Grieg: Complete Piano Music, Vol. 4

On this CD:

1. Pieces (4) for piano, Op. 1
Composed by Edvard Grieg
Performed by Eva Knardahl

2. Poetic Tone-Pictures (6) for piano, Op. 3
Composed by Edvard Grieg
Performed by Eva Knardahl

3. Humoresques (4) for piano, Op. 6
Composed by Edvard Grieg
Performed by Eva Knardahl

4. Piano Sonata in E Minor, Op. 7
Composed by Edvard Grieg
Performed by Eva Knardahl

5. Sørgemarsj over Rikard Nordraak (Funeral March in memory of Rikard Nordraak), for piano (or winds) in A minor, EG 107
Composed by Edvard Grieg
Performed by Eva Knardahl

Tracks:

Bach: Sonata No. 3 in E major: Mvt. II, Allegro
Bach: Sonata No. 3 in E major: Mvt. IV, Allegro
Handel: Xerxes: Largo
Mozart: Divertimento No. 17 in D major: Minuet
Boccherini-Powell: Quintet in E, Op. 13 No. 5: Tempo di Minuetto
Martini-Powell: Plaisir d'amour
Vieuxtemps: Bouquet americain, Op. 33: St. Patrick's Day
Vieuxtemps: Bouquet americain, Op. 33: Polonaise, Op. 38
Wienawski: Violin Concerto No. 2 in D major, Op. 22: Mvt. II, Romance
Wienawski: Violin Concerto No. 2 in D major, Op. 22: Capriccio Valse,
Schubert: Ave Maria
Schubert: Rosamunde, Op. 26: Entr'acte III in B flat
Raff: Cavatina, Op. 85 No. 3
Zarzycki: Mazurka, Op. 26
Schumann: Kinderszenen, Op. 15: Traumerci
Grieg-Marcosson: To Spring
Leybach: Fifth Nocturne, Op. 52
Offenbach: Les Contes d'Hoffman: Barcarolle
Ogarew: Caprice, Op. 51 No. 2
Chopin-MacMillen: The Maiden's Wish
Massanet: Les Erinnyes: No. 3, Invocation (Elegie)
Poldini-Hartman: Poupee, valsante
Cadman: Little Firefly

Backhaus: The Complete British Acoustic Recordings, 1908-25

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Backhaus: The Complete British Acoustic Recordings, 1908-25

Manufacturer: Pearl
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Pablo Casals: Festivals at Prades Vol. 1

ASIN: B0000542HD
Release Date: 2001-02-27

Tracks:

Prelude In C Sharp Minor, Op. 3, No. 2
Liebestraum No. 3 In A Flat
'Harmonious Blacksmith' Vars
Prelude No. 1 In C, Op. 28, No. 1
Etude No. 1 In C, Op. 10, No. 1
Norwegian Bridal Procession, Op. 19, No. 2
Finale: Perpetuum Mobile
Fantasy-Impromptu In C Sharp Minor, Op. 66
La Cam-panella
Etude No. 20 In D Flat, Op. 25, No. 8
Etude No. 21 In G Flat, Op. 25, No. 9
Etude No. 5 In G Flat, Op. 10, No. 5
Prelude
Fugue
Etude No. 18 In G Sharp Minor, Op. 25, No. 6
Etude No. 13 In A Flat, Op. 25, No. 1
Etude In E Flat Minor, Op. 10, No. 12
First Movement (Abridged)
Third Movenment (Abridged)
Novelette No. 7 In E, Op. 21, No. 7
Waltz No. 11 In G Flat, Op. 70, No. 1
Waltz No. 14 In E Minor, Op. Posth.
Waltz No. 5 In A Flat, Op. 42
Polka In F
Sonata In F, L. 188 (Kk. 525)
Sonata In G, L. 490 (Kk. 523)
Etude No. 7 In C, Op. 10, No. 7
Waltz No. 6 In D Flat, Op. 64, No. 1
Moment Musical No. 3 In F Minor, Op. 94, No. 3
Hark! Hark! The Lark!

Tracks:

Hungarian Rhapsody No. 2 (Abridged)
Polka In F
Naila Waltz
Polonaise No. 6 In A Flat, Op. 53 (Abridged)
Caprice Espagnol, Op. 37
Don Juan Seranade
Widmung
Liebestraum No. 3 In A Flat
Waltz No. 5 In A Flat, Op. 42
Variations On A Theme Of Paganini, Op. 35, Book I
Variations On A Theme Of Paganini, Op. 35, Book II
Berceuse In D Flat, Op. 57
Moment Musical No. 3 In F Minor, Op. 94, No. 3
Traumeswirren, Op. 12, No. 7
Scherzo
Triana, No. 6
Don Juan Serenade

Amazon.com

Backhaus was among the giants of 20th-century keyboard artists, renowned for his solid--some would say stolid--Beethoven and Brahms interpretations. The younger Backhaus was a more overtly virtuosic pianist with a wide repertory. This invaluable Pearl set covers his British recordings, starting in 1908 when he was only 24, and it includes composers and works he abandoned in later years when he pared his programs down to essential masterworks. So we get his only recordings of Rachmaninoff, whom he admired as the greatest among living piano composers, along with Bach, Scarlatti, and others. Backhaus's dazzling virtuosity can be heard in his abridged Brahms Paganini Variations, the Liszt, La Campanella, with its marvelously even runs, and the Weber, Perpetuum Mobile, with precise articulation at fast speeds, among many other examples. Some of his early electrical recordings fill out disc two, sounding fresher than most of the acoustics. Seth Winner's transfers on both well-filled discs are uniformly fine. Collectors of historical recordings will want these rarities. --Dan Davis

Sergei Rachmaninoff: The Complete Recordings

Average customer rating:

Save some $ money! Get the newer January 2006 reissue set instead.
6, or Even 7 Stars!
A must have for Piano and classical music lovers
Ah, Rachmaninoff, brilliant star of music, how we adore you
Review from a spoiled modern listener

Sergei Rachmaninoff: The Complete Recordings

Manufacturer: RCA
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Similar Items:

Beethoven: 29 Piano Sonatas / Gilels
Rachmaninov Plays Rachmaninov--Ampico Recordings (1919-29)
Liszt: Piano Works
Rachmaninoff Plays Rachmaninoff
Shostakovich: The String Quartets

ASIN: B000003FB7
Release Date: 1992-09-15

Tracks:

Concerto No. 2, Op. 18 In C Minor: Moderato; Allegro
Concerto No. 2, Op. 18 In C Minor: Adagio sostenuto
Concerto No. 2, Op. 18 In C Minor: Allegro scherzando
Concerto No. 3, Op. 30 In D Minor: Allegro ma non tanto
Concerto No. 3, Op. 30 In D Minor: Intermezzo: Adagio
Concerto No. 3, Op. 30 In D Minor: Finale: Alla breve

Tracks:

Concerto No. 1, Op, 1 In F Sharp Minor: Vivace
Concerto No. 1, Op, 1 In F Sharp Minor: Andante
Concerto No. 1, Op, 1 In F Sharp Minor: Allegro vivace
Concerto No. 4, Op. 40 In G Minor: Allegro vivace
Concerto No. 4, Op. 40 In G Minor: Largo
Concerto No. 4, Op. 40 In G Minor: Allegro vivace
Rhapsody On A Theme Of Paganini, Op. 43: Introduction: Allegro vivace
Rhapsody On A Theme Of Paganini, Op. 43: Variation I: (Precedente)
Rhapsody On A Theme Of Paganini, Op. 43: Tema: L'istesso tempo
Rhapsody On A Theme Of Paganini, Op. 43: Variation II: L'istesso tempo
Rhapsody On A Theme Of Paganini, Op. 43: Variation III: L'istesso tempo
Rhapsody On A Theme Of Paganini, Op. 43: Variation IV: Piu vivo
Rhapsody On A Theme Of Paganini, Op. 43: Variation V: Tempo precedente
Rhapsody On A Theme Of Paganini, Op. 43: Variation VI: L'istesso tempo
Rhapsody On A Theme Of Paganini, Op. 43: Variation VII: Meno mosso, a tempo moderato
Rhapsody On A Theme Of Paganini, Op. 43: Variation VIII: Tempo I
Rhapsody On A Theme Of Paganini, Op. 43: Variation IX: L'istesso tempo
Rhapsody On A Theme Of Paganini, Op. 43: Variation X: Poco marcato
Rhapsody On A Theme Of Paganini, Op. 43: Variation XI: Moderato
Rhapsody On A Theme Of Paganini, Op. 43: Variation XII: Tempo di minuetto
Rhapsody On A Theme Of Paganini, Op. 43: Variation XIII: Allegro
Rhapsody On A Theme Of Paganini, Op. 43: Variation XIV: L'istesso tempo
Rhapsody On A Theme Of Paganini, Op. 43: Variation XV: Piu vivo scherzando
Rhapsody On A Theme Of Paganini, Op. 43: Variation XVI: Allegretto
Rhapsody On A Theme Of Paganini, Op. 43: Variation XVII: (Allegretto)
Rhapsody On A Theme Of Paganini, Op. 43: Variation XVIII: Andante cantabile
Rhapsody On A Theme Of Paganini, Op. 43: Variation XIX: A tempo vivace
Rhapsody On A Theme Of Paganini, Op. 43: Variation XX: Un poco piu vivo
Rhapsody On A Theme Of Paganini, Op. 43: Variation XXI: Un poco piu vivo
Rhapsody On A Theme Of Paganini, Op. 43: Variation XXII: Un poco piu vivo (Alla breve)
Rhapsody On A Theme Of Paganini, Op. 43: Variation XXIII: L'istesso tempo
Rhapsody On A Theme Of Paganini, Op. 43: Variation XXIV: A tempo un poco meno mosso

Tracks:

Isle Of The Dead, Op. 29
Vocalise, Op. 34, No. 14
Symphony No.3, Op. 44 In A Minor: Lento; Allegro moderato
Symphony No.3, Op. 44 In A Minor: Adagio ma non troppo
Symphony No.3, Op. 44 In A Minor: Allegro

Tracks:

Sonata, Op. 30, No. 3 In G: Allegro assai
Sonata, Op. 30, No. 3 In G: Tempo di minuetto, ma molto moderato e grazioso
Sonata, Op. 30, No. 3 In G: Allegro vivace
Sonata D. 574 In A: Allegro moderato
Sonata D. 574 In A: Scherzo: Presto; Trio
Sonata D. 574 In A: Andantino
Sonata D. 574 In A: Allegro vivace
Sonata, Op. 45 In C Minor: Allegro molto ed appassionato
Sonata, Op. 45 In C Minor: Allegretto espressivo alla Romanza
Sonata, Op. 45 In C Minor: Allegro animato

Tracks:

Partita No. 4, BWV 828: Sarabande
Harpsichord Suite No. 5: Air And Variations - 'Harmonious Blacksmith'
Sonata, K. 331: III: Turkish March
32 Variations, WoO 80 In C Minor: Thema: Allegretto
32 Variations, WoO 80 In C Minor: Variation I
32 Variations, WoO 80 In C Minor: Variation II
32 Variations, WoO 80 In C Minor: Variation III
32 Variations, WoO 80 In C Minor: Variation IV
32 Variations, WoO 80 In C Minor: Variation V
32 Variations, WoO 80 In C Minor: Variation VI
32 Variations, WoO 80 In C Minor: Variation VII
32 Variations, WoO 80 In C Minor: Variation VIII
32 Variations, WoO 80 In C Minor: Variation IX
32 Variations, WoO 80 In C Minor: Variation X
32 Variations, WoO 80 In C Minor: Variation XI
32 Variations, WoO 80 In C Minor: Variation XII
32 Variations, WoO 80 In C Minor: Variation XIII
32 Variations, WoO 80 In C Minor: Variation XIV
32 Variations, WoO 80 In C Minor: Variation XIX
32 Variations, WoO 80 In C Minor: Variation XXII
32 Variations, WoO 80 In C Minor: Variation XXIII
32 Variations, WoO 80 In C Minor: Variation XXIV
32 Variations, WoO 80 In C Minor: Variation XXV
32 Variations, WoO 80 In C Minor: Variation XXVI
32 Variations, WoO 80 In C Minor: Variation XXVII
32 Variations, WoO 80 In C Minor: Variation XXVIII
32 Variations, WoO 80 In C Minor: Variation XXXI
32 Variations, WoO 80 In C Minor: Variation XXXII
Return Home
Polish Songs: The Maiden's Wish
Die schone Mullerin: Das Wandern
Schwanengesang: Serenade
Polonaise No. 2 In E
Songs Without Words, Op. 67: Spinning Song
Impromptu, Op. 90, No. 4 In A Flat
Concert Etude No. 2: Gnomenreigen
Orfeo ed Euridice: Melodie
Etude, Op. 104b, No. 2 In F
Etude, Op. 104b, No. 3 In A Minor
Spanisches Liederspeil: The Smuggler
Minuet, Op. 14, No. 1 In G
Liebesfreud

Tracks:

Sonata No. 2, Op. 35 'Funeral March': Grave; Doppio movimento
Sonata No. 2, Op. 35 'Funeral March': Scherzo
Sonata No. 2, Op. 35 'Funeral March': Marche funebre
Sonata No. 2, Op. 35 'Funeral March': Presto
Carnaval, Op. 9: Preambule
Carnaval, Op. 9: Pierrot
Carnaval, Op. 9: Arlequin
Carnaval, Op. 9: Valse noble
Carnaval, Op. 9: Eusebius
Carnaval, Op. 9: Florestan
Carnaval, Op. 9: Coquette
Carnaval, Op. 9: Replique
Carnaval, Op. 9: Sphinxes
Carnaval, Op. 9: Papillons
Carnaval, Op. 9: A. S. C. H. - S. C. H. A. (Letteres dansantes)
Carnaval, Op. 9: Chiarina
Carnaval, Op. 9: Chopin
Carnaval, Op. 9: Estrella
Carnaval, Op. 9: Reconnaissance
Carnaval, Op. 9: Pantalon et Colombine
Carnaval, Op. 9: Valse allemande
Carnaval, Op. 9: Pganini (Intermezzo)
Carnaval, Op. 9: Aveu
Carnaval, Op. 9: Promenade
Carnaval, Op. 9: Pause
Carnaval, Op. 9: Marche des 'Davidsbundler' contre les Philistins
Nocturne, Op. 9, No. 2 In E Flat
Waltz, Op. 64, No. 2 In C Sharp
Waltz, Op. 64, No. 3
Ballade No. 3, Op. 47 In A Flat
Mazurka, Op. 68, No. 2
Waltz, Op. Posth. In E Minor

Tracks:

Partita No. 3, BWV 1006: Preludio
Partita No. 3, BWV 1006: Gavotte
Partita No. 3, BWV 1006: Gigue
A Midsummer Night's Dream: Scherzo
Liebersfreud
Die schone Mullerin: The Brooklet
Polka de V.R.
Etude-tableau, Op. 39, No. 6 In A Minor
Prelude, Op. 3, No. 2 In C Sharp Minor
Sorochintsy Fair: Hopac
Lullaby, Op. 16, No.1
Tsar Saltan: Flight of the Bumblebee
The Ruins Of Athens: Turkish March
Scherzo In A Flat
The Seasons: November: Troika
Prelude No. 8, Op. 11, No. 8 In F Sharp
One Lives But Once
Powder and Paint
Polka italienne (Piano 4 Hands)

Tracks:

Concerto No. 2, Op. 18 In C Minor: Maderato; Allegro
Concerto No. 2, Op. 18 In C Minor: Adagio sostenuto
Concerto No. 2, Op. 18 In C Minor: Allegro scherzando
Prelude, Op. 23, No. 10 In G Flat
Prelude, Op. 32, No. 3 In E Major
Prelude, Op. 32, No. 7 In F Major
Prelude, Op. 32, No. 6 In F Minor
Etude-tableau, Op. 33, No. 2 in C Major
Etude-tableau, Op. 33, No. 7 In E Flat
Daisies, Op. 38, No. 3
Oriental Sketch
Melodie, Op. 3, No. 3 in E
Serenade, Op. 3, No. 5 In B Flat
Humoresque, Op. 10, No. 5 In G
Lilacs, Op. 21, No. 5
Moment Musical, Op. 16, No. 2 In E Flat

Tracks:

Mazurka, Op. 63, No. 3 In C Sharp Minor
Nocturne, Op. 15, No. 2 In F Sharp
Waltz, Op. 18 'Grande valse brilliante' In E Flat
Waltz, Op. 34, No. 3 'Valse brilliante' In F
Waltz, Op. 64, No. 1 'Minute'
Waltz, Op. 69, No. 2 In B Minor
Waltz, Op. 70, No. 1 In G Flat
Scherzo No. 3, Op. 39 In C Sharp Minor
Waltz, Op. 64, No. 1 'Minute' In D Flat
Le coucou
L'Arlesienne Suite No. 1: Minuet
Carnival Of The Animals: The Swan
Songs Without Words, Op. 67: Spinning Song
Waltz
Lyric Pieces, Op. 12: Elfin Dance
Etude, Op. 28, No. 6 In F Minor
If I Were a Bird
La jongleuse
Dr. Gradus ad Parnassum
Children's Corner: Golliwogg's Cakewalk
The Seasons: November: Troika
Humoresque, Op. 10, No. 2 In G
Waltz, Op. 40, No. 8 In A Flat

Tracks:

Prelude, Op. 23, No. 5 In G Minor
Prelude, Op. 32, No. 12 In G Sharp Minor
Prelude, Op. 3, No. 2 In C Sharp Minor
Prelude, Op. 32, No. 5 In G
Serenade, Op. 3, No. 5 In B Flat
Lilacs, Op. 21, No. 5
Polichinelle, Op. 3, No. 4 In F Sharp Minor
Polka de V.R.
Liebesleid
Hungarian Rhapsody No. 2
Pastorale In E Minor
Theme and Variations
Waltz, Op. 42 'Two - Four' In A Flat
Waltz, Op. 64, No. 3 In A Flat
Polka de V.R.
Bacarolle, Op. 10, No. 3 In G Minor
Prelude, Op. 3, No. 2 In C Sharp Minor

Amazon.com

We remember Rachmaninov today mostly for the music he wrote. But as this set quickly reveals, he was one of the greatest pianists of the 20th century, able to play his own music and a great variety of others with tremendous personality and a technique that is still astonishing. There's no point picking highlights from this set, since they are everywhere. But if you've never heard Rachmaninov play Schumann's Carnaval, try starting there for one of the most imaginative recreations of a piece of music ever recorded. The set also includes Rachmaninov's only recordings as a conductor in two of his own major works. --Leslie Gerber

Customer Reviews:

Save some $ money! Get the newer January 2006 reissue set instead........2006-05-17

At the time of this review, whenever you search for a phrase such as "Rachmaninoff Complete", amazon's search engine always lands on this out-of-print recording (ASIN: B000003FB7) . It's also no fun to see that it costs more than a hundred bucks! But if you type "B000A2AD2S" in the search box, you'll see the new reissued set for half the price. It's the exact same 10 CDs. Just the cover art is different.

Unfortunately, this situation is a common pattern with amazon's listing of classical music: when you use your intuition and type in common-sense search phrases for Bach, Mozart, etc, you often get the ultra-expensive out-of-print ships-in-4-weeks items as the default item. It takes a lot of detective work to find the newer reissue recordings. For example, to find the new reissue without knowing the ASIN, I had to enter just "Rachmaninoff" in the search text (deliberately left the word "Complete" out of the search) so it would no longer lock me into this item page that you're looking at and give me a full listing instead. I then sorted the listing by "Original Release Date" and found it on the 2nd page. There's no picture on the new item which doesn't give you any confidence that you found the right one. Don't worry, B000A2AD2S is what you want.

For product research, it's good to have both ASIN product listings because the older out-of-print B000003FB7 has the sound samples (and also all the helpful customer reviews) while the new B000A2AD2S has the better price and availability.

To make things even more confusing, the amazon staff sometimes copies entire customer reviews to the new item which would then make THIS review seem strangely out of place. If that happens and I notice it, I will delete this review for B000003FB7.

(In another strange twist, amazon searches in rock/pop usually points you to the newer cheaper remastered/repackaged/reissued/whatever of a particular recording. I don't know why it works the opposite way in classical music?!?!)

6, or Even 7 Stars!.......2005-06-04

Hofmann hit the nail on the head when he said Rachmaninov had "arms of steel and heart of gold". From this album, we can have a clear picture of Rachmaninov's vison of music, of his musical mind and thoughts and moreover his own playing.

While Kempff's playing would often remind of the protestant church music, Rachmaninov bring to our mind the chanting of the Orthodox church, which is much thicker and darker. On top of that, his playing is orchestral which is so powerful and full colours. Yet, it is nothing like Richter, where often the whole piece is just one phrase.

Here each piece has it's own life and identity each with a focal point. It is water tight compact and yet very much natural and alive, never as hair-raising as Horowitz. But, it is not natural in Arrau's way. It is somewhere in between, closer to Argerich but with more consistency and depth. And like Casals' playing, it keeps our attention from the first note up to its focal point until its very end. But unlike Casals, he touches our hearts. It is very emotional but never to the point of being sentimental-- the performance of his own concertos, for example, can tell you that.

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

His Chopin may not be as neurotic as Cortot. Nonetheless, he sheds light on the dark and nervous side of Chopin so well: a very throbbing interpretation that is so unique. We also have him accompanying Kreisler on some violin sonatas, something that one could turn to time and again, year after year. What a great chamber musician and accompanist he was...!

The recorded sound of the CDs do vary, and some are more acceptable than the others. But for genuine music lovers, they should be able to get over this very soon: how else would they benefit from one of the greatest legacies of a genuinely great musician!

A must have for Piano and classical music lovers.......2005-04-04

To respond to a review about the sound quality-for those people who have no experience with historical performances i.e cortot-hofmann-etc these discs are for the most part much better recorded. There are the inevitable pops and hisses but if these things disturb you, or you cant get past them, then you shouldnt be listening to this kind of thing anyway. the importance here is in the playing, and the playing is extra ordinary. I you want to buy a disc for the reperatoire then i can think of hundreds of performances that will satisfy, but only people with a true interest to hear and study these pieces will be beyond satisfied. I know that may not sound like a lot of fun, but these discs are fun, great, and for me, almost too good to be true. Again, if sound disturbs you, then you may be listening to the music for the wrong reasons. Take from it the playing, the revelations that Rach provides to his pieces, and how fortunate we are that it sounds as good as it does.

Ah, Rachmaninoff, brilliant star of music, how we adore you.......2003-09-14

The music of Rachmaninoff is beyond words, furthermore, beyond imagination. He was a genius, no doubt, and nobody will ever understand how incredibly lucky we are to be blessed with his compositions. Furthermore, it is truly astonishing to hear Rachmaninoff play his own work. There is nothing so beautiful on this earth and there never will be.

Review from a spoiled modern listener.......2003-07-13

I'll admit that I'm a spoiled modern listener, accustomed to having the bang and hiss edited out of a recording, and it took me a while to warm to these. Rachmaninoff's performances are splendid, but if you can hardly hear them over the cacophony of background noise, what's the use? His performance of his own, often overlooked Concerto No. 4 finally made me sit up and listen, even though I've owned two versions of this piece for a number of years (Ashkenazy & Wild).

Average customer rating:

Which Hofmann?
Josef Hofmann: Wonderful performances, lots of surface noise

The Complete Josef Hofmann, Vol. 3

Manufacturer: Video Artists Int'l
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

Dances | Ballets & Dances | Classical | Styles | Music

Gavottes | Ballets & Dances | Classical | Styles | Music

Polonaises | Ballets & Dances | Classical | Styles | Music

Waltzes | Ballets & Dances | Classical | Styles | Music

Etudes | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music

Fantasies | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music

Preludes | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music

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General | Classical | Styles | Music

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Josef Hofmann, Vol. 4
The Complete Josef Hofmann, Vol. 2
The Chopin Concertos

ASIN: B000003LJ8
Release Date: 1994-09-01

Tracks:

Valse In A Flat, Op. 34, No. 1
Valse C Sharp Minor, Op. 64, No. 2
Valse In E Minor, Op. Post
Polonaise In A Minor, Op. 40, No. 1
Impromptu No. 1, A Flat, Op. 29
Fantasie-Impromptu, C Sharp Minor, Op. 66
Berceuse In D Flat, Op. 57
Chant Polonaise, 'The Maiden's Wish'
Liebestraum No. 3 In A Flat
Conccert Etude No. 1, 'Waldesrauschen'
Venezia E Napoli - 'Tarantella' (Abridged)
Marche Militaire
Der Erlkonig
Gavotte
'Moonlight Sonata In C Sharp, Op. 27 No. 2 First Movement
Fantasiestucke, Op. 12, No. 3 'Warum?'
Papillon, Op. 43, No. 1
Spinning Song, Op. 67, No. 14
Rondo Capriccioso, Op. 14 (Abridged)
Spring Song, Op. 62, No. 6
Hunting Song, Op. 19, No. 3
La Jongleuse

Tracks:

Caprice Espagnole, Op. 37 (Abridged)
Minuet In G
Valse-Caprice
Miniatures, Book. 9 No. 7, 'El Dachtarawan'
The Sanctuary
Prelude In C Sharp Minor, Op. 3, No. 2
Prelude In G Minor, Op. 23, No. 5
Valse Gracile
Birds At Dawn, Op. 20, No. 2
Third Etude In C Minor, Op. 120
Polonaise In A Major, Op. 40, No. 1
Hunting Song, Op. 19, No. 3
Spring Song, Op. 62, No. 6
Marche Militaire
Der Erlkonig
Nocturne In E Flat, Op. 9, No. 1
Valse In E Minor, Op. Post.
Papillon, Op. 43, No. 1
Spinning Song, Op. 67, No. 4
Prelude In C Sharp Minor, Op. 3, No. 2

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Volume 3 gathers Hofmann's complete acoustic Columbia 78s, including seven previously unissued sides. While Hofmann allowed a lot of leeway in live performance, he took recording seriously, both from an artistic and technical standpoint. The myriad subtleties of touch, pedaling, and articulation in Hofmann's playing come through loud and clear in these vintage 1912-1918 recordings. Each selection reveals the pianist's singing tone, extremely even fingerwork, aristocratic poise, and taste. There's a sense of purpose and proportion to the playing that belies the notion that all Romantic pianists took insane liberties. --Jed Distler

Customer Reviews:

Which Hofmann?.......2004-09-06

Hofmann - particularly late Hofmann - may be an acquired taste.
Despite having been the protégé of Anton Rubinstein, "the wonderful boy" was recognized from quite an early age as the exemplar of a modern style of playing - textually faithful, eschewing swooning or bombast. (See, for example, the references to Hofmann in Henry Lahee's wonderful survey from 1900, Famous Pianists of Today and Yesterday.)
Still, a number of younger colleagues expressed ambivalence. Horowitz was floored by Hofmann's keyboard command - everyone was - but he, Artur Rubinstein and Arrau, to name just three - seem not to have been terribly moved by Hofmann's musicianship.
But which Hofmann are we considering? His playing for the gramophone - as early as 1903 and as late as 1935 - was as disciplined as it was imaginative and dazzling. The late Harold Schonberg called it "perfection plus."
However, as Gregor Benko makes clear in his essays for the Marston reissues, Hofmann switched on what the pianist called a "spectacular" style for many public performances. This may sound cynical. Often it sounds terribly cynical. Hofmann was not speaking merely of the need to project in a large concert hall. In public performance - at least those performances we have from the late `30s and early `40s - the aristocrat often becomes a mountebank, lurching from the softest pianissimos to explosive fortissimos, rattling off passages or entire pieces even faster than Simon Barere boasted he could do.
Schonberg - and Hofmann's friend and admirer Rachmaninoff - reminded us that during this period Hofmann had many personal troubles, including a severe drinking problem. We must believe that at his greatest Hofmann played as scrupulously and with as much refined feeling in public as he did on many of his studio recordings, though his manner may have differed somewhat. And there are some marvelous live performances. The Rubinstein 4th from his Golden Jubilee concert beggars description.
So where does that leave us? As an introduction to Hofmann, I would recommend the early Columbia recordings, those he made somewhat later for Brunswick, and the American and British test pressings from 1935 - perhaps his greatest recorded playing. These are Volumes 3, 4 and 5 of the complete Hofmann series. Serious listeners will also want the ups and downs of the Golden Jubilee (Volume 2). The Chopin concertos in Volume 1 have some splendid moments, but the superlative (not spectacular; superlative) performance there is a fragment of the first movement of the E minor concerto performed in London -- far more poised and committed than its counterpart from New York. (I wonder if Hofmann played differently in America than he did in Europe? Some musicians - for instance, Mahler, Toscanini, Bernstein - for varying reasons apparently did.)
Having said all this, the entire Hofmann series is priceless. Heartfelt thanks to Gregor Benko and Ward Marston for making it available in superb transfers with fascinating notes.

Josef Hofmann: Wonderful performances, lots of surface noise.......2000-03-15

For Hofmann lovers and devoted students of piano performance, this collection is priceless! For others, the surface noise will be a serious drawback. My assumption is that anyone interested in Hofmann will start by getting Volumes 1 & 2 -- the Chopin Concertos and the 1937 Golden Jubilee Recital. Beyond that, in choosing among Volumes 3 through 6, Volume 3 offers a wide range of Hofmann's repertoire in shorter pieces -- 42 tracks on two CD's. These are Josef Hofmann in his prime and the performances are marvelous. Unfortunately, they were recorded in 1912-18 (with six tracks from way back in 1903!) and the surface noise is pretty severe. Listening to them is an effort, but the effort is well worth while!

Complete Aksel Schiøtz Recordings, Vol. 3: Schumann's "Dichterlieber"

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The "other" great Danish tenor

Complete Aksel Schiøtz Recordings, Vol. 3: Schumann's "Dichterlieber"

Manufacturer: Danacord Records
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

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

Tracks:

Dichterliebe, Op. 48 - Im wundersch Monat Mai
Dichterliebe, Op. 48 - Am meinen Trn spriessen
Dichterliebe, Op. 48 - Die Rose, die Liebe
Dichterliebe, Op. 48 - Wenn ich in deine Augen seh
Dichterliebe, Op. 48 - Ich will meine Seele tauchen
Dichterliebe, Op. 48 - Im Rhein, im heiligen Strome
Dichterliebe, Op. 48 - Ich grolle nicht
Dichterliebe, Op. 48 - Und w's die Blumen
Dichterliebe, Op. 48 - Das ist ein Fl und Geigen
Dichterliebe, Op. 48 - Hich das Liedchen klingen
Dichterliebe, Op. 48 - Ein Jg liebt ein Mhen
Dichterliebe, Op. 48 - Am leuchtenden Sommermorgen
Dichterliebe, Op. 48 - Ich hab' im Traum geweinet
Dichterliebe, Op. 48 - Allntlich im Traume
Dichterliebe, Op. 48 - Aus alten Mhen winkt es
Dichterliebe, Op. 48 - Die alten, B Lieder
Die Mainacht, Op. 43 No. 2
Sonntag Op. 47 No. 3
Stchen Op. 106 No. 1
Vhilset, I Damer Op. 49 No. 2
Foraarsregn Op. 49 No. 6
En Digters sidste Sang Op. 18 No. 3
Six Lute Songs - Kste br
Six Lute Songs - Gubben gammal
Six Lute Songs - Sunka vi smngom
Six Lute Songs - Hlockorna med sligt d
Six Lute Songs - Joachim uti Babylon
Six Lute Songs - Vila vid denna ka
Aperite mihi portas justitiae

Customer Reviews:

The "other" great Danish tenor.......2004-09-12

During the 1930s and `40s, Wagnerian tenor Lauritz Melchior was the most famous Danish tenor in the world, singing virtually every role Wagner ever wrote worldwide, but in Denmark during the same period a very different kind of tenor was flourishing: Aksel Schiøtz, with his light, silvery voice, high standards of musicianship, excellent command of lieder and wide popularity among his countrymen for his singing of Danish folk and art songs.

All of this came to an abrupt end in the fall of 1946 when Schiøtz, suffering from severe headaches and impaired vocal control, was diagnosed with a brain tumor that had to be removed immediately. The operation saved his life but left one side of his face, and vocal muscles, paralyzed. Through sheer hard work he was able to com back, two years later, as a baritone, but though the phrasing and musicianship remained intact the voice no longer had its silvery bloom. He continued to perform and record as a baritone through the late 1950s, then became a teacher of voice and interpretation in Colorado before accepting a similar post in his native Denmark in 1969. He died ten years later.

This particular entry in the Schiøtz legacy contains his second, more successful recording of Schumann's "Dichterliebe" (the earlier performance is on Vol. 6), as well as the rather risqué lute songs of Swedish composer Carl Bellman. Schiøtz sings all of it with an ease of production and quality of interpretation that made the discs instant classics in their time.

None of the cramped, dry LP pressings we all became to familiar with were used here, or indeed in any of the volumes of this series; every single track was lovingly and meticulously restored in London's Abbey Road studios from mint-condition copies of the original 78s or brand-new transfers made from the original metal parts. The results are simply magical, creating a tremendous intimacy between the tenor and listener in a way that is hard to describe unless you hear it for yourself. A shame that most of these CDs are now hard to obtain, but I urge you to get them if you can!

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Grieg: Complete Songs, Vol. 3

Manufacturer: Bis
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

Grieg: Songs, Vol. 2
Grieg: The Complete Songs, Vol. 5
Songs 4
Grieg: Songs, Vol. 1

ASIN: B00000DD3U
Release Date: 1998-11-01

Tracks:

I. Die Mullerin
II. Eingehullt In Grauen Wolken
III. Ich Stand In Dunkeln Traumen
IV. Was Soll Ich Sagen?
I. Det Forste Mode
II. God Morgen!
III. Jeg Giver Mit Digt Till Varen
IV. Takk For Dit Rad
Sporven, EG 152d
I Slatten, EG 152f
Veslemoy Undrast, EG 152g
Domd, EG 152h
Veslemoy Lengtar, EG 152j
Ku-Lok, EG 152l
I. Gruss
II. Dereinst, Gedanke Mein
III. Lauf Der Welt
IV. Die Verschwiegene Nachtigall
V. Zur Rosenzeit
VI. Ein Traum
Siehst Du Mas Meer, EG 121
Der Jager, EG 157
Under Juletraeet, EG 144
Julens Vuggesang, EG 155

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Grieg: The Complete Piano Music, Vol. 1

Manufacturer: Bis
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Classical | Styles | Music
Similar Items:

Grieg: The Complete Piano Music, Vol. 2
Grieg: The Complete Piano Music, Vol. 3

ASIN: B00000167O
Release Date: 1994-03-25

Tracks:

1. Arietta -
2. Waltz
3. Watchman's Song
4. Fairy Dance
5. Folksong
6. Norwegian
7. Album Leaf
8. National Song
1. Berceuse
2. Folksong
3. Melody
4. Halling
5. Springdans
6. Elegy
7. Waltz
8. Canon
1. Butterfly
2. Solitary Traveller
3. In My Native Country
4. Little Bird
5. Erotikon
6. To Spring
1. Valse-Impromptu
2. Album Leaf
3. Melody
4. Halling
5. Melancholy
6. Springdans
7. Elegy

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Voices of Living Stereo, Vol. 2: Songs

Manufacturer: RCA
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Symphonies | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Classical | Styles | Music

Lounge | Easy Listening | Pop | Styles | Music

General | Easy Listening | Pop | Styles | Music

Orchestral Pop | Easy Listening | Pop | Styles | Music

General | Pop | Styles | Music

General | Vocal Pop | Pop | Styles | Music

Traditional Pop | Oldies | Pop | Styles | Music

General | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

Oratorios | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

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

Nilsson, Birgit | Divas | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

Price, Leontyne | Divas | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

Vishnevskaya, Galina | Divas | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

Traditional Vocal Pop | Broadway & Vocalists | Styles | Music

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

Opera & Vocal | The Sony BMG Masterworks Store | Amazon.com Label Stores | Stores | Music

Musicals | The Sony BMG Masterworks Store | Amazon.com Label Stores | Stores | Music
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Voices of Living Stereo, Vol. 1

ASIN: B000003FWO
Release Date: 1996-05-21

Tracks:

Peer Gynt: Solvejg's Song - Eileen Farrell
Das Lied Von Der Erde: Der Trunkene Im Fruhling - Richard Lewis
Ave Maria - Marian Anderson/Franz Rupp
Dicitencello Vuie - Mario Lanza
Romeo Et Juliette: Premiers Transports Que Nul N' Oublie! - Rosalind Elias
Kol Nidrei - Jan Peerce
Apparition - Roberta Peters/George Trovillo
Caldo Sangue - Cesare Valletti/Leo Taubman
Les Nuits D' Ete: Le Spectre De La Rose - Leontyne Price
Traume (No. 5, Wesendonck Songs) - Birgit Nilsson/Leo Taubman
O Cease Thy Singing, Maiden Fair, Op.4, No.4 - Galina Vishnevskaya
Kindertotenlieder: In Diesem Wetter - Maureen Forrester
Luna Rossa - Sergio Franchi
Canciones Negras: Cancion De Cuna Para Dormir A Un Negrito - Shirley Verrett/Charles Wadsworth
He's Got The Whole World In His Hands - Leontyne Price