Friedrich Gulda plays Chopin

 

CD 1
[1]–[24] 24 Preludes op. 28
Live, [11] from Graz, 10 May 1955; [13] from Zürich, 4 April 1955
[25]–[27] Concerto for Piano and Orchestra no. 1 op. 11
(Orchestrated by Mily Balakirev)
London Philharmonic Orchestra · Sir Adrian Boult.
Decca Recording, Feb 1954

CD 2
4 Ballades
[1] G minor op. 23
[2] F major op 38
[3] A flat major op. 47
[4] F minor op. 52
Live Trieste, 14 March 1955
[5] Nocturne in C minor, op. 48/1
[6] Barcarolle in F sharp major op. 60
Live Buenos Aires, 5 July 1960
[7] Nocturne in F sharp major, op 15/2
Live Buenos Aires, 19 May 1956
[8] Valse in e-moll, op. posth.
Live Reggio Emilia, 7 March 1955
[9] Nocturne in B major, op. 62/1
Live Munich, Klaviersommer 13 July 1986
[10] Epitaph for a Love
Based on recordings of Gulda improvsations, compiled by Paul Gulda

 

Gulda's hottest Chopin phase was the mid-1950s, when he regularly played the complete Preludes and complete Ballades in concert. Captured here are recordings from a variety of sources, all released for the first time, with the exception of the Piano Concerto recording, made for Decca (with whom he also recorded the Preludes and Ballades)

 

Performances are sometimes fiercely virtuosic, sometimes dreamily spun-out. The Ballades in particular are carried off with great panache.

 

First ever releases of 24 Preludes, 4 Ballades and single pieces

 

Special compiled improvisation, in which Gulda (among other things) muses over his (broken) relationship with Chopin

 

All newly mastered / remastered by Paul Gulda, who writes the liner notes

 

DG 2cds 4778724