CHOPIN

Complete Piano Works

CD1

Ballades · Impromptus

CD2

Études

CD3

Nocturnes Vol. 1

CD4

Nocturnes Vol. 2

CD5

Scherzos · Fantasy Op.49 · Berceuse Op.57

Barcarolle Op.60

CD6

Waltzes

CD7

Mazurkas Vol. 1

CD8

Mazurkas Vol. 2

Variations on ‘Là ci darem la mano’ from

Mozart’s Don Giovanni

CD9

Polonaises Vol. 1

CD10

Polonaises Vol. 2

CD11

Piano Sonatas · 3 Écossaises Op.72

CD12

Rondos · Variations

CD13

Mazurkas · Valses · Marches funèbres

Cantabile · Prelude (1834)

CD14

Preludes Op.28 · Fantasia on Polish Airs Op.13

Krakowiak Op.14

CD15

Piano Concertos

Various Artists Including:

Bella Davidovich

Misha Dichter

Sergio Fiorentino

Emil Gilels

Adam Harasiewicz

Zoltan Kocsis

Louis Lorte

Evgeny Kissin*,

Moscow Philharmonic*,

Dmitri Kitaenko Conductor

Of all the great 19th century composers, none devoted their creativity exclusively on just one instrument, except Frederic Chopin. Every work of his is for the piano and aside from the concertante works only a handful is for piano and a second instrument, or piano and voice.

Chopin’s idol was Mozart, and the refined, romantic style he developed was as a result of both a thorough knowledge of Mozart and his pupil Hummel, who concertos and sonatas had a great influence on the young Chopin. The Irishman John Field who invented the Nocturne, and the showman of the piano Friedrich Kalkbrenner also played a part in the creation of Chopin’s unique musical personality.

The Nocturnes, Etudes, Preludes, Waltzes, Mazurkas, Polonaises, Ballades, Scherzos, the Fantasy and the Sonatas 2&3, the cello sonata and the two concertos rank among the very pinnacle of 19th century compositions for the piano. The popular image of Chopin as a slightly effeminate and sickly individual could not be further from the truth. The music on these discs is not the product of a gentle, retiring creature. It is passionate, turbulent, dramatic and at time violent as well as elegant and polished. Chopin, like his music is complex, highly individual and a mass of contradictions. Some of the most famous piano music in the world is to be found on these CDs. From the ‘Minute Waltz’ to the Raindrop Prelude and the Revolutionary Etude – many of these works are instantly recognisable.

Recordings includes those made by Chandos (Lortie), Decca (Kocsis, Harasiewicz) with Gilels recorded in 1949 (Sonata No.2)

Brilliant Classics 15cds 94089