CHOPIN : Scherzi & Preludes - Richter

Product Description:

Fryderyck Chopin (1810-49)

The Four Scherzi

13 Preludes from Opus 28

Sviatoslav Richter (1915-97) - piano

CHOPIN : Scherzi & Preludes - Richter,Fryderyck Chopin,Regis Records

Average customer rating: Excellent Magical Chopin thankfully, Missing a nocturne THE FINEST SET OF NOCTURNES, WALTZES, ETC.

Chopin: Piano Works [Nocturnes - Waltzes - Ballades - Scherzi] Fryderyk Chopin , and Tamas Vasary Manufacturer: Deutsche Grammophon 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 Deutsche Grammophon: Music | Specialty Stores | Music Similar Items: Chopin: Piano Works [Etudes - Impromptus - Sonatas - Concertos - Mazurkas - Polonaise - Berceuse] Rachmaninov: The Complete Piano Concertos Beethoven: Complete Violin Sonatas Chopin: Nocturnes Brahms: Works for Solo Piano ASIN: B000065TUY Release Date: 2002-06-11

Customer Reviews:

Excellent.......2007-05-10

Virtuosity with musicality = artistry. Tamas Vasary has it. 'nuff said.
One of my favorite Chopin disks.

Magical Chopin.......2006-12-16

I returned to these recordings thirty years after I had heard them on LPs. It was a very rewarding experience. Vasary does not have the explosive virtuosity of Richter in the Scherzi or the sweeping emotional power of Rubinstein in the Ballades, but these are very illuminating performances, full of poetry, elegance and detail. Vasary does not take freedoms in his rubati, but there is nothing pedantic or plain about his playing. His is crystal-clear pianism, accurate and totally engrossing. Don't miss.

thankfully,.......2006-10-28

i'm not a completist and that doesn't obstruct me from enjoying this cd.
you probably have witnessed debates on whether rubinstein or pollini is the final word on chopin, whether argerich's approach stands or not.. but those debates are pointless. i think a great pianist is one who cultivates a unique voice, an individuality of tone. cortot had done this. rubinstein had done this. lipatti had done this. pollini had done this. vasary has done this. perahia has done this. and argerich has done this. the rest is up to the listener: which tone is most to your liking? some people like the demonic frenzy of argerich. some like the masculine clarity of rubinstein. i appreciate both: but vasary's tone possesses an effeminate, ethereal sparkle rivaled by only that of lipatti. sadly, lipatti lived during the monoaural age and lived to a very young age. thankfully, vasary is still very much alive: but these recordings are from the sixties.
the sound is excellent, and the performance impeccable. the ballades are unsurpassed: zimerman comes no where near, and perahia follows closely.
the famed nocturnes present an alternative to rubinstein's 1930's performances (his alter ones are mannered). his waltzes possess less of the clarity of lipatti's, but are more indulgent. this does not mean that he wears his heart out on his sleeve. his chopin, unlike that of zimerman's, cortot's, or horowitz's, bears suffering and melancholy with dignity.
like i said, it's up to personal taste. but seldom have i seen people to whom vasary did not represent the epitome of elegant chopin.

Missing a nocturne.......2006-05-21

Chopin wrote 21 nocturnes, 18 of which were published during his lifetime. I love the playing of Vasary on these nocturnes but find it troubling that the posth. C minor nocturne is missing from this collection. Completeists should look elsewhere.

THE FINEST SET OF NOCTURNES, WALTZES, ETC........2005-09-29

Of all Chopin interpreters, Vasary here does the finest job. He plays a Boesendorfer Grand Salle which has a wonderful timbre quite different from the Steinway.

Vasary's timing and articulation are simply superb: he has a real insight into Chopin's ethos and telos: he renders the inner voicing exquisitely. Vasary's realizations suggest to me what Glenn Gould's Chopin might have sounded like had he played the Nocturnes, Ballades, Waltzes, etc.

The sound is crystal clear; the set a bargan price.

Average customer rating: Elegant, Understated Chopin Brilliant!..........!

Chopin: 4 Ballades, 4 Scherzi / Ashkenazy Manufacturer: Decca ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD All Works by Chopin | Chopin, Frédéric | ( C ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music Ballads | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music Preludes | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music Scherzo | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music Chamber Music | Forms & Genres | Classical (c.1770-1830) | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music Ashkenazy, Vladimir | ( A ) | Featured Performers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music General | Classical | Styles | Music General | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music The Decca Records Store | Specialty Stores | Music $9.99 and Under | Classical Music Blowout | Stores | Music All Classical Music Blowout | Classical Music Blowout | Stores | Music Chopin, Frédéric | ( C ) | Composers, A-Z | Classical Music Blowout | Stores | Music Ashkenazy, Vladimir | ( A ) | Performers, A-Z | Classical Music Blowout | Stores | Music Instrumental | Classical Music Blowout | Stores | Music Similar Items: Rachmaninov: Piano Concertos 2 & 3 / Ashkenazy, Kondrashin Chopin: 4 Ballades; Fantaisie, Op. 49; Prelude, Op. 45 Chopin: 4 Ballades/Barcarolle, Op.60/Fantasie in F Tchaikovsky: Ballet Suites / Karajan BBC Friends: Richter (Great Performers of the Twentieth Century) ASIN: B000026D2Q Release Date: 2000-04-11

Tracks:

1. Ballade No. 1 In G Minor, Op. 23
2. Ballade No. 2 In F Major, Op. 38
3. Ballade No. 3 In A Flat Major, Op. 47
4. Ballade No. 4 In F Minor, Op. 52
5. Prelude In C Sharp Minor, Op. 45
6. Scherzo No. 1 In B Minor, Op. 20
7. Scherzo No. 2 In B Flat Minor, Op. 31
8. Scherzo No. 3 In C Sharp Minor, Op. 39
9. Scherzo No. 4 In E Major, Op. 54

Amazon.com

Listening to these superb transfers of Ashkenazy's first complete cycles of the Ballades and Scherzos, which were recorded in the mid-1960s and have been out of the catalog for more than 20 years, is a startling reminder of why the Russian, then only in his 20s, became the dominant Chopin interpreter of his generation. While Ashkenazy's interpretive style had been anticipated by players such as Dinu Lipatti and Solomon, no one else had ever played so much Chopin with such selflessness. This is not to say that Ashkenazy's Chopin was bland, but that it eschewed histrionics and personal idiosyncrasies while missing none of the passion or emotional content of the music. His use of understatement in the G Minor Ballade brings the listener inside the work as more theatrical performances do not. In the F Minor Ballade, he creates an aura of mystery from the opening notes, sustains the labyrinthine narrative line with intensity and intimacy, and concludes with a passionate conquest of the coda. His equally inspired account of the other Ballades and all of the Scherzos make this one of the finest Chopin discs in the catalog. --Stephen Wigler

Customer Reviews:

Elegant, Understated Chopin.......2001-01-24

This is the first Ashkenazy recording of Chopin I've ever heard, and initially I was very surprised. I have Ashkenazy's Rachmaninoff and Beethoven, and his interpretations of both composers are very passionate and fiery, and of course technical challenges are not an issue for him. So you'd think with Chopin he'd really cut loose, especially since the Ballades and Scherzos give a pianist ample license to do so. Yet these interpretations are remarkably understated, and the attenuated passion here creates an entirely different listening experience of these pieces, since very few pianists can resist the temptation to rip into the first and third ballades, or the third scherzo. The consistency of Ashkenazy's vision is remarkable across these eight extremely varied pieces, which are drawn from every stage of Chopin's career, and they really grow on you after a while. Ashkenazy's approach works wonders on the final ballade and scherzo Chopin wrote, when the composer's moods became more introspective and ambiguous, and he was really testing the boundaries of romanticism. Both interpretations of these are superb in their aristocratic restraint and Ashkenazy's unfaltering grasp of the complex story each tells.

I'm not sure I'd recommend this as the one and only interpretation of the Ballades and Scherzos, but it's essential if you're really into these pieces and want a countervailing treatment to hold in opposition to the unbridled fury of Zimerman's rendition of the Ballades, or Pollini's blisteringly intense treatment of the Scherzos (ditto for Pollini's Ballades for that matter). At this very generous price it's luxury you can afford, and I don't think there's another recording of both the Scherzos and Ballades on one disc, with such a masterful pianist playing them.

Brilliant!..........!.......2000-07-03

Only three exclamation marks can express how powerful Ashkenazy's playing is. These days everybody plays the Ballades and Scherzi so it's hard to sift the "good" from the "bad". Of course, it's always a matter of taste, but few would say that Ashkenazy is a poor performer. He really is a hero for lovers of Chopin's music. The second Ballade (trk. 2) will send chills through your skin, especially at the point when the enchanted lake performs its strange magic and the piece reaches a climax into a funky mazurka-style...wow. Also, there has been no better interpretation of the Scherzo No. 2, its essence never lost to virtuosity (similarly the first Scherzo).

As with all Chopin played at this level, there is a certain amount of interpretation. But, with Ashkenazy, it is never showy, always intelligent and insightful, reminding us more of Chopin than the player himself.

Average customer rating: Marketing hype? Fine Chopin Scherzi and Impromptus from Yundi Li Agree with many music critics Precision versus Passion: An Early Stage of a Career Exquisite and Sensitive Playing

Chopin: Scherzi/Impromptus Manufacturer: Deutsche Grammophon ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD All Works by Chopin | Chopin, Frédéric | ( C ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music Impromptus | Short Forms | 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 | Styles | Music General | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music Deutsche Grammophon: Music | Specialty Stores | Music Similar Items: Chopin Recital Yundi Li: Liszt Vienna Recital Yundi Li: Live in Concert Chopin, Liszt: Piano Concerto No. 1 ASIN: B0002SZVUO Release Date: 2005-01-11

Tracks:

1. Scherzo No.1 In B Minor, Op.20
2. Scherzo No.2 In B Flat Minor, Op.31
3. Scherzo No.3 In C Sharp Minor, Op.39
4. Scherzo No.4 In E Major, Op.54
5. Impromptu No.1 In A Flat Major, Op.29
6. Impromptu No.2 In F Sharp Major, Op.36
7. Impromptu No.3 In G Flat Major, Op.51

Amazon.com

Yundi Li is being groomed for superstardom. He's got the looks, youth, and keyboard athleticism to fill that role, but on the basis of this all-Chopin disc (and his previous Chopin and Liszt recitals), he still lacks the interpretive maturity that translates into staying power. His B minor Scherzo, for example, comes off as excessively sectional, and its central section lacks poetry. Other works here fare better, but his attention appears focused on pianistic fluency and dazzling finger work, often at the expense of a full measure of emotional communication. The Impromptus, lovely as they are in places, tend to blandness. Li compensates for his lack of depth and spontaneity with a beautiful tone, remarkably even runs, and precise articulation at high speeds, attributes which should be sufficient for many. If you're looking for the rhetorical, probing grandeur of an Arrau or the emotional directness of a Rubinstein you'll look elsewhere. But if you're in tune with Pollini's detached, objective Chopin and enjoy hearing a skilled pianist perform impressive technical feats on the instrument, you'll want this disc. --Dan Davis

Customer Reviews:

Marketing hype?.......2006-05-30

When I read all comments, I have a bad feeling about the future of classical music. All these comparisons of Yundi Li's recordings with old masters like Rubinstein, Pollini, Argerich and Zimerman sound radiculous. First of all what recordings are they compering to? Second, compering CD's is quite deceiving.
This recording is just a finger work.
I was fortunate to listen live to the above mentioned masters many times in the past and I listened to Yundi twice in the last two years. He is certainly a great technician but he represents a new generation of pianists who opt for a technical beauty instead of delving deeper. His performance lacked of any emotional communication. He is simply not in the same league what old masters and I seriously doubt that he ever be.
It's been already six years since he won Chopin Competition and his repertoire is very limited. He travels and plays the same program over and over again. That's a danger for young artists who sign the contract with an artist management agency in early stages of their career. This young artist has certainly a great potential. I don't know who advises him but he should follow Pollini's and Zimerman's career path. After winning the Chopin Competition at the same age what Yundi Li, they disappeared for some time and reemerged much later as matured artists.
Unfortunately, in today's world young artist are subject to huge pressure which is overwhelming them. I wish Yundi very well but it is difficult to evolve as an artist while preparing your work and fitting everything into your concert schedule.

Fine Chopin Scherzi and Impromptus from Yundi Li.......2006-04-03

Young Chinese pianist Yundi Li demonstrates yet again that he is a rapidly maturing artist of great depth and sensibility in this fine recording of Chopin's Scherzi and Impromptus. Without question, the greatest asset he brings now to his playing is his formidable technique, which is shown to be playing of ample dexerity, that others have remarked does seem to be "weightless" (This remark is noted in the liner notes of this CD recording.). Indeed, Li's performances of these Chopin pieces compare quite well with the intellectually probing playing shown by Pollini. Those interested in far more dramatic, fiery interpretations of these scores should turn elsewhere to the likes of Argerich, and especially, Arrau and Rubinstein, but still I regard Li's interpretations as equally valid as theirs. Much to his credit, Li has shown that he has ample emotional sensibility to become a great interpreter of Romantic piano music; a trait I have seen missing from his peer Lang Lang, whose performances of Chopin's, Liszt's, and Schumann's music are a far cry from those I've heard in Li's recordings. Indeed, I believe that Yundi Li seems more respectful of Chopin's intentions for these works, than Lang Lang, yet Li also manages to put his own personal stamp in his performances of the Scherzi, emphasizing not only his subtle, poetic playing, but also its fiery, dramatic intensity when it is required in these scores. Moreover, I am especially impressed with the wonderful tones he produces in his playing, without resorting to much usage of the pedal; these are clear and quite lovely to hear. The sound quality is quite superb, offering the listener the intimacy of a recital in one's own room.

Agree with many music critics.......2005-06-25

Fully agree with many music critics that Scherzi/Impromtus played by Yundi Li is full of original interpretations and passion which Lang Lang is always lacking of. 'Soulless' is how some music critics described music played by Lang Lang. To me, Lang Lang is merely playing notes with precision.

Precision versus Passion: An Early Stage of a Career.......2005-06-25

Without question Yundi Li is a pianist with the gift. At this stage in his career he is refining his technique and offers Chopin (in this recording) with technical virtuosity and clarity of tone and pedaling. This is crisp, highly delineated playing that is refreshing to the ear. Certainly many other young pianists with his good looks well captured by sensitive photographers, dignified stage presence, and nobility of style have fallen victim to the dangers of pushing a career too fast: it is difficult not to follow the call of stardom.

But I think the young Yundi Li is pacing himself well. While he at this point does not play with the passion and the heart of the masters, he does communicate the finite details of the works of the composers he performs. To this listener's ear the passion is under the surface and will radiate when the works he is performing gel a bit longer. Being a follower of the 'true romantic pianists' these may be strong presumptions, but Li has a quality of involvement rather than detachment that seems to promise the soul of the works will follow.

It is perhaps unfair to compare Li with his contemporary Lang Lang, but both are young gifted artists and both are climbing the ladder of success. Audiences love them both even though they are polarized: Li is the cool authoritative technician while Lang Lang is the fiery passionate performance artist. And we may take our pick depending on personal preference and repertoire. For now, this CD of Lundi's Chopin Scherzi and Impromtus is a refined and elegant recording. Recommended. Grady Harp, June 05

Exquisite and Sensitive Playing.......2005-05-30

"This is not just playing, but story-telling.. . He has a steely technique that always serves the music and never shows off for its own sake." - Kenneth LaFave

I have to say that the more I listen to this CD, the more I admire Yundi Li's impeccable technique and his fresh interpretation. His translucent, pearl-like keyboard sound in this DG fine recording make this CD tremendously enjoyable.

Wonder why, four months after the CD was released in the US, Amazon.com has not posted more editorial reviews. There are many reviews in both print and web media. I would like to paste a few here and hope they are helpful.

Listen to this radio review online:
The Arizona Republic CD of the week
http://www.kbaq.org/music/cdreviews/20050109
by Kenneth LaFave

Chicago Tribune,
John von Rhein
Published March 20, 2005
Only 18 when he won the Chopin International Piano Competition in Warsaw in 2000 (the youngest contestant ever to win the gold medal), the Chinese pianist Yundi Li dispatches this recital with a panache, poetry and musicality that mark him as a commanding Chopin interpreter.

Li has something of his own to bring to the four Scherzos. The easy brilliance of his pianism is apparent from the bravura opening of the Scherzo No. 1, with its rippling arabesques and glittering runs. The second scherzo, in which formidable chordal sequences and scales are set off by quieter, more graceful pages, evinces power and nuance that set Li apart from many of today's younger firebrands. The third and fourth scherzos are delicate, subtly complex creations; here Li's flexibility puts him fully inside the sensibility of Chopin.

The pianist acquits himself equally well in the three Impromptus, with their tricky dancelike passages and subtle contrasting themes. Let's hope Li's management lands him a recital appearance in downtown Chicago before long.

The Weekend Australian, January 22, 2005,
CLASSICAL
Murray Black
Chopin: Scherzos, Impromptus
CHOPIN was my first great love," says Chinese pianist Yundi Li -- and it shows. Of course he has the formidable technique you'd expect from a wunderkind: dazzling runs and passages, razor-sharp clarity, brilliant articulation, remarkable dynamic control. More important, though, is his warmth, intelligence and sure grasp of structure, thereby realising the individual character of each work. His scherzos are strong and supple: Li contrasts the often fiery outer sections with sensitive explorations of the melancholic middle passages. The well-paced impromptus are delicate and imaginative. Best of all is Li's cantabile and legato phrasing which, when matched with the sustained beauty of his tone, allows the music to breathe and flow. Outshining Arrau's listless octogenarian readings (Philips), Li's Chopin stands comparison with the best: Rubinstein, Pollini, Freire and Ashkenazy

NYTimes Jan. 16, 2005
Anthony Tommasini
Chopin: Scherzos, Impromptus

DEUTSCHE GRAMMOPHON has been promoting the young Chinese pianist Lang Lang to the sky. One slogan reads: "The future of classical music has arrived. His name is Lang Lang."

But Mr. Lang is not the only young Chinese pianist on Deutsche Grammophon's roster. Yundi Li won the prestigious Chopin Piano Competition in Warsaw in 2000, when he was 18. To judge from his new recording, a Chopin program offering the four scherzos and the three impromptus, Mr. Li's technique is as brilliant as Mr. Lang's but more refined, and Mr. Li is the more probing and sensitive musician.

There is plenty of white-hot virtuosity in his accounts of the scherzos. In the hell-bent opening of the Scherzo No. 1 in B minor, Mr. Li takes off in a bolt of demonic energy and doesn't let up until the somber second theme. The notes whiz by with uncanny clarity, yet Mr. Li brings out bass lines and inner voices beautifully. He uses Chopinesque rubato liberally yet tastefully. His expressive nuances are balanced by a generally cool temperament.

The overplayed Scherzo no. 2 in B flat minor sounds wonderfully fresh in his muscular, no-nonsense performance. Scurrying passagework and gossamer textures enrich his impressive account of the Scherzo No. 4 in E, though Mr. Li might profit from listening to the 1959 recording by Arthur Rubinstein, who takes time to smell the roses. Mr. Li's maturity comes through best in his tender accounts of the impromptus.

That he is a sweetly handsome young man with an appealing stage manner gives him another leg up. But I would be more reassured about his artistic depth if I saw more names of living composers (or even composers after Ravel) on his CD and recital programs. But he is already a serious and accomplished pianist. It's encouraging to know that he is making time to continue his studies in Germany


.

Average customer rating:

Chopin: 4 Scherzi; Polonaise No. 6; Ballade No. 3; Berceuse [United Kingdom] Nelson Freire Manufacturer: Apex ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD General | Classical | Styles | Music Similar Items: Chopin: Nocturnes Villa-Lobos: Piano Works Schumann: Carnaval; Papillons; Kinderszenen; Arabeske Brahms: Piano Concertos Nos. 1 & 2 Sonata 2/Etudes/Barcarolle ASIN: B00021SUGS Release Date: 2006-04-14

Tracks:

1. Scherzo No.1 In B Minor, Op.20
2. Scherzo No.2 In B Flat Minor, Op.31
3. Scherzo No.3 In C Sharp Minor, Op.39
4. Scherzo No.4 In E Major, Op.54
5. Polonaise No.6 In A Flat Major, Op.53
6. Ballade No.3 In A Flat Major, Op.47
7. Berceuse In D Flat Major, Op.57
8. Prelude In C Sharp Minor, Op.45
9. 3 Ecossaises, Op.72 No.3

Average customer rating: Maybe ok for Pollini fans... powerful, poetic and everything in between Bravo! You'll never hear these great pieces played better!

Chopin: 4 Scherzi/Berceuse/Barcarolle Manufacturer: Deutsche Grammophon ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD All Works by Chopin | Chopin, Frédéric | ( C ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music Pollini, Maurizio | ( P ) | Featured Performers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music General | Classical | Styles | Music Scherzo | Forms & Genres | 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: Chopin: 4 Ballades; Fantaisie, Op. 49; Prelude, Op. 45 Chopin: Polonaises / Maurizio Pollini Chopin: Twenty Four Préludes Op.28 Maurizio Pollini ~ Schubert - Wanderer-Fantasie · Schumann - Fantasie op. 17 Chopin: Etudes ASIN: B000001GEJ Release Date: 1992-02-11

Tracks:

1. Scherzo No. 1 In B Minor, Op. 20
2. Scherzo No. 2 In B Flat Minor, Op. 31
3. Scherzo No. 3 In C Sharp Minor, Op. 39
4. Scherzo No. 4 In E Major, Op. 54
5. Berceuse In D Flat Major, Op. 57
6. Barcarolle In F Sharp Major, Op. 60

Customer Reviews:

Maybe ok for Pollini fans..........2003-11-21

Well, if this recording is any evidence, it's no urban legend. Pollini's rendering of the scherzi is percussive, uningratiating, coldly brilliant, and as dry a performance of Chopin as I could imagine. I don't get it. Maybe you gotta be under 50 to be a Pollini fan. There are surely better CD's of this music around...Rubinstein, to be sure. Not that I don't respect Pollini...his Schoenberg is another story entirely.

powerful, poetic and everything in between.......2001-10-22

There's an urban legend about Pollini, surely created by people who never heard him play, that he's "cold", "mechanical" etc. Nothing can be more wrong. Pollini is a pianist that his utmost concern is to convey what the composer had in mind as faithfully as possible, and he's humble enough and capable enough to do so as much as it is humanly possible. The articulation and phrasing are subtle, in many cases, but they are there, and very much so. One doesn't have to be a professional musician to realize how much joy and deep understanding of the music there is in his recordings, right from the very early ones. e.g. the Chopin 1st piano concerto that he recorded at the age of 18 (!), right after winning first prize at the Chopin competition in Warsaw (to my humble opinion - the best recording of this work). The works on this CD present a wide range of Chopin's compositional style - from the wonderfully energetic and direct first scherzo, to the elusive and almost impressionistic fourth scherzo, the beautiful berceuse, which unfolds a theme with variations that feels like a chinese landscape scroll and the monumental barcarolle. Pollini has the acuity of mind/ear/hands to match his interpretation to each and every one of the pieces. On a personal level of preference - the second scherzo gets a better treatment, I believe, from Pollini's compatriot, the late Benedetti-Michelangeli, but Pollini's performance is still a great one, and the rest of the CD is simply perfect.

Bravo! You'll never hear these great pieces played better!.......1998-10-20

If you've never bought any Pollini recordings before, this is a good one to start with. The performances are so totally perfected -- beautifully expressive, subtle and refined. The Berceuse and Barcarolle are among the most beautiful classical recordings I have ever heard. If you like this one, try the Beethoven Concertos collection that includes the "Choral Fantasy," or the Beethoven Sonatas collection containing "The Tempest," "Walstein," and "Les Adieux." Pollini is truly a modern day master.

Average customer rating:

Chopin: 4 Scherzi & 13 Preludes from Op. 28 Manufacturer: Regis ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD All Works by Chopin | Chopin, Frédéric | ( C ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music Preludes | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music Scherzo | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music General Modern | Modern, 20th, & 21st Century | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music Richter, Sviatoslav | ( R ) | Featured Performers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music General | Classical | Styles | Music ASIN: B000H8RUH6 Release Date: 2005-01-01

Average customer rating: Sound fine on original

Chopin: Piano Sonatas #2 & 3, Ballades, Op. 23,38,47 & 52, Scherzi Op. 20, 31, 39 & 54; Cecile Ousset Frederic Chopin , and Cecile Ousset Manufacturer: EMI Classics ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD All Works by Chopin | Chopin, Frédéric | ( C ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music Ballads | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music Sonatinas | Sonatas | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music Scherzo | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music Chamber Music | Forms & Genres | 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 Similar Items: Liszt: Piano Sonata; Paganini Martha Argerich Plays Chopin: The Legendary 1965 Recording Casino Royale (Two-Disc Widescreen Edition) ASIN: B0000CE7FO Release Date: 2004-06-01

Tracks:

1. I. Grave
2. II. Scherzo
3. III. Marche Funebre
4. IV. Presto
5. Presto Con Fuoco
6. Presto
7. Presto Con Fuoco
8. Presto

Tracks:

1. I. Allegro Maestoso
2. II. Scherzo
3. III. Largo
4. IV. Finale: Presto
5. No. 1 - Largo
6. No. 2 - Andantino
7. No. 3 - Allegretto
8. No. 4 - Andante Con Moto

Amazon.com

This 2-CD set presents some of Chopin's most beloved masterpieces--the two great Sonatas and the complete Scherzi and Ballades--in splendid performances. Perhaps the most immediately striking characteristic of Cécile Ousset's playing, apart from her consummate mastery of the instrument, is its extraordinary clarity and transparency, no matter how full the texture. She must use the pedal very sparingly. Her passage-work is brilliant, her runs are like chains of flawless pearls, no matter how fast the tempo. Even the Presto Finales of the two sonatas are crystal clear. Every line stands out, and the balance between her hands is perfect. Musically, her most immediately striking characteristic is her uninhibited, surging romanticism. She has the courage to follow the dictates of her heart, pushing forward and pulling back with the ebb and flow of the music; she also freely changes the tempo along with its changing moods, but her transitions are always poised and controlled, and there is plenty of time to enjoy and caress melodic and harmonic details. Above all, she brings out all of Chopin's mercurial emotions, from inward reverie and melancholy, mysteriousness, elfin delicacy, majestic grandeur and solemnity, poetry, ardor, humor, to soaring ecstasy and serene resignation. Unfortunately, she is badly served by the recorded sound, which is harsh, clangorous and tinny; though she obviously commands a large range of colors and nuances, they must be surmised rather than being actually heard. The recordings were originally made in 1987 and 1988, this compilation dates from 2003; surely the beauty of the music and the high quality of the playing deserve better technological results. --Edith Eisler

Customer Reviews:

Sound fine on original .......2006-06-28

I have the original CD of the 3rd Sonata and the Ballades. The sound is great on that CD and like Edith Eisler said, the performances are superb. At the super low price, this double CD is an absolute bargain.

Average customer rating:

CHOPIN : Four Scherzi; 13 Preludes from Op. 28 - Richter Manufacturer: Regis Records ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD Classical | Indie Music | Stores | Music General | Classical | Styles | Music Similar Items: Sviatoslav Richter Plays Schubert Piano Sonatas D958, D960 Schumann: Papillons; Introduction & Allegro appassionato; Schubert: Piano Sonata in B flat major, D. 960 From the Archives: Sviatoslav Richter Plays Chopin Arturo Benedetti Michelangeli plays Mozart, Chopin, Brahms, etc. (Box) [Germany] Sviatoslav Richter Plays Beethoven, Schubert, Schumann ASIN: B0009WYYJ2 Release Date: 2005-06-10

Tracks:

1. No. 1 in B minor, Op. 20 - Presto con fuoco
2. No. 2 in B flat minor, Op. 31 - Presto
3. No. 3 in C sharp minor, Op. 39 - Presto con fuoco
4. No. 4 in E, Op. 54 - Presto
5. No. 4 in E minor
6. No. 5 in D major
7. No. 6 in B minor
8. No. 7 in A major
9. No. 8 in F sharp minor
10. No. 9 in E major
11. No. 10 in C sharp minor
12. No. 13 in F sharp major
13. No. 19 in E flat major
14. No. 11 in B major
15. No. 2 in A minor
16. No. 23 in F major
17. No. 21 in B flat major

Product Description

Fryderyck Chopin (1810-49)

The Four Scherzi

13 Preludes from Opus 28

Sviatoslav Richter (1915-97) - piano

Average customer rating:

Chopin: The Four Scherzi; Variations Manufacturer: Hyperion UK 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 Scherzo | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music Chamber Music | Forms & Genres | Classical (c.1770-1830) | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music General | Keyboard | Instruments | Classical | Styles | Music Piano | Keyboard | Instruments | Classical | Styles | Music General | Classical | Styles | Music General | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music Classical | Imports | Stores | Music Similar Items: Demidenko Plays Chopin Chopin: Ballades; Third Sonata Nikolai Demidenko Plays Liszt Volodos Plays Liszt ASIN: B0007DBXHY Release Date: 2005-03-08

Average customer rating:

Chopin: Scherzi; Impromptus [Hybrid SACD] Manufacturer: Deutsche Grammophon ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD All Works by Chopin | Chopin, Frédéric | ( C ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music Impromptus | Short Forms | 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 | Styles | Music General | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music Deutsche Grammophon: Music | Specialty Stores | Music Similar Items: Chopin Recital Chopin Nocturnes [Hybrid SACD] Mozart: Flute Concertos; Rondo; Andante [Includes the Bis 2005 Catalog] [Hybrid SACD] Chopin, Liszt: Piano Concerto No. 1 Mozart: Piano & Violin Sonatas [Hybrid SACD] ASIN: B0002SZVUY Release Date: 2005-04-12

Tracks:

1. Scherzo No.1 In B Minor, Op.20
2. Scherzo No.2 In B Flat Minor, Op.31
3. Scherzo No.3 In C Sharp Minor, Op.39
4. Scherzo No.4 In E Major, Op.54
5. Impromptu No. 1 In A Flat Major, Op.29
6. Impromptu No. 2 In F Sharp Major, Op.36
7. Impromptu No. 3 In G Flat Major, Op.51

Track Listings:

1. Complete Violin Sonatas 1
2. Conducts Beethoven & Strauss
3. Conducts Famous Overtures
4. Conducts Liadov & Tchaikovsky
5. DI STEFANO : La Bella Voce Di Tenore
6. Discover New Worlds With Werner Andreas Albert
7. Dohnányi: Konzertstück/Bartok: Concerto for Orchestra
8. Dohnányi: Violin Concerto Op. 27; American Rhapsody, Op. 47
9. E.T.A. Hoffmann: Complete Piano Sonatas
10. Elgar: In the South / Brahms: Serenade No. 1

Track Listings

track listings

Track Listings

Diary of a Liar

Music Review: "The Long Ride Home" Original Motion Picture Soundtrack [Soundtrack]

bill88.com Music: Adventures of [Import]

Dig?

May Blitz [Import] [Limited Edition] [Original recording remastered]

Let's Copp a Groove: Lost UK Soul 1968-1972

electronicspartner.com Music: A Child's Celebration of Song, Vol. 2

Moritz Rosenthal plays Chopin

I Really Don't Want to Know [Import]

Flow la Diskoteka

Medulla [Limited Edition]

Los Chicos Con/Dame Un [Import]

Loft Lounge, Vol. 2 [Import]

Schnittke: Chamber Music

The Last Month of the Year