN: B00006HCVU Release Date: 2002-09-03

Average customer rating:

Leo Sirota plays Chopin, Schumann & Others Manufacturer: Dante ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD Ecossaises | Ballets & Dances | Classical | Styles | Music Polonaises | Ballets & Dances | Classical | Styles | Music Waltzes | Ballets & Dances | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Chopin | Chopin, Frédéric | ( C ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Liszt | Liszt, Franz | ( L ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Rubinstein | Rubinstein, Anton | ( R ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Rachmaninov | Rachmaninov, Sergei | ( R ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Robert Schumann | Schumann, Robert | ( S ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Smetana | Smetana, Bedrich | ( S ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music Etudes | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music Preludes | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music Marches | Theatrical, Incidental & Program Music | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music General | Keyboard | Instruments | Classical | Styles | Music Piano | Keyboard | Instruments | Classical | Styles | Music General | Classical | Styles | Music Lullabies & Berceuse | Vocal Non-Opera | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music ASIN: B00000G293 Release Date: 1998-10-27

Track Listings:

1. Schumann: Davidsbündlertänze; Fantasie in C; Träumerei
2. Schumann: The Chamber Music with Piano, Vol. 1
3. Soloman Plays Brahms & Beethoven
4. Song Before Sunrise
5. Souvenirs From Verismo Operas, Volume 2
6. Symphonies 1, 2 & 8
7. Symphony 1 / Leonore 3 Overture
8. Symphony 4 / Symphony 5
9. The Authentic Voice of Caruso
10. The Blue Flame

Track Listings

track listings

Track Listings

Reminiscences

Stravinsky: Symphony of Psalms; L'histoire du soldat

Something For Us All

Mr Personality [Import]

Star's End [Import]

The Very Best of Bloodstone

Stille Nacht - A German Christmas

The Rhythm of Wings

The Park Avenue Hillbillie Sings Feudin & Fightin

Sweet Memories from Big Bands: 12 Hits

The Sword of God

The Curious City [Enhanced]

The Compilation [Import]

Milky White Way

Dreamgirls (1982 Original Broadway Cast)