16 Nocturnes

On this CD:

1. Nocturnes (18) for piano, Nos 1-18, complete No.1 in E Flat
Composed by John [composer] Field
Performed by Joanna Leach

2. Nocturnes (18) for piano, Nos 1-18, complete No. 2 in C minor
Composed by John [composer] Field
Performed by Joanna Leach

3. Nocturnes (18) for piano, Nos 1-18, complete No. 3 in A flat
Composed by John [composer] Field
Performed by Joanna Leach

4. Nocturnes (18) for piano, Nos 1-18, complete No. 3 in A flat
Composed by John [composer] Field
Performed by Joanna Leach

5. Nocturnes (18) for piano, Nos 1-18, complete No.5 in B Flat
Composed by John [composer] Field
Performed by Joanna Leach

6. Nocturnes (18) for piano, Nos 1-18, complete No. 6 in F Minor
Composed by John [composer] Field
Performed by Joanna Leach

7. Nocturnes (18) for piano, Nos 1-18, complete No 7 in C Major
Composed by John [composer] Field
Performed by Joanna Leach

8. Nocturnes (18) for piano, Nos 1-18, complete No.8 in A Major
Composed by John [composer] Field
Performed by Joanna Leach

9. Nocturnes (18) for piano, Nos 1-18, complete No.9 in E Flat major
Composed by John [composer] Field
Performed by Joanna Leach

10. Nocturnes (18) for piano, Nos 1-18, complete No.10 in E Flat
Composed by John [composer] Field
Performed by Joanna Leach

11. Nocturnes (18) for piano, Nos 1-18, complete No.11 in E Flat
Composed by John [composer] Field
Performed by Joanna Leach

12. Nocturnes (18) for piano, Nos 1-18, complete No.12 in G Major
Composed by John [composer] Field
Performed by Joanna Leach

13. Nocturnes (18) for piano, Nos 1-18, complete No.13 in D Minor
Composed by John [composer] Field
Performed by Joanna Leach

14. Nocturnes (18) for piano, Nos 1-18, complete No.14 in C Major
Composed by John [composer] Field
Performed by Joanna Leach

15. Nocturnes (18) for piano, Nos 1-18, complete No.15 in C Major
Composed by John [composer] Field
Performed by Joanna Leach

16. Nocturnes (18) for piano, Nos 1-18, complete No.16 in F Major
Composed by John [composer] Field
Performed by Joanna Leach

Tracks:

Eine kleine Nachtmusik: Allegro - Mozart, Wolfgang Amadeus
Piano Concerto In A Major, K 488: Adagio - Mozart, Wolfgang Amadeus
Flute Concerto In D Major, K 314: Allegro - Mozart, Wolfgang Amadeus
Symphony No. 40 in G minor: Molto allegro - Mozart, Wolfgang Amadeus
Clarinet Concerto KV 622: Adagio - Mozart, Wolfgang Amadeus
Serenade, K 375: Menuetto - Mozart, Wolfgang Amadeus
Turkish March - Mozart, Wolfgang Amadeus
Violin Concerto, K 216: Allegro - Mozart, Wolfgang Amadeus
Divertimento, K 334: Menuetto - Mozart, Wolfgang Amadeus
Horn Concerto, K 447: Allegro - Mozart, Wolfgang Amadeus
Cassation, K 99: Allegro - Mozart, Wolfgang Amadeus

Tracks:

Overture No. 4 In Major: Rejouissance - J.S.Bach
Overture No. 3 In D Major: Air - J.S.Bach
Brandenburg Concerto No. 2 In F Major: I. Allegro - J.S.Bach
Jesu, Joy Of Man's Desiring - J.S.Bach
Overture No. 2 In B Minor: Menuet & Badinerie - J.S.Bach
Prelude In C Major - J.S.Bach
Toccata And Fugue In D Minor - J.S.Bach
Prelude In C Minor - J.S.Bach
Overture No. 1 In C Major: Passepied - J.S.Bach
Brandenburg Concerto No. 1 In F Major: II. Adagio - J.S.Bach
Kommst du nun, Jesu vom Himmel herunter, Chorale - J.S.Bach
Brandenburg Concerto No. 3 In G Major: II. Allegro - J.S.Bach
Violin Concerto In E Major: I. Adagio - J.S.Bach
St. Matthew Passion: Finale Chorus: 'Wir setzen uns mit Tranen nieder' - J.S.Bach

Tracks:

Symphony No. 5: Allegro con brio - Ludwig Van Beethoven
Fur Elise - Ludwig Van Beethoven
Violin Romance No. 2 - Ludwig Van Beethoven
'Moonlight' Sonata: Adagio sostenuto - Ludwig Van Beethoven
Minuet - Ludwig Van Beethoven
Symphony No. 8 In F Major: Allegretto scherzando - Ludwig Van Beethoven
Coriolan: Overture - Ludwig Van Beethoven
Piano Concerto No. 2: Adagio - Ludwig Van Beethoven
Symphony No. 5 In C Minor: Allegro - Ludwig Van Beethoven
Egmont: Overture - Ludwig Van Beethoven

Tracks:

Die Fledermaus: Die Fledermaus (Excerpts) - Johann Strauss
Wine, Woman And Song - Johann Strauss
Tritsch Tratsch Polka - Johann Strauss
The Blue Danube - Johann Strauss
The Gypsy Baron: Introduction - Johann Strauss
Annen Polka - Johann Strauss
Vienna Blood - Johann Strauss
The Gypsy Baron: Einzugsmarsch - Johann Strauss

Tracks:

Tannhauser: Overture - MASTERS OF CLASSICAL MUSIC
Die Meistersinger von Nurnberg: Dance Of The Prentices - MASTERS OF CLASSICAL MUSIC
Die Meistersinger von Nurnberg: Prelude Act 3 - MASTERS OF CLASSICAL MUSIC
Die Meistersinger von Nurnberg: Aufzug der Meistersinger - MASTERS OF CLASSICAL MUSIC
Der fliegende Hollander: Overture - MASTERS OF CLASSICAL MUSIC
Lohengrin: Prelude - MASTERS OF CLASSICAL MUSIC
Tristan und Isolde: Prelude And Liebestod - MASTERS OF CLASSICAL MUSIC
Tannhauser: Arrival Of The Guests At Wartburg - MASTERS OF CLASSICAL MUSIC

Tracks:

Piano Concerto No. 1: Allegro non troppo - Peter Tchaikovsky
String Serenade: Waltz - Peter Tchaikovsky
Violin Concerto: Andante - Peter Tchaikovsky
The Sleeping Beauty: Introduction - Peter Tchaikovsky
The Sleeping Beauty: Pas d'action - Adagio - Peter Tchaikovsky
The Sleeping Beauty: Waltz - Peter Tchaikovsky
Capriccio italien Op. 45 - Peter Tchaikovsky
Swan Lake: Ballet Suite: Scene No. 10 - Peter Tchaikovsky
Swan Lake: Ballet Suite: Waltz - Peter Tchaikovsky
Eugene Onegin: Polonaise - Peter Tchaikovsky

Tracks:

The 4 Seasons: Concerto No. 1 In E Major: Spring - VIVALDI, Antonio
Siciliano - VIVALDI, Antonio
Concerto In D Minor:: (Allegro Assai) Cologne Concerto - VIVALDI, Antonio
The 4 Seasons: Concerto No. 2 In G Minor: Summer - VIVALDI, Antonio
Oboe Sonata In B Flat Major, RV 34: Adagio - Allegro - Largo - Allegro - VIVALDI, Antonio
The 4 Seasons: Concerto No. 3 In F Major: Autumn - VIVALDI, Antonio
Oboe Concerto: Allegro non tasto - Largo - Allegro non molto - VIVALDI, Antonio
Concerto In D Minor: (Largo e spiccato) Cologne Concerto - VIVALDI, Antonio
The 4 Seasons: Concerto No. 4 In F Minor: Winter - VIVALDI, Antonio

Tracks:

Scherzo No 1 In B Minor, Op. 20 - Frederic Chopin_
Three Nocturnes, Op. 9: No 3 In B Major - Frederic Chopin_
Twelve Etudes, Op. 10: No 5 In G Flat Major - Frederic Chopin_
Twelve Etudes, Op. 25: No 10 In B Minor - Frederic Chopin_
24 Preludes, Op. 28: No. 13 In F Sharp Major - Frederic Chopin_
24 Preludes, Op. 28: No. 14 In E Flat Minor - Frederic Chopin_
24 Preludes, Op. 28: No. 15 In D Flat Major 'Raindrops' - Frederic Chopin_
24 Preludes, Op. 28: No. 16 In B Flat Minor - Frederic Chopin_
24 Preludes, Op. 28: No. 17 In A Flat Major - Frederic Chopin_
24 Preludes, Op. 28: No. 18 In F Minor - Frederic Chopin_
Scherzo No. 2 In B Flat Minor, Op. 31 - Frederic Chopin_
Waltz In E Flat Major, Op. 18 - Frederic Chopin_
Nocturne In C Sharp Minor, Op. Posth. - Frederic Chopin_
Four Mazurkas, Op. 24: No. 3 In A Flat Major - Frederic Chopin_
Four Mazurkas, Op. 24: No. 4 In B Flat Minor - Frederic Chopin_

Tracks:

Ave Maria - Franz Schubert
Impromptu In E Flat Major - Franz Schubert
Standchen - Franz Schubert
Trout Quintet: Tema con variazioni - Franz Schubert
'Rosamunde': Entr'acte No. 1 - Franz Schubert
Moment Musical In A Flat Major - Franz Schubert
'Rosamunde': Entr'acte No. 2 - Franz Schubert
Moment Musical No. 3 In F Minor - Franz Schubert
'Rosamunde': Ballet Music No.2 - Franz Schubert
Symphony No. 8 In B Minor 'Unfinished': Allegro moderato - Franz Schubert

Tracks:

Nabucco: Overture - Verdi, Giuseppe
Nabucco: Va pensiero, sull'ali dorate - Verdi, Giuseppe
Aida: Prelude - Verdi, Giuseppe
II Trovatore: Verdi! le fosche notturne (Gypsies' Chorus) - Verdi, Giuseppe
II Trovatore: Or co' daddi, ma fra poco (Soldiers' Chorus) - Verdi, Giuseppe
Aroldo: Overture - Verdi, Giuseppe
La Traviata: Prelude - Verdi, Giuseppe
La Traviata: Noi siamo zingarelle - Verdi, Giuseppe
La Traviata:: Libiamo ne' lieti calici - Verdi, Giuseppe
La Traviata: Di Madride noi siam mattadori - Verdi, Giuseppe
La forza del destino: Overture - Verdi, Giuseppe

Customer Reviews:

masters of classical music.......2007-03-26

A nice collection for the classical listener. Great variety of composers and the music quality of the cds are very good.

A good basic collection.......2006-11-10

With selections from numerous composers, it is an easy way to familiarize oneself with some of the most popular classical works and excerpts. A pleasant listen for the initiated too.

An excellent introduction to classical music.......2006-10-18

This is an excellent introduction to classical music. Well performed and presented.

Very Beautiful!!!!!1.......2006-10-05

If you are a fan of classical music then you better get this set. Not only is it very cheap, 10 Discs for about 2$ per disk. Now where are you gonna find a deal like this. I actually found mine chaper, $20.00 even and the music is outstanding. If you had a very bad day and very stressed out, just put in one of these cds, lay down, dim down the lights and just relax. It really helped me out.

Still Stuck on Beethoven.......2006-08-22

I just recently started listening to classical music so I'm certainly not one to compare or critique the quality of this set. However, I do have a few comments...

My interest started in this genre of music because I'm researching my ancestry in Prussia and this is the music of those times. Never mind my ancestors were poor peasants who probably never got the chance to hear such wonderful music... when listening to these CDs, I'm taken back in time... to a royal court in Europe... to another place in time. The music is inspiring, relaxing, invigorating.

I have yet to listen to all the CD's in the set. I'm stuck on Beethoven! Wasn't he AWESOME!?!

I think this set is a wonderful introduction to classical music!!!!!

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
Montero Plays Chopin
Bach & Beyond [United Kingdom]
The Carnegie Hall Concert

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.

Average customer rating:

My experience of this CD
Beautiful!
Well worth the money. Wonderful! Wonderful!
Best investment to make
A great pianist interpreting the most inspired composer ever !

Chopin: The Piano Works

Manufacturer: Decca
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

Bourees | Ballets & Dances | Classical | Styles | Music

Dances | Ballets & Dances | Classical | Styles | Music

Ecossaises | Ballets & Dances | Classical | Styles | Music

Galops | Ballets & Dances | Classical | Styles | Music

Mazurkas | Ballets & Dances | Classical | Styles | Music

Polonaises | Ballets & Dances | Classical | Styles | Music

Waltzes | Ballets & Dances | Classical | Styles | Music

Ballads | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music

Etudes | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music

Fantasies | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music

Fugues | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music

Preludes | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music

Rondos | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Classical | Styles | Music

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

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

General | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

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

Liszt: Piano Works
Brahms: Works for Solo Piano
Schubert: The Piano Sonatas
Works for Solo Piano
Mozart: The Piano Concertos

ASIN: B0000041KB
Release Date: 1997-06-24

Tracks:

24 Preludes, Op.28: I - C Major
24 Preludes, Op.28: II - A Minor
24 Preludes, Op.28: III - G Major
24 Preludes, Op.28: IV - E Minor
24 Preludes, Op.28: V - D Major
24 Preludes, Op.28: VI - B Minor
24 Preludes, Op.28: VII - A Major
24 Preludes, Op.28: VIII - F Sharp Minor
24 Preludes, Op.28: IX - E Major
24 Preludes, Op.28: X - C Sharp Minor
24 Preludes, Op.28: XI - B Major
24 Preludes, Op.28: XII - G Sharp Minor
24 Preludes, Op.28: XIII - F Sharp Major
24 Preludes, Op.28: XIV - E Flat Minor
24 Preludes, Op.28: XV - D Flat Major 'Raindrop'
24 Preludes, Op.28: XVI - B Flat Minor
24 Preludes, Op.28: XVII - A Flat Major
24 Preludes, Op.28: XVIII - F Minor
24 Preludes, Op.28: XIX - E Flat Major
24 Preludes, Op.28: XX - C Minor
24 Preludes, Op.28: XXI - B Flat Major
24 Preludes, Op.28: XXII - G Minor
24 Preludes, Op.28: XXIII - F Major
24 Preludes, Op.28: XXIV - D Minor
Prelude In C Sharp Minor, Op.45
Prelude In A Flat Major
Impromptu In A Flat Major, Op.29
Impromptu In F Sharp Major, Op.36
Impromptu In G Flat Major, Op.51
Fantaisie-Impromptu In C Sharp Minor, Op.66

Tracks:

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

Tracks:

3 Nocturnes, Op.9: I - B Flat Minor
3 Nocturnes, Op.9: II - E Flat Major
3 Nocturnes, Op.9: III - B Major
3 Nocturnes, Op.15: I - F Major
3 Nocturnes, Op.15: II - F Sharp Major
3 Nocturnes, Op.15: III - G Minor
2 Nocturnes, Op.27: I - C Sharp Minor
2 Nocturnes, Op.27: II - D Flat Major
2 Nocturnes, Op.32: I - B Major
2 Nocturnes, Op.32: II - A Flat Major
2 Nocturnes, Op.37: I - G Minor
2 Nocturnes, Op.37: II - G Major

Tracks:

2 Nocturnes, Op.48: I - C Minor
2 Nocturnes, Op.48: II - F Sharp Minor
2 Nocturnes, Op.55: I - F Minor
2 Nocturnes, Op.55: II - E Flat Major
2 Nocturnes, Op.62: I - B Major
2 Nocturnes, Op.62: II - E Major
Nocturne In E Minor, Op.72 No.1
Nocutrne In C Sharp Minor
Nocturne In C Minor

Tracks:

12 Etudes, Op.10: I - C Major
12 Etudes, Op.10: II - A Minor
12 Etudes, Op.10: III - E Major
12 Etudes, Op.10: IV - C Sharp Minor
12 Etudes, Op.10: V - G Flat Major 'Black Key'
12 Etudes, Op.10: VI - E Flat Minor
12 Etudes, Op.10: VII - C Major
12 Etudes, Op.10: VIII - F Major
12 Etudes, Op.10: IX - F Minor
12 Etudes, Op.10: X - A Flat Major
12 Etudes, Op.10: XI - E Flat Major
12 Etudes, Op.10: XII - C Minor 'Revolutionary'
12 Etudes, Op.25: I - A Flat Major
12 Etudes, Op.25: II - F Minor
12 Etudes, Op.25: III - F Major
12 Etudes, Op.25: IV - A Minor
12 Etudes, Op.25: V - E Minor
12 Etudes, Op.25: VI - G Sharp Minor
12 Etudes, Op.25: VII - C Sharp Minor
12 Etudes, Op.25: VIII - D Flat Major
12 Etudes, Op.25: IX - G Flat Major
12 Etudes, Op.25: X - B Minor
12 Etudes, Op.25: XI - A Minor 'Winter Wind'
12 Etudes, Op.25: XII - C Minor

Tracks:

2 Polonaises, Op.26: I - C Sharp Minor
2 Polonaises, Op.26: II - E Flat Minor
2 Polonaises, Op.40: I - A Major
2 Polonaises, Op.40: II - C Minor
Polonaise In F Sharp Minor, Op.44
Polonaise In A Flat Major, Op.53
Polonaise-fantaisie In A Flat Major, Op.61

Tracks:

3 Polonaises, Op.71: I - D Minor
3 Polonaises, Op.71: II - B Flat Major
3 Polonaises, Op.71: III - F Minor
Polonaise In B Flat Minor
Polonaise In G Flat Major
Polonaise In G Minor
Polonaise In B Flat Major
Polonaise In A Flat Major
Polonaise In G Sharp Minor

Tracks:

Waltz In E Flat Major, Op.18
3 Waltzes, Op.34: I - A Flat Major
3 Waltzes, Op.34: II - A Minor
3 Waltzes, Op.34: III - F Major
Waltz In A Flat Major, Op.42
3 Waltzes, Op.64: I - D Flat Major
3 Waltzes, Op.64: II - C Sharp Minor
3 Waltzes, Op.64: III - A Flat Major
2 Waltzes, Op.69: I - A Flat Major
2 Waltzes, Op.69: II - B Minor
3 Waltzes, Op.70: I - G Flat Major
3 Waltzes, Op.70: II - F Minor
3 Waltzes, Op.70: III - D Flat Major
Waltz In E Minor (1830)
Waltz In E Major (1829)
Waltz In A Minor (?1843)
Waltz In A Flat Major (1827)
Waltz In E Flat Major ('Sostenuto', 1840)
Waltz In E Flat Major (1829 - 1830)

Tracks:

4 Mazurkas, Op.6: I - F Sharp Minor
4 Mazurkas, Op.6: II - C Sharp Minor
4 Mazurkas, Op.6: III - E Major
4 Mazurkas, Op.6: IV - E Flat Minor
5 Mazurkas, Op.7: I - B Flat Major
5 Mazurkas, Op.7: II - A Minor
5 Mazurkas, Op.7: III - F Minor
5 Mazurkas, Op.7: IV - A Flat Major
5 Mazurkas, Op.7: V - C Major
4 Mazurkas, Op.17: I - B Flat Major
4 Mazurkas, Op.17: II - E Minor
4 Mazurkas, Op.17: III - A Flat Major
4 Mazurkas, Op.17: IV - A Minor
4 Mazurkas, Op.24: I - G Minor
4 Mazurkas, Op.24: II - C Major
4 Mazurkas, Op.24: III - A Flat Major
4 Mazurkas, Op.24: IV - B Flat Minor
4 Mazurkas, Op.30: I - C Minor
4 Mazurkas, Op.30: II - B Minor
4 Mazurkas, Op.30: III - D Flat Major
4 Mazurkas, Op.30: IV - C Sharp Minor
4 Mazurkas, Op.33: I - G Sharp Minor
4 Mazurkas, Op.33: II - D Major
4 Mazurkas, Op.33: III - C Major
4 Mazurkas, Op.33: IV - B Minor
4 Mazurkas, Op.41: I - C Sharp Minor
4 Mazurkas, Op.41: II - E Minor
4 Mazurkas, Op.41: III - B Major
4 Mazurkas, Op.41: IV - A Flat Major

Tracks:

3 Mazurkas, Op.50: I - G Major
3 Mazurkas, Op.50: II - A Flat Major
3 Mazurkas, Op.50: III - C Sharp Minor
3 Mazurkas, Op.56: I - B Major
3 Mazurkas, Op.56: II - C Major
3 Mazurkas, Op.56: III - C Minor
3 Mazurkas, Op.59: I - A Minor
3 Mazurkas, Op.59: II - A Flat Major
3 Mazurkas, Op.59: III - F Sharp Minor
3 Mazurkas, Op.63: I - B Major
3 Mazurkas, Op.63: II - F Minor
3 Mazurkas, Op.63: III - C Sharp Minor
4 Mazurkas, Op.67: I - G Major
4 Mazurkas, Op.67: II - G Minor
4 Mazurkas, Op.67: III - C Major
4 Mazurkas, Op.67: IV - A Minor
4 Mazurkas, Op.68: I - C Major
4 Mazurkas, Op.68: II - A Minor
4 Mazurkas, Op.68: III - F Major
4 Mazurkas, Op.68: IV - F Minor
Mazurka In A Minor ('a Emile Gaillard', 1840)
Mazurka In A Minor ('Notre temps', 1840)
Mazurka In B Flat Major (1826)
Mazurka In G Major (1826)
Mazurka In A Flat Major (1834)
Mazurka In C Major (1833)
Mazurka In B Flat Major (For Alexandra Wolowska, 1832)
Mazurka In D Major (1832)
Mazurka In D Major (?1820)
Mazurka In F Minor, Op.68 No. 4 - Vladimir Ashkenazy

Tracks:

Piano Sonata No.2 In B Flat Minor, Op.35: I - Grave - Doppio movimento
Piano Sonata No.2 In B Flat Minor, Op.35: II - Scherzo
Piano Sonata No.2 In B Flat Minor, Op.35: III - Marche funebre
Piano Sonata No.2 In B Flat Minor, Op.35: IV - Finale: Presto
Piano Sonata No.3 In B Minor, Op.58: I - Allegro maestoso
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
Fantaisie In F Minor, Op. 49

Tracks:

Piano Sonata No.1 In C Minor, Op.4: I - Allegro maestoso
Piano Sonata No.1 In C Minor, Op.4: II - Minuetto - Trio
Piano Sonata No.1 In C Minor, Op.4: III - Larghetto
Piano Sonata No.1 In C Minor, Op.4: IV - Finale: Presto
Variations sur un air national allemand - E Major (1826)
Rondo In C Minor, Op.1
3 Ecossaises, Op.72 No.3: I - D Major; II - G Major; III - D Flat Major
Rondo 'a la Mazur' In F Major, Op.5
Marche funebre In C Minor, Op.72 No.2
Contredanse In G Flat Major (?1827) - Vladimir Ashkenazy
Rondo In C Major, Op.73 - Vladimir Ashkenazy
Variations In D Major For Piano Duet (1826) - Vladimir Ashkenazy

Tracks:

Variations In A Major ('Souvenir de Paganini', 1829)
Variations brillantes In B Flat Major, Op.12
Rondo In E Flat Major, Op.16
Bolero In A Minor, Op.19
Cantabile In B Flat Major
Variation In E Major
Largo In E Flat Major
Allegro de concert In A Major, Op.46
3 Nouvelles Etudes (1837): I - F Minor
3 Nouvelles Etudes (1837): II - A Flat Major
3 Nouvelles Etudes (1837): III - D Flat Major
Tarentelle In A Flat Major, Op.43
Fugue In A Minor (1841 - 42)
Albumblatt in E Major (1843)
Op.74 No.2: Wiosna - Spring
2 Bourrees (1846): I - G Minor; II - A Major
Galop Marquis
Berceuse In D Flat Major, Op.57
Barcarolle In F Sharp Major, Op.60

Customer Reviews:

My experience of this CD.......2007-04-04

My hats off to this CD collection! It was worth it!!! Chopin is a true genius for the piano, on this collection.

Beautiful!.......2006-08-18

This is a beautifully played collection of Chopin's work. It was a birthday gift,
and I listen to bits of it every day. I have yet to find a favorite
CD, as each is so lovely. It is well worth the price.

Well worth the money. Wonderful! Wonderful!.......2006-06-10

I am not a classical music expert but I am an expert when it comes to a great product. I have listened to the works of rubenstein and Horowitz, but nothing is comparable to this great collection of polands favorite son. The nocturnes are dreamy and romantic. The other pieces though not as mesmerizing have plenty of depth and feeling. This is a collection that you will listen to over and over again. Although this music is great anytime, it's especially meaningful during a light rainfall. Go ahead and make this investment. It's only $100.00. For the next 100 days save a dollar and you will have it paid for. I promise you won't be sorry. Excellent! Excellent!

Best investment to make.......2006-05-21

In my opinion, this is the apex of classical music. You will not find a better CD for Chopin or any piano recordings. There may be plenty of comparable CDs, but nothing can claim to surpass this.

Although some pieces are not as good as those by other artists, Ashkenazy's interpretations of Chopin are the best I've ever heard. Add in his amazing technical performance and you've got some sublime music.

Listening to these pieces have immensely helped my own Chopin reportoire. I don't play to mimic Ashkenazy, but I use his insights and apply my own style over that and end up with something exponentially better than what I could produce on my own.

The price is something you have to seriously consider. A hundred bucks. Yeah, that's a lot of money, but that's 48 cents per song. And you'll listen to these songs dozens of times, at least, I guarantee. Plus it's a great deal... if you were to get all the Ashkenazy-Chopin CDs available on Amazon, overlapping pieces as little as possible, you'd pay $30 more and still not have everything.

This is an investment for life and will definitely remain one of my favorite CD sets for decades. Decades. A hundred bucks for decades of amazing music. This stuff is larger than today, larger than life.. music this good is something you can't afford to pass up because of temporary financial difficulties.

A great pianist interpreting the most inspired composer ever !.......2005-09-15

Lets imagine that Chopin himself has recorded his own compositions in a perfectly clear CD. I am sure that some classical music reviewers would say "This is not the way Chopin is meant to be played". These classical music "pundits" are very intolerant.

Interpretation and emotion feeling is also a matter of taste, so that the only one who can give a final answer is Franois (Frederic).

Ashkenazy is gifted with a phenomenal technique, a great pianist. So that this collection is for sure 5 stars. Enjoy it.

Ah, if you like to see piano technique in action, listen to Georgy Cziffra's interpretation of Etude op. 10 no. 4. (Search the album in my reviews.)

Average customer rating:

Wonderful

Chopin: Préludes & Nocturnes

Manufacturer: EMI Classics
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

Preludes | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music
Similar Items:

Chopin: Polonaises
Garrick Ohlsson Edition: Beethoven Piano Sonatas, Vol. 1
Chopin: Waltzes Nos. 1-14
Martha Argerich Plays Chopin: The Legendary 1965 Recording
Chopin: 26 Préludes, etc / Martha Argerich

ASIN: B0007RO55W
Release Date: 2005-05-24

Tracks:

No.1 In C Major (Agitato)
No.2 In A Minor (Lento)
No.3 In G Major (Vivace)
No.4 In E Minor (Largo)
No.5 In D Major (Allegro Molto)
No.6 In B Minor (Lento Assai)
No.7 In A Major (Andantino)
No.8 In F Sharp Minor (Molto Agitato)
No.9 In E Major (Largo
No.10 In C Sharp Minor (Allegro Molto)
No.11 In B Major (Vivace)
No.12 In G Sharp Minor (Presto)
No.13 In F Sharp (Lento)
No.14 In E Flat Minor (Allegro)
No.15 In D Flat Major (Sostenuto)
No.16 In B Flat Minor (Presto Con Fuoco)
No.17 In A Flat Major (Allegretto)
No.18 In F Minor (Allegro Molto)
No.19 In E Flat Major (Vivace)
No.20 In C Minor (Largo)
No.21 In B Flat Major (Cantabile)
No.22 In G Minor (Molto Agitato)
No.23 In F Major (Moderato)
No.24 In D Minor (Allegro Appassionato)
Prelude In C Sharp Minor Op.45
Prelude In A Flat Major Op. Posth.
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
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

Tracks:

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.1
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.72 No.1
Nocturne In C Sharp Minor Op. Posth.
Nocturne In C Minor Op. Posth.

Customer Reviews:

Wonderful.......2006-05-03

Ohlsson is so technically gifted. Yet, he keeps himself under control with his really beautiful rendition of these most gentle of Chopin's work. He doesn't fool around with tempos either, as so many other pianists (Pollini et. al.) tend to do with Chopin to bring out the emotion. Ohlsson realizes that the work of Chopin is inherently emotional enough as it is, and needs no help. He just plays in a straighforward workman-like manner. As they say: "Play Mozart like Chopin, and Chopin like Mozart". That's what he does, and the effect is mesmerizing.

Having said that he plays in a straightforward manner ... what's with that little flourish in the 15th Prelude? I don't know that it's written that way, but it sounds good nevertheless.

A great record -- beautiful performances of dreamy compositions. You can't go wrong with this one.

Meditation: Classical Relaxation (Box Set)

Average customer rating:

Relaxing music at its finest!
Get it for $9.99 at Sam's Club!
Beautiful, moving music! You'll recognize many of the pieces
Meditative, But Not Boring
A Bargain and Beautiful

Meditation: Classical Relaxation (Box Set)

Manufacturer: Delta
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

Minuets | Ballets & Dances | Classical | Styles | Music

Quartets | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music

Quintets | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music

Etudes | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music

Suites | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Symphonies | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Classical | Styles | Music

Compilations | Classical | Styles | Music

Baroque (c.1600-1750) | Historical Periods | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

General | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

French | Languages | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

Italian | Languages | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

Oratorios | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

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

General | Soundtracks | Styles | Music

Classical | Box Sets | Stores | Music

Masters of Classical Music (Box Set)
Classics for Relaxation and Meditation
Chopin For Relaxation
Beethoven for Relaxation
Vivaldi for Relaxation

ASIN: B000001VUT
Release Date: 1991-10-11

Tracks:

Canon
Andante From Piano Concerto No. 21: Elvira Madigan
Coppelia: Notturno
String Quintet In C: Adagio - Schubert
Orchestral Suite No. 3: Air - Bach
Clarinet Concerto: Adagio
Symphony No. 8 'Unfinished': Andante con moto - Schubert
Concerto, Op. 9 No. 2: Adagio
Orpheus And Eurydice: Dance Of The Blessed Spirits

Tracks:

Thais: Meditation
Romance In G, Op. 26
The Last Spring
Minuet
Serenade, Op. 3 No. 5
Poeme, Op. 41 No.6
Elegiac Melody No. 1
Serenade For String Orchestra: Elegia
I Love You
La Gioconda: Dance Of The Hours

Tracks:

Adagio
Romance In F Minor, Op. 11
Peer Gynt: Solveig's Song
Romance For Violin No. 2 In F, Op. 50
Rosamunde: Ballet Music In G
Symphony No. 5: Adagietto

Tracks:

Peer Gynt: Morning
Standchen (Serenade)
Mozartiana Suite: Preghiera (Ave Verum)
Moonlight Sonata: Adagio sostenuto
Piano Concerto No. 23 in A: 2nd Movement
Rosamunde: Intermezzo
Violin Concerto In E Minor: 2nd Movement
Serenade For String Orchestra: 1st Movement
L'Arlesienne, Suite No. 2: Intermezzo
Concierto De Aranjuea: 2nd Movement
Trout Quintet: Theme And Variations

Tracks:

The Tales Of Hoffmann: Barcarolle
Valse Triste
Liebestraum No. 3 In A Flat
Minuet
Oboe Concerto In D Minor: Oboe Concerto In D Minor (Excerpt)
Piano Sonata No. 8: Pathetique: 2nd Movement
Cavalleria Rusticana: Intermezzo sinfonico
Christmas Oratorio: Sinfonia
Ave Maria
Horn Concerto No.3: 2nd Movement
Symphony No. 1: 3rd Movement
Traumerei
Peer Gynt: Ase's Death
Xerves: Largo
Symphony No. 9: From The New World: 2nd Movement

Tracks:

Swan Lake
Eine kleine Nachtmusik: Romance
Nocturne In B Major, Op. 9 No. 3
Madama Butterfly: Humming Chorus
A Midsummer Night's Dream: Notturno
Symphony No. 35: Haffner: Andante
Carmen Suite No. 1: Intermezzo
Piano Sonata In B-Flat Major, D.960: Andante sostenuto
Sinfonia Concertante In E Flat Major: Andante
Piano Concerto No. 2: Larghetto

Tracks:

Impromptu In G Flat Major
Evening Song
Serenade No. 1: Adagio non troppo
The Merry Peasant
Flute Quartet In G Major
Symphony No. 7: Allegretto
Cradle Song
Quartet in G Major: Theme And Variations
Barcarolle: The Seasons: June
Symphony No.36 'Linz': Poco adagio

Tracks:

Prelude In C Minor - Meditation
Piano Concerto In A Minor: Adagio - Meditation
Flute Concerto No. 2: Adagio non troppo - Meditation
Andante - Meditation
Impromptu In B Flat Major - Meditation
Clair de lune - Meditation
Divertimento In D, K.251: Andantino - Meditation
Caro mio ben - Meditation
Piano Concerto No. 9: Jeunehomme: Andante - Meditation
Theme And Variations - Meditation

Tracks:

The Sleeping Beauty: Panorama
Waltz, Op.39 No.15
Flute Concerto In G Minor: Andante
Impromptu In A Flat
Violin Concerto No. 5: Adagio
Symphony No. 3: Allegretto
Brandenburg Concerto No. 2: Andante
Piano Sonata No. 3: Largo
Suite No. 1: Intermezzo
Piano Concerto No. 3: Largo

Tracks:

La Traviata: Act 1: Prelude
Kinderscenen: Foreign Countries And People
Chanson triste
Symphony No. 5: Andante
La Campanella
Flute Concerto in B Flat: Adagio
Piano Sonata No. 2: Funeral March
Symphony No. 94: Surprise: Andante
Concerto for Flute and Harp: Andantino
Symphony No. 6: Pathetique: Adagio lamentoso

Customer Reviews:

Relaxing music at its finest!.......2005-10-14

This is a GREAT 10-CD set!The performances are top-notch, the music is varied, and the feelings engendered are wondrously beautiful.

Get it for $9.99 at Sam's Club!.......2005-06-22

Very nice set of CD's, very beatiful and relaxing, but don't pay $27, get it for $9 at Sam's Club. I know this will be censored but come on, how can you guys charge those saps that much! Amazon should try to find the best price for its customers, even if it sends them to different vendors. Censoring this message is a crime, DON'T DO IT. NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!

Beautiful, moving music! You'll recognize many of the pieces.......2004-02-24

John Cheng's review, below, said it's "an undeniable bargain," and I whole heartedly agree! I especially LOVE Volume 5. I have a Typing/Resume business, and I listen to Volume 5 ALL the time on my computer while I'm doing my work. It inspires me to be creative and calms me down when I'm stressed.

I would say I've _easily_ listened to Volume 5 at least 100 times, and I'm still not tired of it. That's amazing for me, because I'm also a musician (singer/pianist) and I get bored easily. I actually found the Volume 5 CD at a Thrift store, and loved it so much that I bought the whole set recently. So I've only listened to a few of the other CD's in this set, so far, and they're also great.

This is NOT boring music. My clients and family have heard it also, and they've also mentioned how soothing and wonderful these pieces are. Most of you will probably recognize a lot of these songs! You'll be saying, "OH! I remember THIS one! I haven't heard this for YEARS!!!"

It's well worth the money for 10 very full CD's!!! Try it! You won't be disappointed!

Happy listening!
Betty, Owner of Betty's Desk Typing Service and Quality Resumes

Meditative, But Not Boring.......2002-06-21

Here's the deal: If you check out the individual CDs of this collection, you'll pay way too much. That said, compare this price, and realize it is a steal at twice the price.

The list of selections is immense. 101 selections. Most of it you've heard before, but that's OK. Despite the various cute names -- quite creative -- "Vol. 9"!... you can load your CD player and enjoy them without feeling a transition of style.

It's true these aren't meditative in the sense of a Gregorian chant. Anyone familiar with classical music will recognize the composers and various movements to know this. What is true is that you can sit down and write Amazon reviews with it in the background quite comfortably. No weird interpretations, just the music as you know it.

It is also meditative in the sense of popping on it your portable player as you go for a Sunday afternoon walk. The music has just the right pacing: no quite aerobics class, but not ready for the office elevator either.

The box and jewel cases are not that flimsy kind of thing often associated with box sets. It sounds silly to review the jewel cases, but I'm frustrated with the ones I've received lately that have no meat to them. This'll do the job.

I fully recommend "Meditation: Classical Relaxation, 10 Volume Set [BOX SET].

Anthony Trendl
editor, HungarianBookstore.com

A Bargain and Beautiful.......2002-02-28

This is a wonderful collection of some of my most favorite classical selections. Most I already own, but still like having these all together. I could only wish that the recording level was the same for all selections. Yes, some are written to be softer, but I found it often necessary to turn the volume up or down for different selections. But aside from this minor preference, the quality, the choices, and the price are all super.

Average customer rating:

The Best Digital Recording of Chopin's Nocturnes
Nocturnes with Barenboim...
Very nice
This is the standard for the Nocturnes
Life Inspiring

Chopin: The Complete Nocturnes

Manufacturer: Deutsche Grammophon
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Classical | Styles | Music

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

Mendelssohn: Songs Without Words, etc.
Chopin: Waltzes
Mozart:The Complete Piano Sonatas and Variations
Beethoven: Piano Sonatas
Chopin Polonaises

ASIN: B000007ODX
Release Date: 1998-06-09

Tracks:

Nocturnes In B Flat Minor, Op. 9 No. 1: Larghetto
Nocturnes In E Flat Major, Op. 9 No. 2: Andante
Nocturnes In B Major, Op. 9 No. 3: Allegretto
Nocturnes In F Major, Op. 15 No. 1: Andante Cantabile
Nocturnes In F Sharp Major, Op. 15 No. 2: Larghetto
Nocturnes In G Minor, Op. 15 No. 3: Lento
Nocturnes In C Sharp Minor, Op. 27 No. 1: Larghetto
Nocturnes In D Flat Major, Op.27 No.2: Lento Sostenuto
Nocturnes In B Major, Op.32 No. 1: Andante Sostenuto
Nocturnes In A Flat Major, Op. 32 No. 2: Lento
Nocturnes In G Minor, Op. 37 No.1: Andante Sostenuto

Tracks:

In G Major, Op. 37 No. 2: Andantino
In C Minor, Op. 48 No. 1: Lento
In F-Sharp Minor, Op. 48 No. 2: Andantino
In F Minor, Op. 55 No. 1: Andante
In E-Flat Major, Op. 55 No. 2: Lento sostenuto
In B Major, Op. 62 No. 1: Andante
In E Major, Op. 62 No. 2: Lento
In E Minor, Op. Post. 72 No. 1: Andante
In C-Sharp Minor, Op. Post.: Lento con gran espressione
In C Minor, Op. Post.: In C Minor, Op. Post

Customer Reviews:

The Best Digital Recording of Chopin's Nocturnes.......2006-08-20

Daniel Barenboim's 1981 recording of Chopin's complete Nocturnes is your best option if your are seeking a modern full digital recording of these works. Barenboim's performance is intimate and almost reserved when compared to other famous Nocturnes recordings by Arrau, Moravec, and, to a lesser extent, Ashkenazy. Some reviewers have , quite wrongly I believe, criticized Barenboim's performance has technically sound but unemotional and workmanlike. On the contrary, Barenboim has captured the essential essence of a nocturne which is an intimate "night-piece". It is this quiet and intimate night conversation between piano and listener which I feel Barenboim has captured like no other. It is not that Barenboim's performance is any greater or lesser than Arrau, Moravec or Ashkenazy - it is simply that he has taken on a more intimate presentation of Chopin's nocturnes. Barenboim has presented us with a unique perspective of these works and you cannot ask anymore than this from an artist. If recording quality is an issue for you when you purchase your music, then the digital sound engineering of the Barenboim recording far surpasses the sound quality found on the more dated Arrau and Moravec performances.

Nocturnes with Barenboim..........2005-10-05

Not being familiar with Chopin's music (other than the Polonaise - Polish Air), I must admit that his compositions (particularly the nocturnes) are among some of the best classical music that I've been privileged to hear. This is an excellent collection - 2 for 1, can't be beat! Barenboim does an excellent job in the presentation of these pieces. Thanks to this CD, I can get work done (at work, no less!). Highly recommended!

Very nice.......2005-03-17

Probably the best complete set of the nocturnes you can get. Barenboim does a lovely job. Beautiful pieces, beautiful interpretations, beautiful sound. Highly recommended.

This is the standard for the Nocturnes.......2005-02-16

In comparing other performaces to Barenboim's DG disc, I find that he captures the mood and essence of the nocturnes like no other has done. These pieces are not difficult to play, and being a virtuoso does not add to the interpretation of these pieces. Sure others certainly have had more dazzling performances and cleaner fingerwork than Barenboim, but this served to distract more than enhance this style of music--afterall, these pieces are for small, intimate audiances, not large concert halls. Barenboim is almost self-less in these pieces--I can do no better to explain it than this.

Life Inspiring.......2003-10-13

After reading the other reviews, I cant say that I will be able to provide the same kind of insight, however my experience with this cd run deep and I thought I should share. I first discovered the Nocturnes when I was a student at berklee for jazz. I was so involved with jazz I had little time to persue classical. A friend gave me the Nocturnes and I became obsessed. For a month straight I went to classes with diffrent numbers from the disc stuck in my head each day, and I could hardley wait to get out of my last class and endundge with the Nocturnes.
The way Chopin writes sounds very personal and intimate to me. I was first very imperssed with the composetions and not concerned about how the performer was interperating the songs, however it is my humble opinon that Daniel Barenboim performes the Nocturnes beautiflly. He played them well enough to motivate me to become frequent listner to classical. Now Chopin influences me in my own writing. Not only have the nocturnes influenced me from a musical stand point, this music has been very nessary in the past to get me through hard times.
I recommend this disc to anyone who is a music lover and is looking for somthing inspiring.

Average customer rating:

Interpretations that look forward to the 20th Century ... not back to the 19th
perhaps consider these thoughts before purchasing
Substandard
Dead cheap ... but , unfortunately , a waste of money
Poor sound, poor playing, large selection

Complete Piano Works of Scriabin
Michael Ponti , and Scriabin
Manufacturer: Vox (Classical)
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music
Similar Items:

Scriabin: Complete Sonatas
Bartok: Complete Solo Piano Music
Horowitz Plays Scriabin
Scriabin: Complete Symphonies
The Complete Preludes and Etudes for Pianoforte Solo

ASIN: B00007J4SI
Release Date: 2002-12-10

Tracks:

Etude
Prelude
Impromptu A La Mazur
F Sharp Minor
A Major
Canon In D Minor
Fugue
Albumleaf In A Flat Major
Albumleaf In F Sharp Major
Nocturne In A Flat Major
Fantasy For 2 Pianos
Egoroff Variations
Allegro Appassionato Op. 4
Vivace
Allegretto
Vivo
Lento
Andante Cantabile
Allegro
Allegro Assai
Allegro Agitato
Andantino
Andante
Allegro Assai
Andante
Lento
Presto
Lento
Misterioso
Allegretto
Allegro Agitato
Affettuoso
Appassionato
Andante
Lento
Vivo
Presto
Waltz In G# Minor Op. Posth.
Waltz In D Flat Major Op. Posth.
Waltz In F Minor Op. 1

Tracks:

Allegro
Capriccio
Tempestoso
Piacevole
Brioso
Con Grazia
Presto Tenebroso
Lento (Tempo Rubato)
Alla Ballata
Allegro
Andante Cantabile
Patetico
Patetico (Alternative Version)
Presto
No. 2 In F# Minor
Prestissimo
Andante
Affanato
Esaltato
Agitato
Allegro
F Major
B Minor
Tempo Giusto
Allegretto Non Tanto
Allegretto
Moderato
Doloroso
Scherzando
Con Passione
Con Moto
No. 9 In G# Minor
Sotto Voce

Tracks:

Prelude In C# Minor
Nocturne In D Flat Major
No. 1 In G# Minor
No. 2 In F# Minor
No. 1 In F# Minor
No. 2 In A Major
No. 1 In F# Major
No. 2 In B Flat Minor
Maestoso
Allegro
Andante
Allegro
Allegro
Presto
No. 1 In B Major
No. 2 In F# Minor
Andante
Vivo
Allegro Assai
Andantino
Andante
Andante
Allegro
Andante Cantabile
Lento
Allegretto
Allegretto
Presto
Andante
Lento
Presto
Andante Doloroso
Allegro Assai
Allegro De Concert Op. 18

Tracks:

Polonaise Op. 21
Andante
Andante
Allegretto
Andantino
Allegro
Allegretto
Lento
Vivo
Agitato
Allegretto
Moderato
Allegretto
Mesto
Patetico In G Minor
Andante In B Major
Fantasie In B Minor Op. 28
Andante
Con Stravaganza
Presto
Lento
No. 1 In E Major
Vagamente
No. 3 In C Major
Ardito Bellicoso
No. 1 In D Flat Major
No. 2 In B Flat Major
No. 3 In C Major
Mesto
Maestoso Fiero
Andante
Irato Impetuoso
Allegro
Elevato
Languido
No. 4 In A Flat Major
Impetuoso Fiero
Poetico Con Delizio
Capricciosamente Affannato
Festivamente

Tracks:

No. 1 In F# Major
No. 2 In D Major
Poeme Tragique Op. 34
Poeme Satanique Op. 36
Poeme Op. 41
No. 1 In C Major
No. 2 In C Major
Feuillet D'Album
Poeme Fantastique
Prelude
Scherzo Op. 46
Etude
Prelude
Reverie
Waltz In A Flat Major, Op. 38
Quasi Waltz In F Major, Op. 47
Allegro In D Flat Major
Piacevole In F# Major
Fragilite
Prelude
Poeme Aile
Danse Languide
Poeme
Enigme
Poeme Languide
Prelude
Ironies
Nuances
Etude
Desir
Caresse Dansee
Albumleaf Op. 58
Poeme
Prelude
Poeme-Nocturne Op. 61
Masque
Etrangete
Allegretto
Allegretto
Andante
Presto

Customer Reviews:

Interpretations that look forward to the 20th Century ... not back to the 19th.......2007-07-02

The wide divergence of review comments about this CD set reflects the difference of opinion and preference for how Scriabin's music should be played. As a member of the Scriabin Society of America, I've personally seen and heard many different interpretations of many of the etutes, preludes and other pieces in this large set ... I've also heard many strong opinions voiced both pro and con these various performances.

In the end, it all comes down to whether you like your Scriabin lean and taut, or prefer him broad and expansive. I come down on the "lean" side, which is why I enjoy these performances. Michael Ponti misses some notes here and there, but when your Scriabin is almost going off the edge, that's what happens. Scriabin should never sound "pretty" in the manner of Chopin, which is where so many pianists get it wrong. Yes, he owed much to Chopin, Balakirev and other pianist-composers, but that was merely the jumping off place for Scriabin as he plunged headlong into the 20th Century. Yes, there are moments of sheer exquisiteness to savor, but ultimately Scriabin's is music that stretches the bounds of tonality and rattles the structural cage, trying to break free.

When you listen to this set, you'll discover that not all of Scriabin's compositions are top-drawer (no big surprise when you consider the massive number of works he composed over many years). And it's also true that when one single pianist is tackling it all, not every interpretation is going to be equally inspired. But once you've heard Ponti's special way with these pieces -- bright piano and all -- you'll never again be satisfied with a merely "correct" or "poised" reading. That's selling Scriabin WAY too short ... but it's what 80% of the other pianists do. (Oh yeah, but they might get all the notes correct.)

Be sure to purchase this set along with the companion 2-CD set of the complete sonatas that also includes a few late, late works. Ponti's performances of the sonatas are even more effective, IMHO.

perhaps consider these thoughts before purchasing.......2007-05-12

I've listened to this recording for 6 months now, and I have a few thoughts to share. It might help to consider this recording is NOT the complete piano music of Scriabin. Actually it is not even close to the complete recording. What is missing takes up another 2 CDs. Second, the playing is adequate, somewhat expected given the technical demands. I'll explain. Scriabin's work is full of colorful dynamics; it is also poignant, covering a broad range of emotion. Taken together, each and every song demands from the pianist in a way that can overwhelm, and, in this case, I think it did. For me, the emotional messages of pain, fear, desire, and so on were missing, and these emotional messages are at the heart of Scriabin's work. Finally, I prefer a piano sound that is not so bright. At times, when the song reached its climax, I cringed a bit at what I experienced as a unpleasant piercing sound. In the end, I still encourage you to explore this recording for yourself if you are so inclined. I think listening to many recordings by different artists helps us all refine our taste in music. A recording, in my opinion, is never a complete waste of money.

Substandard.......2007-04-16

There are two performances that stand out in this set: The Op. 71 poems. The sound quality throughout is marginal (very thin old analog that makes Horowitz's muffled Third Sonata sound great), and one reviewer even said he/she thinks the piano was out of tune, which wouldn't surprise me.

Ponti's Scriabin is sloppy and umusical in general. Only the Op. 71 poems make this set worth getting. Start with Robert Taub's sonatas, Horowitz Plays Scriabin (on RCA and Sony), and Glemser Vol. 1.

Dead cheap ... but , unfortunately , a waste of money.......2005-06-14

Recorded in the mid '70s , this 'CD' has as much hiss as piano on it . What piano there is , is slightly distorted and far too bright .
This is the complete catalogue , but , honestly , you'd be better off with midi files .
I can't believe a record company actually released this **ap .
Reminds me of those old 'classics' the tobacco companies used to sponsor in the seventies .
Except , most of the collection sounds like it was recorded on an early Phillips cassette recorder .
Cigarettes are better value than this product .

Poor sound, poor playing, large selection.......2005-04-25

I was excited to purchase an almost complete set of Scriabin's piano works, and for the breath there is nothing else that compares to this album. The price is small considering you'll be getting 5 CD's of the majority of Scriabin's piano works. However, the scale is about all the CD set has in its favor.
The piano is horribly bright, sounding almost like a toy. Also, as the other revies mension, there is significant noise on the tracks because it was remastered from audio cassette. However, the noise is does not detract from the performance much and is more of a constant annoyance than an obstacle to hearing the playing. However, the playing isn't spectacular either. Ponti gets fairly sloppy at times (though, to be fair, Scriabin is very difficult to play). Also, I do not agree with his interpretations of many pieces (of course, that is purely personal preference whereas sloppy technique is not).
To summarize, the playing by many other pianists of Scrianbin is superior. If you only want one or two Scriabin songs and they happen to be famous, you can probably find them on a different CD. I would only but this set if one was looking for the complete works.

Average customer rating:

Nice Set of Nocturnes
Amazing
rather devoid of emotions
This CD is good.
Ashkenzy?

Chopin: Nocturnes, 4 Ballades

Manufacturer: Decca
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Similar Items:

Chopin: Piano Sonatas; Etudes
Chopin Polonaises
Chopin: Mazurkas
Chopin: Waltzes; 4 Scherzos; 26 Preludes
Violin Romances

ASIN: B0000041L8
Release Date: 1997-08-26

Tracks:

3. Nocturnes, Op.9: I. B Flat Minor
3. Nocturnes, Op.9: II. E Flat Major
3. Nocturnes, Op.9: III. B Major
3. Nocturnes, Op. 15: I. F Major
3. Nocturnes, Op. 15: II. F Sharp Major
3. Nocturnes, Op. 15: III. G Minor
2. Nocturnes, Op. 27: I. C Sharp Minor
2. Nocturnes, Op. 27: II. D Flat Major
2. Nocturnes, Op. 32: I. B major
2. Nocturnes, Op. 32: II. A Flat Major
2. Nocturnes, Op. 37: I. G Minor
2. Nocturnes, Op. 37: II. G Major
2. Nocturnes, Op. 48: I. C Minor
2. Nocturnes, Op. 48: II. F Sharp Minor

Tracks:

2. Nocturnes, Op. 55: I. F Minor
2. Nocturnes, Op. 55: II. E-flat major
2. Nocturnes, Op. 62: I. B major
2. Nocturnes, Op. 62: II. E major
Nocturne In E Minor, Op. 72 No. 1
Nocturne In C Sharp Minor
Nocturne In C Minor
Ballade No. 1 In G Minor, Op. 23
Ballade No. 2 In F Major, Op. 38
Ballade No. 3 In A-Flat Major, Op. 47
Ballade No. 4 In F Minor, Op. 52

Customer Reviews:

Nice Set of Nocturnes.......2005-06-26

In my opinion, Chopin's Nocturnes and Ballades are some of the most beautiful repertoire ever written for the piano, and it doesn't necessarily matter who is playing them, so long as they are Chopin. Yes, I agree that pieces can be performed badly, and this hinders their quality significantly, but anyone who is a dedicated enough musician to have been recorded is obviously capable of performing the repertoire. There is no doubt that Ashkenazy is an incredible pianist, with great technique and versatility. Anyone could nitpick about the nuances of his playing, criticizing certain aspects or welcoming others. The obvious truth is that everyone's preferences and opinions are different, and therefore, there is no way that everyone could possibly be pleased by any one object. This is why you will find various negative reviews scattered among the praise, usuallytaking a shot at Ashkenazy's "stiff" or "emotionless" interpretations.

I find that, as a whole, this set of nocturnes is one of the best available for purchase. When I say best, I mean best for the value, quality of recording, completeness, and quality of playing. There may be other performers whose recordings I like a tiny bit more on some cases (particularly the C Minor Nocturne 48/1) but that doesn't bring down the quality of this set. The facts are, Ashkenazy is a perfectionist, like any other recorded pianist, and therefore there are no mistakes in his playing, the tempi and dynamics are well-thought out, as he has studied these pieces extensively, and the emotions are as ever-present as one could hope, for Ashkenazy has been performing for many years in concert settings, and piano is obviously the focal point of his life.

This is the only set I have found available at such a price which includes the Nocturnes and Ballades. Both cd's contain over 70 minutes of material, which is incredible for the price. As I said before, the recording quality is crisp, without the crackle and pop of some earlier recordings (Rubinstein) or the heavy breathing of others (Arrau). Criticisms and qualms about individual nocturnes aside, (and they are there) this is still one of the best sets around. There are many more good things to say about Ashkenazy's playing than bad ones, in my opinion. If you are expecting these interpetations to sound overly conservative, this is not the case. Ashkenazy is infamous for being very faithful to the score, which I think is very true about these nocturnes. Where rubato is indicated, he uses rubato. Where the score says accelerando, Ashkenazy plays faster. The dynamics and tempi are usually identical to the urtext editions. In this sense, Ashkenazy is conservative, because he does not show his own artistica style possibly as much as some others, but he is very respectful of Chopin, and is most concerned with playing these pieces the way the composer intended. In my opinion, this is superemly important and commendable. This is a great package of Nocturnes and Ballades, and Ashkenazy is reknowned for a reason.

Amazing.......2005-02-26

These are great! Ashkenazy is definentley one of the great Chopin interpreters. All of the people who say that Ashkenazy has no emotion in his playing are wrong! Ashkenazy has a beautiful tone in his playing. His interpretations are also great. He is the thinking man's pianist. If you don't understand what I am saying, I am saying that he plays with perfect technique and he thinks the piece through intellegently and he dosen't go for the big flash while playing. This might be one ofthe reasons why people say he is emotionless. He still has emotion even if he dosen't do that thing where you sway while playing and you move way to much (that is a stupid thing to do because it dosen't help and it can hurt your technique while playing). The only person who has played Chopin better than Ashkenazy is Emanuel Ax (I am not saying that Rubinstein and Horowitz etc. are worse than Ashkenazy, they are just as good, but they all are different. Emanuel Ax has the most beautiful tone I have ever heard. Sadly not many Ax recordings exist anymore. Ashkenazy plays the Nocturnes beautifully especially F minor. Chopin plays the Ballades with the same beauty heard in the Nocturnes and (once again) the F minor ballade (no. 4) is one of, if not the best recording I have ever heard. So to summarize Ashkenazy does have a beautiful tone and an intellegent approach to Chopin, so this is a great buy!

rather devoid of emotions.......2002-12-15

I bought this cd last year. I heard so much about Ashkenazy, and his face is anywhere in music stores.
I think this cd is among the big disappointments I periodically listen to. To do Ashkenazy justice, I have to say there are some older recordings that I still treasure, such as the Rachmaninoff preludes, of the suites for 2 pianos of the same composer, but they are all recordings of the early 70's.

Not much, instead, I manage to treasure of this new Ashkenazy
Regarding this particular Chopin recording, consider, for example, the Prelude in C minor, op. 48 No.1. Its second part is a wild galloping towards a forseeable tragic end, but in Ashkenazy fingers it reduces to a mere pretty lyric piece. It is truly emotionless. This Chopin played by Ashkenazy sounds somewhat like Baudelaire or Apollinaire read in german with a metronome stuck in Largo. And even sober!
What is Chopin worth, I ask, when you leave all his stormy contrapunt out? The rest of the collection surely has a nice cover, but leaves me totally emotionless.

I understand that, as Arrau once said, "Chopin should be played like Mozart and Mozart like Chopin", but why can't someone play Chopin just like Chopin?

A collection that I find really giving Chopin some justice, instead, sometimes not too popular, is the one Nocturnes playes by Dame Moura Lympany, or the Etudes played by Gavrilov, tough, you understand, it can be a matter of taste.

This CD is good........2000-06-10

(I hate writing titles for these reviews.) Anyway, I couldn't disagree more with the reviewer below. Ashenazy is, next to Rubinstein, one of the best Chopin interpreters around. He is not "dry," merely subtle, suggesting rather than declaring, which is what Chopin had in mind with these mood pieces. His technique is flawless but he never flaunts it as some other pianists I have heard do. The ballades are excellent and played at perfect tempos.

Ashkenzy?.......1999-09-03

I bought this CD as a reference as I am learning Chopin's nocturnes. I don't think Ashkenazy as that great a Chopin player. He's playing is relatively dry compared to other pianists. Take Mikhail Pletnev for example. The recording isn't too good either. All in all, this is a great CD to purchase only if your budget is limited and you're not expecting to listen to this over and over again.

Average customer rating:

At least 16 / 19 well spent hours
Enlightening but slighly blemished
Chopin - Luisada, Jean-Marc
Chopin - Luisada, Jean-Marc
Learn, learn, learn!

Chopin: Complete Edition
Krystian Zimerman , Claudio Arrau , Stefan Askenase , Anatol Ugorski , Maurizio Pollini , Jean-Marc Luisada , and Zilberstein, Lilya
Manufacturer: Deutsche Grammophon
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Liszt: Piano Works
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ASIN: B00001X58Z
Release Date: 1999-10-12

Amazon.com

On the 150th anniversary of his death, Deutsche Grammophon released this impressive box set featuring the complete works of Frédéric Chopin. Spread out over 17 CDs, it contains some truly big-name artists--Argerich, Pollini, Barenboim, and Ashkenazy--and a few you've probably never heard of. The majority of the set's nine volumes contain some music newly produced for this undertaking, and a few items (Chopin's songs, for instance) were recorded specifically for this collection. A well-illustrated book is included--it contains an essay, dateline, and illustrations--and each volume in the set gets its own liner notes. The music? It varies from great to less than great, but most of it is worth hearing. Those accustomed to Rubinstein's readings of the Mazurkas will find those played by Jean-Marc Luisada less fluid and lacking Rubinstein's power. Chopin's songs, seldom heard and filled with elements of Polish folk dances and the less-than-stellar lyrics of the composer's friend Stefan Witwicki, get a college try here by soprano Elzbieta Szmytka. They sound as good as you'll hear anywhere (if you can find them). It probably goes without saying that Martha Argerich's rousing 26 Préludes are some of the set's more exciting moments. But, really, the entire collection is solid. It should be noted that budget label Naxos has released its own Chopin edition at less than half the price of this set. With Idil Biret as the only performer on that set, you miss out on some of the diverse performances and personalities found here. Also, to please those of us who already own favorite performances of these works, each two-CD volume in the Complete Chopin Edition can be purchased individually. Bravo. --Jason Verlinde

Customer Reviews:

At least 16 / 19 well spent hours.......2004-10-11

In my opinion there is no more effective way to ruin a great musical performance than to record it in front of an audience who cannot control their coughs. The first disc starts out with a 1979 live recording of Chopin's first piano/orchestra concerto featuring pianist Krystian Zimerman and the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra of Amsterdam. The performance is good, but doesn't allow the listener full concentration,--and therefore not full enjoyment--as a distracting and annoying audience can be heard coughing, sneezing, and clearing their throats even above the orchestra's playing in mezzo forte - it gets worse, of course, at dynamically quieter musical parts. Other distractions, like chairs creaking, cracking and squeaking, pages being turned probably inches away from a microphone (perhaps to give the page-turner a chance to say "Did you hear that? That was me,") and people stomping/dropping things (?) add to the incapability of the listener's full enjoyment. I've heard much worse, however, but considering that the recording technique is no older than 25 years, this is on the verge of being unacceptable. Sure - there can be a certain charm in hearing such "humanity" on a recording, especially when it's older, but I don't think many would disagree that this is a bit too much. Hearing the opening of piano/orchestra concerto no.2, and knowing that the 18+ hours of music to come aren't going to be interrupted by coughs, is a big relief. My favorite Chopin interpreter is--and might always be--Rubinstein; his playing is straight forward, he cuts to the chase quickly, yet somehow manages to leave room for sensitivity and emotion. His performances, of course--since he never recorded a note for Deutsche Grammophon,--are not included in this "complete edition," so aside from suggestions that certain waltzes are missing, that is something that makes this boxed set incomplete for me. Pollini's general interpretation of Chopin is in my opinion, as in many others', quite weak in comparison to Argerich's, Zimerman's, or the passionate playing of Daniel Barenboim. Here Pollini performs Etudes, Scherzos, Sonatas and Polonaises. At times, during the Etudes of op. 10, I feel like I'm getting more Maurizio than I am getting Fryderyk, even though the performance (especially on no.3) may invite feelings of thriving despite the performer's occasional roaring in the left channel. The Scherzos feature some troublesome factors; first and foremost the sound (of this 1990 recording) isn't at all as good as one would expect. It's far worse than several older recordings of this set - at only six seconds into the first Scherzo (op.20) one can't avoid acknowledging obvious distortion - the recording has clearly been done with too much input level. Clips noises continue throughout the grainy and dull sound picture of these pieces. Second of all, the noises Pollini makes while playing can be quite off putting. At times he sounds like a boy with a voice just breaking experiencing climax of coition, and as we all know, Chopin had a prudish aversion to overt sexuality. One reason why Pollini's performance of the Scherzos being called "troublesome" might be harsh, is that musically he handles them ok, and I'd think that's what's essential, but Deutsche Grammophon has made the odd decision of including Pollini's recording of Sonata no. 2, op.35 (a.k.a. "Funeral March") from 1984 in this set, instead of Argerich's recording from 1975. First of all, Argerich's version has clearer sound (at least on the newly refurbished "The Originals" edition...but then again, that was released in 2002,) but second of all, and more importantly, her playing is far more straight forward during the first part of the Sonata (Grave,) whereas Pollini shows too much mercy both for strong dynamics and tempo throughout. Furthermore he's on the verge of playing parts of the March suggesting "lento," as if it read "rubato" (it's a MARCH!) His performance of Piano Sonata no.3 is also a bit lifeless, but the hour long disc of Polonaises recorded 1975 he handles surprisingly well (the occasional phlegmatic karaoke-roars may need a little time getting used to, though.) Several of these interpreters make some less musical noises while playing - Zimerman, for instance, breathes heavily through the nose after each and every completed phrase throughout all off his performances (although it can't be heard with orchestra.) When listening to his solo performances in head phones, the constant snuffling can distract and annoy quite a bit, but I know that I do the exact same thing when I play, myself, so perhaps I shouldn't complain until I've managed to rid the inconvenient problem myself. Besides Pollini's Polonaise interpretations, there's another (76 minute long) disc of Polonaises featuring mainly Ugorski, but also Argerich. Something that seems odd to me is that the sound quality of Argerich's 1974 recording once again is superior to a newer recording - in this case to the 1999 recording of Ugorski, which doesn't feature much middle in the sound picture, but uneven soughing and clip noises! Both their performances (but especially Argerich's,) are about as enjoyable as Chopin interpretations can be, I'd think, as is the technically and musically perfect, touching and mesmerizing Nocturne interpretations of Daniel Barenboim, recorded in 1981 - his playing here equals close to two hours of pure magic. While being a Rubinstein fan, I'm going to have to say that Barenboim's way of playing the Nocturnes is just how I think they should be played; they call for this somewhat gentle touch mixed in with their brutal sincerity, but I suggest for those who (especially) enjoy the Etudes, Sonatas and Scherzos to listen to Rubinstein's recordings of the works (available on RCA's Rubinstein Collection, vol. 26, vol. 45 and vol. 46.) Pollini is, of course, a fine performer, but I'd suggest listening to his interpretations of Prokofiev's and Stravinsky's work instead.
Rubinstein recorded the preludes (op.28) in their entirety only once, in 1946, which means that they aren't available in RCA's collection with preferable sound quality, but on this set Martha Argerich delivers a great performance of the 26 preludes (no.1-24, op.28, plus 25, op.45, and 26, op. 35,) recorded in 1975. One prelude that in my opinion should always be played as slow and gentle as possible is no.15 (a.k.a. "The Raindrop Prelude.") What I'd like to describe as a prefect version of the piece is performed by--despite my having done a lot of research--a, to me unknown performer, but runs at 6:08 minutes. Argerich rushes the whole piece a bit (the drops fall too closely -) the fact that her version runs at 4:51 should say a lot. Of the approximately 20 different performances I've heard of this particular prelude (obviously one of my favorites,) Argerich's is the shortest, and lays somewhere in the swamp among other "medium integral" versions. She delivers exciting performances of the other preludes, though - the first time I heard them, I hit repeat on my CD player, and listened to nothing else for three days.
The Mazurkas, here performed by Jean-Marc Luisada and Lilya Zilberstein, are performed--while beautifully--quite carefully and loosely. For those who'd like a more restrained performance of the pieces, RCA's Rubinstein Collection, vol. 50, is recommended.
Besides all the music for only piano(s,) Chopin also composed 80 minutes worth of chamber music, which here is performed by Beaux Arts Trio, et al. He also wrote 45+ minutes worth of songs, which here is performed by soprano Elzbieta Szmytka and pianist Malcolm Martineau on a 1999 performance. I don't feel qualified to comment on solo singing in Polish, but while I don't care for the occasional close-to-full effect vibrato, I like Martineau's piano playing and the almost folksy melodies and arrangements. This music distinguishes itself by far from the rest of the music in the set. Translations to several languages of the lyrics to the 19 songs are included.
The stereophony on all recordings is great, the overall sound quality on all discs (when considering the years of the recordings) I'd give a 4/5, but still rate the whole package 9/10 - I'd think that some (both older and newer) recordings could have been transferred better, while some sound superior to what you'd dare dream of. This is definitely the best complete edition of Chopin's music available, and perhaps the best collection of works available on disc by any classical composer. A lot of work has been put into the set's design, the sound, and certainly the amount and accuracy of interesting info given in the enclosed illustrated 140 page hard-cover book (of which a fifth is written in English) and in the 40-60 page booklets (also illustrated) included in each volume; practically everything you'll ever need to know about the composer (and these recordings) is included here along with all the music he wrote. Well worthy of your time and money.

Enlightening but slighly blemished.......2004-07-05

I commend DG on producing this comprehensive and thoughtfully packaged/annotated collection of Chopin's output. In it one can appreciate the wondrous manner in which Chopin at once appeased the conservative appetites of the Paris salon set while revolutionizing the genre of piano music in both traditional and more intimate forms.

The greatest virtue of this collection is the opportunity to hear more obscure elements of Chopin's collected ouevre. He wrote some lovely chamber music and wrote highly effective variations with and without orchestra. Among his 17 songs are a few gems.

As for the strength of the performances, some of them are rightly considered definitive. I love Zimerman in the piano concerti, Argerich owns the Op. 28 preludes, and I find in Pollini's scherzos the unbridled energy and interpretive depth required by these challenging pieces. Even if Daniel Barenboim's nocturnes do not set any records, they are well-done and completely satisfying.

I was less enthusiastic about Pollini's readings of the latter 2 piano sonatas, which I find prosaic on the whole. I was equally underwhelmed by Bunin's impromptus, which again betray interpretive rather than technical deficiencies. My greatest disappointment is Jean-Marc Luisada's controversial readings of the mazurkas. An unwieldy rubato rules the day here, and distorts the harmonic language to the point that it sounds like Debussy or Ravel's frequent (and unshakeably French-sounding) evocations of Spain. I much prefer any of the Rubinstein mazurka sets, which are colorful but rhythmically mindful of their namesakes.

Properly supplemented in the more familiar repertory (mazurkas, impromptus, sonatas, in particular), I believe this set is indispensable to anyone who appreciates or seeks a broader understanding of Chopin the composer. I recommend it highly.

Chopin - Luisada, Jean-Marc.......2002-04-14

I am a professional Pianist and Piano-pedagoge trained at the University of Graz and Vienna (Austria).
It seems as often reviewers/critics/listeners have the same opinions: I wonder if it isn't in some cases the old story of the Emperors new clothes - nobody dares to have a different opinion, as they do not want to appear stupid.
Some of the reviewers here, didn't like Luisadas performances of the Mazurkas. I hold the heretical opinion that Jean-Marc Luisadas performances are much better than Rubinsteins (I possess the three different complete Mazurka recordings of Rubinstein). There are few pianists that like Luisada know how to treat the piano as a truly polyphonic instrument, with absolute control of every line, and at the same time being able to emphasise every harmonic detail - giving every chord its differing and appropriate degree of tension. Furthermore he understands how to display the different moods and characters of the music. All these factors make Luisadas performances extremely colourful. Every Mazurka with Luisada is a unique experience.

Ps. Other recordings do occasionally wet the critical appetite: For instance the everywhere highly acclaimed Chopin recordings with Pollini are often musically awful, the Etudes opus 10 nr. 1 and opus 25 nr. 1 are examples. For the complete Etudes, buy Boris Berezovsky's recording for Teldec, it surpasses Pollini by far. Ds.

Chopin - Luisada, Jean-Marc.......2002-04-14

Learn, learn, learn!.......2000-10-16

This box set is a must for any lover of piano music.

DG deserves praise for coming with an excellent set of records as well as presentation of the booklets. It is breathtaking to have the opportunity to really know Chopin so well.

Performers are first rate and speak for themselves, and for the price of 8 CD's you get the whole collection. Yes, you can get in some cases better performances, but overall you can find a better compilation. Naxos has its own, and I am going to exchange it with a friend, problem will be to get mine back!

Customer Reviews:

Ignore the negative reviews - they are fraudulent.......2007-02-23

I have to confess, I have not yet heard this recording. I have heard Angela Hewitt and have loved the recordings I have heard. But I want to warn others of the 2 fake 1-star postings for this item. They are clearly written by the same person (same language, same grand claims to expertise, same 1-star reviews and similiar titles, etc.). I looked at their other reviews and there are none. These posts were clearly by someone on a vendetta to lower the rating for Hewitt. You know something has to be wrong when all other postings give 5 stars. I really dislike it when people post misleading and dishonest reviews. I hope this helps tip off others.

Excellent recording.......2006-09-08

I was surprised to see the negative reviews about this recording. I recently purchased it because I have been fascinated with Hewitt's Bach recordings, and was interested to see what she could do with Chopin. Just like in her Bach recordings, Hewitt's playing is polished, refined, exciting, and musical. I don't understand one of the comments by a reviewer about her lack of technique. She seems to have a complete command of the keyboard. Her playing is not overly sentimentalized like many Chopin recordings, and I love her breathtaking view of the overall form and architecture of each piece. Everything she does makes sense when put in context with the rest of the piece.

Excellent recording---and I was thrilled that she included the impromptus along with the Nocturnes. Hewitt brings a freshness and excitement to each piece, even the ones that are over played! I still love Rubinstein's recording of the Nocturnes, along with some others, but I will certainly refer back to this recording as a superb example of Chopin playing.

A mediocre set.......2006-07-29

Before I began writing this I read the other reviews and had to roll my eyes. Only one other reviewer so far seems to know just how bad this set is.

This is just another example of people picking the best of two or three 'dusty' sets they have off their shelves that they may listen to once a year. People such as these are giving credit to the composer, not the performer.

I own now 12 complete sets of these nocturnes and have partial sets by many more. I've listened to them regularly since a small child, as they were my among my mother's favorite pieces to play on her Boesendorfer grand piano. I still believe they are among the best compositions by any composer.

I really don't understand what these reviewers could possibly be hearing in Hewitt's playing. With all their fanciful word play and such (as is typical of reviewers), it seems the more fanciful the writing, the less they seem to know what they're talking about.

With all the sets I own, this one rates near the bottom. Not only is it not good, it's BAD and incredibly superificial. She is playing elevator music. Her technical skills are also poor. I also feel BAD for the reviewers who give this good reviews, as it is sad that they have yet to learn what Chopin's nocturnes are really about, and what good piano playing sounds like.

What a waste of money this was. Thank goodness I have my sets by Fou Ts'ong and Rubinstein. I'm able to appreciate many things in unconventional interpretations such as that by Pires. But I'm afraid that Ms. Hewitt's playing here is good only for helping one to fall asleep. The only interesting thing about this set is the interesting tone of the Fazioli she plays on. It colours the nocturnes in a different way. I like Fazioli pianos (in Beethoven and Schubert especially), but don't think it's a pleasing choice for the nocturnes. Steinway, Mason & Hamlin and Boesendorfer are good for these works.

Terrible performances.......2006-05-31

Interpretations aside, Hewitt's technique is terrible. Her touch is unrefined. She plays in awkward segments; her phrasing is awful. Many of these pieces require very soft, flowing playing with utmost purity and legato that can allow the listener to sit back, close his eyes, and dream away. What you get from Hewitt is close to the exact opposite of this.
(For technique purposes only, compare her technique in these to performances by Moravec, Fou Ts'ong, or Rubinstein. Even someone new to the nocturnes should be able to immediately hear the difference between Hewitt's technique and that by a true professional).

There is vast depth and meaning in most of the nocturnes (Fou Ts'ong is a good interpreter, IMO). The only way for a listener to unlock and discover the full meaning of a nocturne is to listen to it over and over again over time by many performers. Whether or not a particular performance of a Chopin piece is good or not falls somewhere between 'fact' and 'opinion'. Unfortunately for Hewitt, her pianistic and interpretional skills are so poor in these works that any extended, fanciful description of her playing here is without merit.

The type of reviewers who give this set high marks are those who wouldn't know a good set from a bad one, because they listen to the nocturnes so infrequently that they've never really begun to understand them to begin with. I am disgusted by "surface listener" reviewers who listen to a little of everything under the sun while spending no extensive amount of time getting to know anything in particular.

Chopin Without Swooning and Swanning.......2005-08-08

Angela Hewitt is known to most of us primarily for her exquisite Bach. She grew up, as the daughter of a professional organist hearing Bach constantly and her obvious talent for baroque music seems as natural as breathing for her, although that is not to say that she hasn't thought out her performances of Bach's work to the last scintilla of control. But frankly I had not ever considered her for the Romantic literature. But here she is playing some of the most romantic piano music there is, Chopin's Nocturnes, and although her approach is classical in approach -- no grand-standing, no huffing and puffing, no swooning -- the romance comes through. One of the marvels of Hewitt's playing is that one can sit back and be ravished by her unfailingly gorgeous tone without having to think necessarily of the intellect behind the playing. But on close attention to the events of her playing one hears a clear, unclouded intellect at work through her fingers. She has 'the gift go be simple', so often the mark of a major player; simplicity isn't that easy to achieve in music. She focuses on the long line, as she describes it in her excellent booklet notes, the linearity of the abounding counterpoint -- she reminds us that Chopin made a long and thorough study of Bach and felt it was the basis of any serious musician's toolbox. Her rhythm is utterly controlled but with a natural-sounding rubato that is never willful or clunky, as so often is heard. Her left hand, so often relegated to neglected accompanimental doings by some players, is fully the equal of the right, another mark of a major player.

Nocturnes by their very nature are gentle, introspective, warm, consoling, and that is precisely what we get here. I had wondered how Ms Hewitt would handle the more dramatic works by Chopin and if her playing of the Fantaisie-Impromptu, which rounds out this disc, is any indication she would be excellent there as well.

There are a number of fine complete traversals of the Nocturnes by other pianists -- those by Arrau and Pires are recent favorites of mine -- and Hewitt's certainly can join the Nocturnes A list.

Scott Morrison

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