89-99 [Enhanced]

1. Tú Necesitas - Aleks Syntek

2. Sintonización

3. Una Pequeña Parte de Ti

4. Unos Quieren Subir

5. Camino

6. Más Fuerte de Lo Que Pensaba

7. Mis Impulsos Sobre Ti

8. Fe de Antes [Remix]

9. Evolución [Versión Bristol]

10. Bienvenido a la Vida

11. Volando Bajo [Remix]

12. Sin Ti [Versión Atmosférica]

13. Lindas Criaturitas - Aleks Syntek

14. Preso

15. Sexo, Pudor y Lágrimas - Aleks Syntek

89-99,Aleks Syntek,EMI International,Latin,Latin Music,Latin Pop,Rock,Rock en Español

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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 All Works by Chopin | Chopin, Frédéric | ( C ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | 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 Character Pieces | Short Forms | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music Impromptus | Short Forms | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music Nocturnes | Short Forms | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music Sonatinas | Sonatas | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music Marches | Theatrical, Incidental & Program Music | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music Chamber Music | Forms & Genres | Romantic (c.1820-1910) | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music Vocal & Song | Romantic (c.1820-1910) | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music General | Keyboard | Instruments | Classical | Styles | Music Piano | Keyboard | Instruments | Classical | Styles | Music General | Classical | Styles | Music Lullabies & Berceuse | Vocal Non-Opera | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Barcarolles | Vocal Non-Opera | 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:

1. 24 Preludes, Op.28: I - C Major
2. 24 Preludes, Op.28: II - A Minor
3. 24 Preludes, Op.28: III - G Major
4. 24 Preludes, Op.28: IV - E Minor
5. 24 Preludes, Op.28: V - D Major
6. 24 Preludes, Op.28: VI - B Minor
7. 24 Preludes, Op.28: VII - A Major
8. 24 Preludes, Op.28: VIII - F Sharp Minor
9. 24 Preludes, Op.28: IX - E Major
10. 24 Preludes, Op.28: X - C Sharp Minor
11. 24 Preludes, Op.28: XI - B Major
12. 24 Preludes, Op.28: XII - G Sharp Minor
13. 24 Preludes, Op.28: XIII - F Sharp Major
14. 24 Preludes, Op.28: XIV - E Flat Minor
15. 24 Preludes, Op.28: XV - D Flat Major 'Raindrop'
16. 24 Preludes, Op.28: XVI - B Flat Minor
17. 24 Preludes, Op.28: XVII - A Flat Major
18. 24 Preludes, Op.28: XVIII - F Minor
19. 24 Preludes, Op.28: XIX - E Flat Major
20. 24 Preludes, Op.28: XX - C Minor
21. 24 Preludes, Op.28: XXI - B Flat Major
22. 24 Preludes, Op.28: XXII - G Minor
23. 24 Preludes, Op.28: XXIII - F Major
24. 24 Preludes, Op.28: XXIV - D Minor
25. Prelude In C Sharp Minor, Op.45
26. Prelude In A Flat Major
27. Impromptu In A Flat Major, Op.29
28. Impromptu In F Sharp Major, Op.36
29. Impromptu In G Flat Major, Op.51
30. Fantaisie-Impromptu In C Sharp Minor, Op.66

Tracks:

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

Tracks:

1. 3 Nocturnes, Op.9: I - B Flat Minor
2. 3 Nocturnes, Op.9: II - E Flat Major
3. 3 Nocturnes, Op.9: III - B Major
4. 3 Nocturnes, Op.15: I - F Major
5. 3 Nocturnes, Op.15: II - F Sharp Major
6. 3 Nocturnes, Op.15: III - G Minor
7. 2 Nocturnes, Op.27: I - C Sharp Minor
8. 2 Nocturnes, Op.27: II - D Flat Major
9. 2 Nocturnes, Op.32: I - B Major
10. 2 Nocturnes, Op.32: II - A Flat Major
11. 2 Nocturnes, Op.37: I - G Minor
12. 2 Nocturnes, Op.37: II - G Major

Tracks:

1. 2 Nocturnes, Op.48: I - C Minor
2. 2 Nocturnes, Op.48: II - F Sharp Minor
3. 2 Nocturnes, Op.55: I - F Minor
4. 2 Nocturnes, Op.55: II - E Flat Major
5. 2 Nocturnes, Op.62: I - B Major
6. 2 Nocturnes, Op.62: II - E Major
7. Nocturne In E Minor, Op.72 No.1
8. Nocutrne In C Sharp Minor
9. Nocturne In C Minor

Tracks:

1. 12 Etudes, Op.10: I - C Major
2. 12 Etudes, Op.10: II - A Minor
3. 12 Etudes, Op.10: III - E Major
4. 12 Etudes, Op.10: IV - C Sharp Minor
5. 12 Etudes, Op.10: V - G Flat Major 'Black Key'
6. 12 Etudes, Op.10: VI - E Flat Minor
7. 12 Etudes, Op.10: VII - C Major
8. 12 Etudes, Op.10: VIII - F Major
9. 12 Etudes, Op.10: IX - F Minor
10. 12 Etudes, Op.10: X - A Flat Major
11. 12 Etudes, Op.10: XI - E Flat Major
12. 12 Etudes, Op.10: XII - C Minor 'Revolutionary'
13. 12 Etudes, Op.25: I - A Flat Major
14. 12 Etudes, Op.25: II - F Minor
15. 12 Etudes, Op.25: III - F Major
16. 12 Etudes, Op.25: IV - A Minor
17. 12 Etudes, Op.25: V - E Minor
18. 12 Etudes, Op.25: VI - G Sharp Minor
19. 12 Etudes, Op.25: VII - C Sharp Minor
20. 12 Etudes, Op.25: VIII - D Flat Major
21. 12 Etudes, Op.25: IX - G Flat Major
22. 12 Etudes, Op.25: X - B Minor
23. 12 Etudes, Op.25: XI - A Minor 'Winter Wind'
24. 12 Etudes, Op.25: XII - C Minor

Tracks:

1. 2 Polonaises, Op.26: I - C Sharp Minor
2. 2 Polonaises, Op.26: II - E Flat Minor
3. 2 Polonaises, Op.40: I - A Major
4. 2 Polonaises, Op.40: II - C Minor
5. Polonaise In F Sharp Minor, Op.44
6. Polonaise In A Flat Major, Op.53
7. Polonaise-fantaisie In A Flat Major, Op.61

Tracks:

1. 3 Polonaises, Op.71: I - D Minor
2. 3 Polonaises, Op.71: II - B Flat Major
3. 3 Polonaises, Op.71: III - F Minor
4. Polonaise In B Flat Minor
5. Polonaise In G Flat Major
6. Polonaise In G Minor
7. Polonaise In B Flat Major
8. Polonaise In A Flat Major
9. Polonaise In G Sharp Minor

Tracks:

1. Waltz In E Flat Major, Op.18
2. 3 Waltzes, Op.34: I - A Flat Major
3. 3 Waltzes, Op.34: II - A Minor
4. 3 Waltzes, Op.34: III - F Major
5. Waltz In A Flat Major, Op.42
6. 3 Waltzes, Op.64: I - D Flat Major
7. 3 Waltzes, Op.64: II - C Sharp Minor
8. 3 Waltzes, Op.64: III - A Flat Major
9. 2 Waltzes, Op.69: I - A Flat Major
10. 2 Waltzes, Op.69: II - B Minor
11. 3 Waltzes, Op.70: I - G Flat Major
12. 3 Waltzes, Op.70: II - F Minor
13. 3 Waltzes, Op.70: III - D Flat Major
14. Waltz In E Minor (1830)
15. Waltz In E Major (1829)
16. Waltz In A Minor (?1843)
17. Waltz In A Flat Major (1827)
18. Waltz In E Flat Major ('Sostenuto', 1840)
19. Waltz In E Flat Major (1829 - 1830)

Tracks:

1. 4 Mazurkas, Op.6: I - F Sharp Minor
2. 4 Mazurkas, Op.6: II - C Sharp Minor
3. 4 Mazurkas, Op.6: III - E Major
4. 4 Mazurkas, Op.6: IV - E Flat Minor
5. 5 Mazurkas, Op.7: I - B Flat Major
6. 5 Mazurkas, Op.7: II - A Minor
7. 5 Mazurkas, Op.7: III - F Minor
8. 5 Mazurkas, Op.7: IV - A Flat Major
9. 5 Mazurkas, Op.7: V - C Major
10. 4 Mazurkas, Op.17: I - B Flat Major
11. 4 Mazurkas, Op.17: II - E Minor
12. 4 Mazurkas, Op.17: III - A Flat Major
13. 4 Mazurkas, Op.17: IV - A Minor
14. 4 Mazurkas, Op.24: I - G Minor
15. 4 Mazurkas, Op.24: II - C Major
16. 4 Mazurkas, Op.24: III - A Flat Major
17. 4 Mazurkas, Op.24: IV - B Flat Minor
18. 4 Mazurkas, Op.30: I - C Minor
19. 4 Mazurkas, Op.30: II - B Minor
20. 4 Mazurkas, Op.30: III - D Flat Major
21. 4 Mazurkas, Op.30: IV - C Sharp Minor
22. 4 Mazurkas, Op.33: I - G Sharp Minor
23. 4 Mazurkas, Op.33: II - D Major
24. 4 Mazurkas, Op.33: III - C Major
25. 4 Mazurkas, Op.33: IV - B Minor
26. 4 Mazurkas, Op.41: I - C Sharp Minor
27. 4 Mazurkas, Op.41: II - E Minor
28. 4 Mazurkas, Op.41: III - B Major
29. 4 Mazurkas, Op.41: IV - A Flat Major

Tracks:

1. 3 Mazurkas, Op.50: I - G Major
2. 3 Mazurkas, Op.50: II - A Flat Major
3. 3 Mazurkas, Op.50: III - C Sharp Minor
4. 3 Mazurkas, Op.56: I - B Major
5. 3 Mazurkas, Op.56: II - C Major
6. 3 Mazurkas, Op.56: III - C Minor
7. 3 Mazurkas, Op.59: I - A Minor
8. 3 Mazurkas, Op.59: II - A Flat Major
9. 3 Mazurkas, Op.59: III - F Sharp Minor
10. 3 Mazurkas, Op.63: I - B Major
11. 3 Mazurkas, Op.63: II - F Minor
12. 3 Mazurkas, Op.63: III - C Sharp Minor
13. 4 Mazurkas, Op.67: I - G Major
14. 4 Mazurkas, Op.67: II - G Minor
15. 4 Mazurkas, Op.67: III - C Major
16. 4 Mazurkas, Op.67: IV - A Minor
17. 4 Mazurkas, Op.68: I - C Major
18. 4 Mazurkas, Op.68: II - A Minor
19. 4 Mazurkas, Op.68: III - F Major
20. 4 Mazurkas, Op.68: IV - F Minor
21. Mazurka In A Minor ('a Emile Gaillard', 1840)
22. Mazurka In A Minor ('Notre temps', 1840)
23. Mazurka In B Flat Major (1826)
24. Mazurka In G Major (1826)
25. Mazurka In A Flat Major (1834)
26. Mazurka In C Major (1833)
27. Mazurka In B Flat Major (For Alexandra Wolowska, 1832)
28. Mazurka In D Major (1832)
29. Mazurka In D Major (?1820)
30. Mazurka In F Minor, Op.68 No. 4 - Vladimir Ashkenazy

Tracks:

1. Piano Sonata No.2 In B Flat Minor, Op.35: I - Grave - Doppio movimento
2. Piano Sonata No.2 In B Flat Minor, Op.35: II - Scherzo
3. Piano Sonata No.2 In B Flat Minor, Op.35: III - Marche funebre
4. Piano Sonata No.2 In B Flat Minor, Op.35: IV - Finale: Presto
5. Piano Sonata No.3 In B Minor, Op.58: I - Allegro maestoso
6. Piano Sonata No.3 In B Minor, Op.58: II - Scherzo: Molto vivace
7. Piano Sonata No.3 In B Minor, Op.58: III - Largo
8. Piano Sonata No.3 In B Minor, Op.58: IV - Finale: Presto, non tanto
9. Fantaisie In F Minor, Op. 49

Tracks:

1. Piano Sonata No.1 In C Minor, Op.4: I - Allegro maestoso
2. Piano Sonata No.1 In C Minor, Op.4: II - Minuetto - Trio
3. Piano Sonata No.1 In C Minor, Op.4: III - Larghetto
4. Piano Sonata No.1 In C Minor, Op.4: IV - Finale: Presto
5. Variations sur un air national allemand - E Major (1826)
6. Rondo In C Minor, Op.1
7. 3 Ecossaises, Op.72 No.3: I - D Major; II - G Major; III - D Flat Major
8. Rondo 'a la Mazur' In F Major, Op.5
9. Marche funebre In C Minor, Op.72 No.2
10. Contredanse In G Flat Major (?1827) - Vladimir Ashkenazy
11. Rondo In C Major, Op.73 - Vladimir Ashkenazy
12. Variations In D Major For Piano Duet (1826) - Vladimir Ashkenazy

Tracks:

1. Variations In A Major ('Souvenir de Paganini', 1829)
2. Variations brillantes In B Flat Major, Op.12
3. Rondo In E Flat Major, Op.16
4. Bolero In A Minor, Op.19
5. Cantabile In B Flat Major
6. Variation In E Major
7. Largo In E Flat Major
8. Allegro de concert In A Major, Op.46
9. 3 Nouvelles Etudes (1837): I - F Minor
10. 3 Nouvelles Etudes (1837): II - A Flat Major
11. 3 Nouvelles Etudes (1837): III - D Flat Major
12. Tarentelle In A Flat Major, Op.43
13. Fugue In A Minor (1841 - 42)
14. Albumblatt in E Major (1843)
15. Op.74 No.2: Wiosna - Spring
16. 2 Bourrees (1846): I - G Minor; II - A Major
17. Galop Marquis
18. Berceuse In D Flat Major, Op.57
19. 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: THE GREATEST OF CHOPIN PIANISTS The greatest interpretation Not such a great album Love it. RECORDING QUALITY IS A FACTOR

Arthur Rubinstein plays Chopin [Box Set] Manufacturer: EMI Classics ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD Mazurkas | Ballets & Dances | Classical | Styles | Music Polonaises | Ballets & Dances | Classical | Styles | Music Waltzes | Ballets & Dances | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Beethoven | Beethoven, Ludwig van | ( B ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Chopin | Chopin, Frédéric | ( C ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music General | Concertos | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music Nocturnes | Short Forms | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music Overtures | Theatrical, Incidental & Program Music | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music Scherzo | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music Chamber Music | Forms & Genres | Classical (c.1770-1830) | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music General | Classical (c.1770-1830) | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music General Modern | Modern, 20th, & 21st Century | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music Piano | Keyboard | Instruments | Classical | Styles | Music General | Classical | Styles | Music General | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music Lullabies & Berceuse | Vocal Non-Opera | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Barcarolles | Vocal Non-Opera | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Classical | Box Sets | Stores | Music Blowout Box Sets | Classical Music Blowout | Stores | Music More Titles at Least 20% Off | Classical Music Blowout | Stores | Music All Classical Music Blowout | Classical Music Blowout | Stores | Music Beethoven, Ludwig van | ( B ) | Composers, A-Z | Classical Music Blowout | Stores | Music Chopin, Frédéric | ( C ) | Composers, A-Z | Classical Music Blowout | Stores | Music Opera & Vocal | Classical Music Blowout | Stores | Music Similar Items: Arthur Rubinstein: Ludwig Van Beethoven Piano Sonatas Arthur Rubinstein - Chopin 19 Nocturnes (Vol. 49) Schubert: The Piano Sonatas Beethoven: The Complete Symphonies and Piano Concertos The Chopin Ballades & Scherzos [Hybrid SACD] ASIN: B000002S59 Release Date: 1994-03-15

Tracks:

1. Piano Concerto No. 1 In E minor, Op. 11: Allegro maestoso risoluto
2. Piano Concerto No. 1 In E minor, Op. 11: Romanze (Larghetto) -
3. Piano Concerto No. 1 In E minor, Op. 11: Rondo vivace
4. Piano Concerto No. 2 In F minor, Op. 21: Maestoso
5. Piano Concerto No. 2 In F minor, Op. 21: Larghetto
6. Piano Concerto No. 2 In F minor, Op. 21: Allegro vivace
7. Waltz In C Sharp Minor, Op. 64, No. 2
8. Nocturne No. 1 In B Flat Minor, Op. 9 No. 1
9. Nocturne No. 2 In E Flat Major, Op. 9 No. 2
10. Nocturne No. 3 In B Major, Op. 9 No. 3

Tracks:

1. Nocturne No. 4 In F Major, Op. 15 No. 1
2. Nocturne No. 5 In F Sharp Major, Op. 15 No. 2
3. Nocturne No. 6 In G Minor, Op. 15 No. 3
4. Nocturne No. 7 In C Sharp Minor, Op. 27 No. 1
5. Nocturne No. 8 In D Flat Major, Op. 27 No. 2
6. Nocturne No. 9 In B Major, Op. 32 No. 1
7. Nocturne No. 10 In A Flat Major, Op. 32 No. 2
8. Nocturne No. 11 In G Minor, Op. 37 No. 1
9. Nocturne No. 12 In G Major, Op. 37 No. 2
10. Nocturne No. 13 In C Minor, Op. 48 No. 1
11. Nocturne No. 14 In F Sharp Minor, Op. 48 No. 2
12. Nocturne No. 15 In F Minor, Op. 55 No. 1
13. Nocturne No. 16 In E Flat Major, Op. 55 No. 2
14. Nocturne No. 17 In B Major, Op. 62 No. 1
15. Nocturne No. 18 In E Major, Op. 62 No. 2
16. Nocturne No. 19 In E Minor, Op. 71 No. 1 (posth.)

Tracks:

1. Waltz In A-Flat Major, Op. 34, No. 1
2. Mazurka In F-Sharp Minor, Op. 6, No.1
3. Mazurka In C-Sharp Minor, Op. 6, No.2
4. Mazurka In E-Major, Op. 6, No.3
5. Mazurka In E-Flat Major, Op.6, No.4
6. Mazurka In B-Flat Major, Op. 7, No. 1
7. Mazurka In A-Minor, Op. 7, No.2
8. Mazurka In F-Minor, Op. 7, No. 3
9. Mazurka In A-Flat Major, Op. 7, No.4
10. Mazurka In C-Major, Op. 7, No. 5
11. Mazurka In B-Flat Major, Op. 17, No.1
12. Mazurka In E-Minor, Op. 17, No. 2
13. Mazurka In A-Flat Major, Op. 17, No. 3
14. Mazurka In A-Minor, Op. 17, No. 4
15. Mazurka In G-Minor, Op. 24, No. 1
16. Mazurka In C-Major, Op. 24, No. 2
17. Mazurka In A-Flat Major, Op. 24, No. 3
18. Mazurka In B-Flat Minor, Op. 24, No. 4
19. Mazurka In C-Minor, Op. 30, No. 1
20. Mazurka In B-Minor, Op. 30, No. 2
21. Mazurka In D-Flat Major, Op. 30, No. 3
22. Mazurka In C-Sharp Minor, Op. 30, No. 4
23. Mazurka In G-Sharp Minor, Op. 33, No. 1
24. Mazurka In D-Major, Op. 33, No. 2
25. Mazurka In C-Minor, Op. 33, No. 3
26. Mazurka In B-Minor, Op. 33, No. 4
27. Mazurka In C-Sharp Minor, Op. 41, No. 1
28. Mazurka In E-Minor, Op. 41, No. 2
29. Mazurka In B-Major, Op. 41, No. 3
30. Mazurka In A-Flat Major, Op. 42, No. 4
31. Mazurka In G-Major, Op. 50, No. 1
32. Mazurka In A-Flat Major, Op. 50, No. 2
33. Mazurka In C-Sharp Minor, Op. 50, No. 3

Tracks:

1. Mazurka In B-Major, Op. 56, No. 1
2. Mazurka In C-Major, Op. 56, No. 2
3. Mazurka In C-Minor, Op. 56, No. 3
4. Mazurka In A-Minor, Op. 59, No. 1
5. Mazurka In A-Flat Major, Op. 56, No. 2
6. Mazurka In F-Sharp Minor, Op. 56, No. 3
7. Mazurka In B-Major, Op. 63, No. 1
8. Mazurka In F-Minor, Op. 63, No. 2
9. Mazurka In C-Sharp minor, Op. 63, No. 3
10. Mazurka In G-Major, Op. 67, No. 1
11. Mazurka In G-Minor, Op. 67, No. 2
12. Mazurka In C-Major, Op. 67, No. 3
13. Mazurka In A-Minor, Op. 67, No. 4
14. Mazurka In C-Major, Op. 68, No. 1
15. Mazurka In A-Minor, Op. 68, No. 2
16. Mazurka In F-Major, Op. 68, No. 3
17. Mazurka In F-Monor, Op. 68, No. 4
18. Mazurka In A-Minor, Op. Posth. (A son ami Emile Gaillard)
19. Mazurka In A-Minor, Op. posth. (Notre temps)
20. Scherzi In B-Minor, Op. 20
21. Scherzi In B-Flat Minor, Op. 31
22. Scherzi In C-Sharp Minor, Op. 39
23. Scherzi In E-Major, Op. 54

Tracks:

1. Barcaolle In F-Sharp Major, Op. 60
2. Berseuse In D-Flar Major
3. Polonaise In C-Sharp Major, Op. 26, No. 1
4. Polonaise In E-Flat Major, Op. 26, No.2
5. Polonaise In A-Major, Op. 40, No. 1
6. Polonaise In C-Minor, Op. 40, No. 2
7. Polonaise In F-Sharp Major, Op. 44
8. Polonaise In A-Flat Major, Op. 53 (Heroic)
9. Polonaise In A-Flat Major, Op. 61 (Polonaise-Fantaisie)
10. Andante splanato & polonaise brillante In E-Flat Major, Op. 22

Customer Reviews:

THE GREATEST OF CHOPIN PIANISTS.......2007-03-01

These are the earlier discs of Rubinstein's Chopin, recorded by HMV in London during the 1930's. It is less complete than his later recordings for RCA - no Sonatas, no Ballades, no Etudes. The sound is naturally of its time - but in many ways more natural than the sharply-lit, slightly edgy piano sound RCA favoured in the 50's and 60's. Nevertheless, these are the Chopin performances I return to most.

Rubinstein's natural affinity with Chopin is legendary. He seemed always able to capture precisely the right degree of rubato at exactly the right moment in these pieces. And he had a unique ability in his countryman's music to balance the lyrical with the impassioned, what seems completely spontaneous with what is clearly deeply considered. The Nocturnes here are, I think, the best you'll hear anywhere on disc. In the greatest of them - the Opp.37 & 48 sets, for example - Rubinstein gets the contrast between the dreamy nocturnal outer sections with the darker, more impassioned central sections just right. These are not salon miniatures in his hands but big works, if not in length then in content. And no-one can match Rubinstein in the elusive diversity of this complete set of Mazurkas. The two Concerti both have Barbirolli as the sympathetic conductor, following Rubinstein's lead in the ebb and flow of phrases and whole sections of these gorgeous and often maligned works. Interestingly the recording of Concerto No.2 (actually the first composed) dates from before the pianist's famous withdrawal from public performance to reconstruct his technique and his approach, that of Concerto No.1 from after. Perhaps one can detect a touch more maturity and refinement in his approach to the latter, but they are both ravishing performances.

Many of the performances on these 5 discs are the greatest Chopin you're likely to hear. And the ear soon adjusts to the somewhat old-fashioned recorded piano sound. This is a highly desirable set for any lover of Chopin and/or great piano playing.

The greatest interpretation.......2007-02-17

The interpretation is stunning. Mono - but no matter for solo piano - and a wee bit hissy but still quite superb.

Not such a great album.......2007-01-12

This album was recorded from records as you can hear the scratches and skips. Don't recommend it!

Love it........2006-06-22

This is my favorite album. I think that not even Rubinstein's later recordings attain this quality of musical involvment.

There is a fair amount of background noise, but the music helps to forget it rather quickly overall.

RECORDING QUALITY IS A FACTOR.......2005-02-10

Otherwise, I would have given 5 stars. The fact that these have a hiss (and you can practically hear him close the piano on several numbers) should be mentioned. I guess we are spoiled to audio quality, but this is an expensive collection and this fact was glaringly omitted. That said, I have enjoyed the recordings, in spite of the very audible hiss.

Average customer rating: The greatest songs ever? A musical treasure-box a beautiful journey into melancholy

Dowland - The Collected Works / The Consort of Musicke, Rooley John Dowland , Anthony Rooley , Emma Kirkby , Christopher Wilson , The Consort of Musicke , Colin Tilney , Anthony Bailes , Jakob Lindberg , Nigel North , Glenda Simpson , Peter Holman , and John Donne Manufacturer: Decca ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD Pavanes | Ballets & Dances | Classical | Styles | Music Byrd, William | ( B ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Dowland | Dowland, John | ( D ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music Holborne, Anthony | ( H ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by White | White, Robert | ( W ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music General | Baroque (c.1600-1750) | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music Chamber Music | Forms & Genres | Classical (c.1770-1830) | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music Sacred & Religious | Early Music | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music | Requiems Ballets & Dances | Renaissance (c.1450-1600) | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music General | Renaissance (c.1450-1600) | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music Recorder | Reeds & Winds | Instruments | Classical | Styles | Music Lute | Strings | Instruments | Classical | Styles | Music General | Sacred & Religious | Classical | Styles | Music General | Classical | Styles | Music General | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music General | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Psalms | Vocal Non-Opera | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Solo Instrumental | New Age | Styles | Music Classical | Box Sets | Stores | Music Blowout Box Sets | Classical Music Blowout | Stores | Music More Titles at Least 20% Off | Classical Music Blowout | Stores | Music All Classical Music Blowout | Classical Music Blowout | Stores | Music Byrd, William | ( B ) | Composers, A-Z | Classical Music Blowout | Stores | Music Dowland, John | ( D ) | Composers, A-Z | Classical Music Blowout | Stores | Music Holborne, Anthony | ( H ) | Composers, A-Z | Classical Music Blowout | Stores | Music White, Robert | ( W ) | Composers, A-Z | Classical Music Blowout | Stores | Music Opera & Vocal | Classical Music Blowout | Stores | Music Bargain Box Sets | Classical General | Classical | Today's Deals in Music | Formats | Music All Bargain Titles | Classical General | Classical | Today's Deals in Music | Formats | Music Bargain Box Sets | Opera & Vocal General | Opera & Vocal | Today's Deals in Music | Formats | Music All Bargain Titles | Opera & Vocal General | Opera & Vocal | Today's Deals in Music | Formats | Music The Decca Records Store | Specialty Stores | Music Similar Items: Dowland: Complete Lute Works, Vol.1-5 William Byrd: Consort Songs Bach: The Landowska Recordings Britten Conducts Britten Janácek: Operas ASIN: B000004CYV Release Date: 2007-03-13

Tracks:

1. First Booke Of Songes: I. Unquiet Thoughts
2. First Booke Of Songes: II. Who Ever Thinks Or Hopes Of Love
3. First Booke Of Songes: III. My Thoughts Are Wing'd With Hopes
4. First Booke Of Songes: IV. If My Complaints Could Passions Move
5. First Booke Of Songes: V. Can She Excuse My Wrongs
6. First Booke Of Songes: VI. Now, O Now, I Needs Must Part
7. First Booke Of Songes: VII. Dear, If You Change
8. First Booke Of Songes: VIII. Burst Fourth My Tears
9. First Booke Of Songes: IX. Go Crystal Tears
10. First Booke Of Songes: X. Think'st Thou Then By Thy Feigning
11. First Booke Of Songes: XI. Come Away, Come Sweet Love
12. First Booke Of Songes: XII. Rest Awhile, You Cruel Cares
13. First Booke Of Songes: XIII. Sleep, Wayward Thoughts
14. First Booke Of Songes: XIV. All Ye, Whom Love Or Fortune Hath Betray'd
15. First Booke Of Songes: XV. Wilt Thou Unkind Thus Reave Me
16. First Booke Of Songes: XVI. Would My Conceit
17. First Booke Of Songes: XVII. Come Again: Sweet Love Doth Now Invite
18. First Booke Of Songes: XVIII. His Golden Locks
19. First Booke Of Songes: XIX. Awake, Sweet Love
20. First Booke Of Songes: XX. Come, Heavy Sleep
21. First Booke Of Songes: XXI. Away With These Self-Loving Lads

Tracks:

1. Second Booke Of Songs: I. I Saw My Lady Weep
2. Second Booke Of Songs: II. Flow My Tears
3. Second Booke Of Songs: III. Sorrow, Stay
4. Second Booke Of Songs: IV. Die Not Before Thy Day
5. Second Booke Of Songs: V. Mourn, Mourn, Day Is With Darkness Fled
6. Second Booke Of Songs: VI. Time's Eldest Son
7. Second Booke Of Songs: VII. Then Sit Thee Down
8. Second Booke Of Songs: VIII. When Others Sing Venite
9. Second Booke Of Songs: IX. Praise Blindness Eyes
10. Second Booke Of Songs: X. O Sweet Woods
11. Second Booke Of Songs: XI. If Floods Of Tears
12. Second Booke Of Songs: XII. Fine Knacks For Ladies
13. Second Booke Of Songs: XIII. Now Cease My Wand'ring Eyes
14. Second Booke Of Songs: XIV. Come Ye Heavy States Of Night
15. Second Booke Of Songs: XV. White As Lilies Was Her Face
16. Second Booke Of Songs: XVI. Woeful Heart
17. Second Booke Of Songs: XVII. A Shepherd In A Shade
18. Second Booke Of Songs: XVIII. Faction That Ever Dwells
19. Second Booke Of Songs: XIX. Shall I Sue
20. Second Booke Of Songs: XX. Toss Not My Soul
21. Second Booke Of Songs: XXI. Clear Or Cloudy
22. Second Booke Of Songs: XXII. Humour Say What Mak'st Thou Here

Tracks:

1. Third Booke Of Songs 1603: I. Farewell, Too Fair
2. Third Booke Of Songs 1603: II. Time Stands Still
3. Third Booke Of Songs 1603: III. Behold A Wonder Here
4. Third Booke Of Songs 1603: IV. Daphne Was Not So Chaste
5. Third Booke Of Songs 1603: V. Me, Me, And None But Me
6. Third Booke Of Songs 1603: VI. When Phoebus First Did Daphne Love
7. Third Booke Of Songs 1603: VII. Say, Love, If Ever Thou Didst Find
8. Third Booke Of Songs 1603: VIII. Flow Not So Fast, Ye Fountains
9. Third Booke Of Songs 1603: IX. What If I Never Speed?
10. Third Booke Of Songs 1603: X. Love Stood Amazed
11. Third Booke Of Songs 1603: XI. Lend Your Ears To My Sorrow
12. Third Booke Of Songs 1603: XII. By A Fountain Where I Lay
13. Third Booke Of Songs 1603: XIII. O What Hath Overwrought
14. Third Booke Of Songs 1603: XIV. Farewell, Unkind
15. Third Booke Of Songs 1603: XV. Weep You No More, Sad Fountains
16. Third Booke Of Songs 1603: XVI. Fie On This Feigning!
17. Third Booke Of Songs 1603: XVII. I Must Complain
18. Third Booke Of Songs 1603: XVIII. It Was A Time When Silly Bees
19. Third Booke Of Songs 1603: XIX. The Lowest Trees Have Tops
20. Third Booke Of Songs 1603: XX. What Poor Astronomers Are They
21. Third Booke Of Songs 1603: XXI. Come When I Call

Tracks:

1. A Pilgrimes Solace: I. Disdain Me Still
2. A Pilgrimes Solace: II. Sweet Stay Awhile
3. A Pilgrimes Solace: III. To Ask For All Thy Love
4. A Pilgrimes Solace: IV. Love, Those Beams That Breed
5. A Pilgrimes Solace: V. Shall I Strive Wih Words To Move?
6. A Pilgrimes Solace: VI. Were Every Thought An Eye
7. A Pilgrimes Solace: VII. Stay, Time, Awhile Thy Flying
8. A Pilgrimes Solace: VIII. Tell Me, True Love
9. A Pilgrimes Solace: IX. Go Nightly Cares
10. A Pilgrimes Solace: X. From Silent Night
11. A Pilgrimes Solace: XI. Lasso vita mia
12. A Pilgrimes Solace: XII. In This Trembling Shadow Cast
13. A Pilgrimes Solace: XIII. If That A Sinner's Sights
14. A Pilgrimes Solace: XIV. Thou Mighty God
15. A Pilgrimes Solace: XV. When David's Life
16. A Pilgrimes Solace: XVI. When The Poor Cripple

Tracks:

1. A Pilgrimes Solace: XVII. Where Sin Sore Wounding
2. A Pilgrimes Solace: XVIII. My Heart And Tongue Were Twins
3. A Pilgrimes Solace: XIX. Up Merry Mates
4. A Pilgrimes Solace: XX. Welcome Black Night
5. A Pilgrimes Solace: XXI. Cease, Cease These False Sports
6. Keyboard Transcriptions Of Dowland's Music By Other Musicians: Lachrimae Pavane
7. Keyboard Transcriptions Of Dowland's Music By Other Musicians: Can Shee
8. Keyboard Transcriptions Of Dowland's Music By Other Musicians: Paduana
9. Keyboard Transcriptions Of Dowland's Music By Other Musicians: The Frogge
10. Keyboard Transcriptions Of Dowland's Music By Other Musicians: Frog's Galliard
11. Keyboard Transcriptions Of Dowland's Music By Other Musicians: Pavana And Galiarda
12. Keyboard Transcriptions Of Dowland's Music By Other Musicians: Paduana Lachrymae
13. Keyboard Transcriptions Of Dowland's Music By Other Musicians: Can She Excuse
14. Keyboard Transcriptions Of Dowland's Music By Other Musicians: Pavion Solus cum sola
15. Keyboard Transcriptions Of Dowland's Music By Other Musicians: Dowland's Almayne
16. Keyboard Transcriptions Of Dowland's Music By Other Musicians: Piper's Paven And Galliard
17. Keyboard Transcriptions Of Dowland's Music By Other Musicians: Pavan Lachrymae

Tracks:

1. Mr. Henry Noell Lamentations: I. The Lamentation Of A Sinner
2. Mr. Henry Noell Lamentations: II. Domine ne in furore
3. Mr. Henry Noell Lamentations: III. Miserere mei Deus
4. Mr. Henry Noell Lamentations: IV. The Humble Suit Of A Sinner
5. Mr. Henry Noell Lamentations: V. The Humble Complaint Of A Sinner
6. Mr. Henry Noell Lamentations: VI. De profundis
7. Mr. Henry Noell Lamentations: VII. Domine exaudi
8. Lachrimae: Lachrimae Antiquae
9. Lachrimae: Lachrimae Antiquae Novae
10. Lachrimae: Lachrimae Gementes
11. Lachrimae: Lachrimae Tristes
12. Lachrimae: Lachrimae Coactae
13. Lachrimae: Lachrimae Amantis
14. Lachrimae: Lachrimae Verae
15. Lachrimae: Mr. John Langton's Pavan
16. Lachrimae: Mr. Nicholas Gryffith His Galiard
17. Lachrimae: Sir John Souch His Galiard
18. Lachrimae: Semper Dowland Semper Dolens
19. Lachrimae: Mr. Giles Hobies Galiard
20. Lachrimae: The King Of Denmark's Galiard
21. Lachrimae: Sir Henry Umpton's Funerall
22. Lachrimae: Mr. Henry Noell His Galiard
23. Lachrimae: The Earl Of Essex Galiard
24. Lachrimae: Mr. Bucton His Galiard
25. Lachrimae: Mr. George Whitehead His Almand
26. Lachrimae: Captain Digorie Piper His Galiard
27. Lachrimae: Mr. Thomas Collier His Galiard
28. Lachrimae: Mrs. Nichols Almand

Tracks:

1. Sacred Songs: Sorrow, Come!
2. Sacred Songs: I Shame At Mine Unworthiness
3. Sacred Songs: An Heart That's Broken And Contrite
4. Psalms: Psalm 100: All People That On Earth Do Dwell
5. Psalms: Psalm 38: Put Me Not To Rebuke O Lord
6. Psalms: Psalm 130: Lord To Thee I Make My Moan
7. Psalms: Psalm 104: My Soul Praise The Lord
8. Psalms: Psalm 100: All People That On Earth Do Dwell
9. Psalms: Psalm 134: Behold And Have Regard
10. A Prayer For The Queen's Most Excellent Majesty
11. Instrumental Music: Solus cum sola pavan
12. Instrumental Music: Lachrimae
13. Instrumental Music: Galliard
14. Instrumental Music: Pipers Pavan
15. Instrumental Music: Lachrimae
16. Instrumental Music: Lady Rich Galliard
17. Instrumental Music: Earl Of Essex Galliard
18. Instrumental Music: If My Complaints
19. Instrumental Music: Lachrimae Doolande
20. Instrumental Music: Lord Willoughbie's Welcome Home
21. Instrumental Music: My Lord Chamberlaine His Galliard
22. Instrumental Music: Comagain
23. Instrumental Music: Pavan Lachrymae
24. Instrumental Music: Sorrow Stay

Tracks:

1. Lute Music: Preludium
2. Lute Music: Lachrimae
3. Lute Music: Can She Excuse
4. Lute Music: Dr. Case's Pavan
5. Lute Music: Melancholy Galliard
6. Lute Music: Sir John Smith, His Almain
7. Lute Music: Fantasia
8. Lute Music: A Dream
9. Lute Music: Almain
10. Lute Music: The Queen's Galliard
11. Lute Music: Coranto
12. Lute Music: Resolution
13. Lute Music: Mrs. Vaux Galliard
14. Lute Music: Almain
15. Lute Music: Mr. Dowland's MIdnight
16. Lute Music: Fantasia
17. Lute Music: Loth To Depart
18. Lute Music: The Most Sacred Queen Elizabeth, Her Galliard
19. Lute Music: The Earl Of Essex, His Galliard
20. Lute Music: Pavan
21. Lute Music: John Dowland's Galliard
22. Lute Music: Aloe
23. Lute Music: The Lady Clifton's Spirit
24. Lute Music: What If A Day
25. Lute Music: Mr. Giles Hobie's Galliard
26. Lute Music: Come Away (Song arrangement)
27. Lute Music: Galliard
28. Lute Music: Fancy (Fantasia)

Tracks:

1. Lute Music: Lachrimae (Basic Version)
2. Lute Music: Galliard To Lachrimae
3. Lute Music: [Jig]
4. Lute Music: Galliard On 'Wasingham'
5. Lute Music: Complaint (Ballad Setting)
6. Lute Music: Mignarda (Galliard)
7. Lute Music: Semper Dowland Semper Dolens (Pavan)
8. Lute Music: The Frog Galliard
9. Lute Music: A Fancy (Fantasia)
10. Lute Music: Fancy (Fantasia)
11. Lute Music: Piper's Pavan
12. Lute Music: Captain Digorie Piper's Galliard
13. Lute Music: Lady Laiton's Almain
14. Lute Music: Dowland's Galliard
15. Lute Music: Dowland's First Galliard
16. Lute Music: Tarleton's Jig
17. Lute Music: Walsingham (ballad Setting)
18. Lute Music: Lord Willoughbie's Welcome Home (Ballad Setting)
19. Lute Music: Sir Henry Guilforde, His Almain
20. Lute Music: Pavan (Related To 'Lachrimae')
21. Lute Music: Mr. Langton's Galliard
22. Lute Music: Mrs. Clifton's Almain
23. Lute Music: Galliard
24. Lute Music: Lady Hunsdon's Puffe (Almain)
25. Lute Music: Galliard
26. Lute Music: Go From My Window (Ballad Setting)
27. Lute Music: Fancy (Fantasia)

Tracks:

1. Lute Music: Pavana Johan Douland
2. Lute Music: Mrs. Brigide Fleetwood's Pavan (Solus sine sola)
3. Lute Music: La mia Barbara
4. Lute Music: Sir Henry Umpton's Funeral (Pavan)
5. Lute Music: Lachrimae
6. Lute Music: Farewell Fancy (Chromatic Fantasia)
7. Lute Music: Farewell (On The 'In Nomine' Theme)
8. Lute Music: The King of Denmark's Galliard
9. Lute Music: Mrs. Vaux's Jig
10. Lute Music: Mrs. Nichol's Almain
11. Lute Music: Galliard
12. Lute Music: Lord Strang's March
13. Lute Music: Mrs. Winter's Jump
14. Lute Music: Can She Excuse (Galliard)
15. Lute Music: The Shoemaker's Wife, A Toy
16. Lute Music: Mrs. Norrish's Delight
17. Lute Music: Galliard
18. Lute Music: Mrs. White's Thing (Almain)
19. Lute Music: Mrs. White's Nothing
20. Lute Music: The Frog Galliard
21. Lute Music: Solus cum sola
22. Lute Music: The Lord Viscount Lisle, His Galliard
23. Lute Music: Orlando Sleepeth (Ballad Setting)
24. Lute Music: Robin (Ballad Setting)
25. Lute Music: Galliard (On A Galliard By Daniel Bacheler)
26. Lute Music: Forlorn Hope Fancy (Chromatic Fantasia)

Tracks:

1. Lute Music: The Lady Russell's Pavan
2. Lute Music: Fancy (Fantasia)
3. Lute Music: Sir John Langton's Pavan
4. Lute Music: Earl Of Derby, His Galliard
5. Lute Music: A Coy Toy
6. Lute Music: Fortune My Foe
7. Lute Music: [Almain]
8. Lute Music: Mr. Knight's Galliard
9. Lute Music: Sir John Souch His Galliard
10. Lute Music: Tarletone's Riserrectione
11. Lute Music: The Lady Rich, Her Galliard
12. Consort Music: Lachrimae Pavan
13. Consort Music: Can She Excuse Galliard
14. Consort Music: Captain Piper's Pavan And Galliard
15. Consort Music: The Frog Galliard
16. Consort Music: Round Battell Galliard
17. Consort Music: Fortune My Foe
18. Consort Music: Dowland's First Galliard
19. Consort Music: Katherine Darcie's Galliard
20. Consort Music: Tarleton's Jigge
21. Consort Music: Almain a 2
22. Consort Music: Mistress Nichols Almain a 2
23. Fullsack And Hildebrandt: Auserlesener Paduanen und Galliarden: Susanna Fair (Galliard)
24. Haussmann: Rest von polnischen und andern Tanzen: Mistress Nichols Alman a 5
25. Opusculum: Mr. John Langton Pavan And Galliard
26. Opusculum: La mia Barbara Pavan and Galliard
27. Opusculum: Lachrimae Antiquae Novae Pavan and Galliard

Tracks:

1. Consort Music: Mistress NIchols Almain
2. Consort Music: Volta a 4 ('Ioh. Douland')
3. Consort Music: Were Every Thought an Eye
4. Consort Music: Lady If You So Spite Me
5. Consort Music: Pavan a 4
6. A Musicall Banquet: I. My Heavy Sprite (Anthony Holborne)
7. A Musicall Banquet: II. Change Thy Mind Since She Doth Change (Richard Martin)
8. A Musicall Banquet: III. O Eyes, Leave Off Your Weeping (Robert Hales)
9. A Musicall Banquet: IV. Go, My Flock, Go Get You Hence (Anon.)
10. A Musicall Banquet: V. O Dear Life, When Shall It Be? (Anon.)
11. A Musicall Banquet: VI. To Plead My Faith (Daniel Bacheler)
12. A Musicall Banquet: VII. In A Grove Most Rich Of Shade (Guillaume Tessier)
13. A Musicall Banquet: VIII. Far From Triumphing Court
14. A Musicall Banquet: IX. Lady, If You So Spite Me
15. A Musicall Banquet: X. In Darkness Let Me Dwell
16. A Musicall Banquet: XI. Si le parler et le silence (Pierre Guedron)
17. A Musicall Banquet: XII. Ce penser qui sans fin tirannise ma vie (Pierre Guedron)
18. A Musicall Banquet: XIII. Vous que le Bonheur rappelle (Pierre Guedron)
19. A Musicall Banquet: XIV. Passava Amor su arco desarmado (Anon. Spanish)
20. A Musicall Banquet: XV. Sta notte mi sognava (Anon. Italian)
21. A Musicall Banquet: XVI. Vuestros ojos tienen d'Amor (Anon. Spanish)
22. A Musicall Banquet: XVII. Se di farmi morire (Domenico Maria Megli)
23. A Musicall Banquet: XVIII. Dovro dunque morire? (Giulio Caccini)
24. A Musicall Banquet: XIX. Amarilli mia bella (Giulio Caccini)
25. A Musicall Banquet: XX. O bella piu (Anon, Italian)

Customer Reviews:

The greatest songs ever?.......2007-07-26

I heard 'clear or cloudy', from this recording, on the radio recently and had to purchase it. It is strange but it is the sort of song that makes life prior to listening to it different from life after. I find it sad that so many people haven't heard it. There are also many other wonderful works in this collection. Given you get twelve well recorded CDs with top quality performances, this has to be one of the bargains of the age.

Please buy it.

A musical treasure-box.......2006-09-10

Both the music and this actual product are masterpieces. John Dowland's collected works here - covering 12 compact discs - exhibit the depth and power of this composer, a composer who many now regard as suffering from clinical depression. I doubt that the issue of the diagnosis of Dowland's depression can ever be settled, however, it is certainly obvious from his music, so completely on display here, that he was a man with very dark depths and corners in his mind. Dowland's various manifestations and "takes" on his own tune, "Flow my tears"/"Lachrimae" are here. This tune has haunted me ever since I first heard it when I was a child. It seems to sum up Dowland's feelings - at least Dowland seems to have thought so.

The First, Second, Third and Fourth Bookes of Songes, A Musicall Banquet, the keyboard transcriptions, all the lute music, consort music are here and virtually everything else written or supposedly written by John Dowland. Anthony Rooley and The Consort of Musicke perform this music with style and feeling throughout. This 12 CD set is something of a monument to the ensemble - I only wish they'd finished their collection of Monteverdi madrigals, which was equally good (La Venexiana are currently doing a magnificent job of recording all Monteverdi's books of madrigals for the GLOSSA label).

This is an expensive set, however, you will probably never need to buy another John Dowland CD again after buying and listening to this collection.

I bought this CD set on a mild Summer evening of 1998 and listened to it while sitting in my sun room - which a glorious orange sunset in progress, and a glass of wine. It brought back so many memories.

a beautiful journey into melancholy.......2001-06-15

I'm amazed at how many people tend to associate John Dowland's music with a tragic sense of drama. While no doubt this is art highly based on sadness, the "tragic" sense of it is more a legacy from the Romantic period. During the Renaissance, however, sadness was undestood as a very aesthetic way of approaching life. That is also the reason why Shakespeare's tragedies appear more sophisticated than his comedies.

Dowland, a contemporary of Shakespeare, discovered that meditating on a sad theme is, at the same time, a way of discovering a special beauty that we tend to avoid (maybe because of the "tragic" heritage of the Romantics). So, in the end, meditating on sadness is an uplifting experience! This box set is a journey into melancholy that includes songs, chamber music, pieces for lute, some rare sacred music and -as a highlight- Dowland's beautiful collection of seven pieces for viola which he called "Lachrimae" (Tears).

Average customer rating: Outstanding It's not heavy breathing Technically good, emotionally bland. Highly recommended just a warning...

Dowland: Complete Lute Works, Vol.1-5 Manufacturer: Harmonia Mundi Fr. ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD All Works by Dowland | Dowland, John | ( D ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music Chamber Music | Forms & Genres | Classical (c.1770-1830) | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music Lute | Instruments | Early Music | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music Ballets & Dances | Renaissance (c.1450-1600) | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music General | Renaissance (c.1450-1600) | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music Lute | Strings | Instruments | Classical | Styles | Music General | Classical | Styles | Music General | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music Solo Instrumental | New Age | Styles | Music Classical | Box Sets | Stores | Music Classical | Imports | Stores | Music Blowout Box Sets | Classical Music Blowout | Stores | Music More Titles at Least 20% Off | Classical Music Blowout | Stores | Music All Classical Music Blowout | Classical Music Blowout | Stores | Music Dowland, John | ( D ) | Composers, A-Z | Classical Music Blowout | Stores | Music Opera & Vocal | Classical Music Blowout | Stores | Music Similar Items: Baroque Lute Music, Vol. 1 Early Venetian Lute Music Weiss: Sonatas for Lute, Volume 1 Royal Lewters: Music of Henry VIII & Elizabeth I's Dowland - The Collected Works / The Consort of Musicke, Rooley ASIN: B0000007HU Release Date: 1997-11-11

Tracks:

1. A Piece Without Title - Dowland
2. Pavana - Dowland
3. Mr Knights Galliard - Dowland
4. My lord willobies wellcome home - Dowland
5. The frogg galliard - Dowland
6. A Fancy - Dowland
7. My Ladie Riches galyerd - Dowland
8. The Lady Laitons Almone - Dowland
9. A Dream (Lady Leighton's Paven) - Dowland
10. Galliard - Dowland
11. Orlando sleepeth - Dowland
12. What if a Day - Dowland
13. Mrs Winters Jumpp - Dowland
14. Galliard - Dowland
15. M. Giles Hobies Galiard - Dowland
16. Dr Cases Pauen - Dowland
17. Mellancoly Galliard - Dowland
18. Galliard - Dowland
19. Mistris Whittes thinge - Dowland
20. Go from my windowe - Dowland
21. Almain - Dowland
22. Mrs Whites Nothing - Dowland
23. Pavan - Dowland
24. Galliard - Dowland
25. Farewell - Dowland

Tracks:

1. My lady hunnsdons puffe
2. Solus cum sola
3. Suzanna Galliard
4. Sir John Smith his Almain
5. Sweet Robyne
6. Dowlands first galliard
7. Master Pypers Pavyn
8. Captain Digorie Piper his Galliard
9. As I wen to Walsingham
10. Monsieur's Almaine
11. Mrs Brigide fleetwoods paven alias Solus sine sola
12. Dowlands Galliard
13. Farwell (As
14. Captain Candishe his Galyard
15. Aloe
16. Can she excuse
17. A Coye Joye
18. Mrs vauxes Gigge
19. Mrs vaux Galliarde
20. Sir Henry Guilforde his Almaine
21. Mignarda
22. Lachrimae
23. Sir John Souch his galliard
24. Fantasia

Tracks:

1. The most high and mightie Christianus, the fourth King of Denmark, his Galliard
2. Sir John Langton his Pavin
3. Mr. Langtons galliard
4. A Fancy
5. A Pavan
6. The most sacred Queene Elizabeth, her Galliard
7. Mrs. Cliftons Allmaine
8. The Right Honourable the Lady Cliftons Spirit
9. tarletones riserrectione
10. Tarletons Willy
11. fortune my foe
12. The Queenes galliard
13. Wallsingham
14. A Galliard (on Walsingham)
15. Dowlands Adew for Master Oliver Cromwell
16. The Right Honourable Ferdinando Earle of Darby, his Galliard
17. Lord Strangs March
18. Mistresse Nichols Almand
19. forlone Hope fancye
20. Mr. Dowlands Midnight
21. Semper Dowland semper dolens

Tracks:

1. Preludium
2. A Fancy
3. Lachrimae
4. Galliard to Lachrimae
5. A Fantasia
6. An Almand
7. Pavana
8. The Right Honourable Robert, Earl of Essex, his Galliard
9. A Galliard (on a galliard by Daniel Bachelar)
10. My Lord Wilobies Welcom Home
11. The Shoemakers Wife. A Toy
12. The Right Hounourable The Lord Viscount Lisle, his Galliard
13. Coranto
14. A Galliard
15. The Lady Russells Paven
16. Galliard (on Awake sweet love, set by Fr. Cutting)
17. The Frog Galliard
18. Come Away
19. La mia Barbara
20. Loth to Departe

Tracks:

1. A Fancy
2. Pavana Dowlandi Angli (Mylius #2)
3. Doulands rounde battell galyarde
4. Pavin
5. The Erle of Darbies Galiard
6. Mistris Norrishis Delight
7. A Jig
8. The Erle of Essex Galliard
9. Galliard
10. Une Jeune Fillette
11. Gagliarda
12. Pavana Lachrimae
13. Squires Galliard
14. A Fancy
15. Hasellwoods Galliard
16. Sir Thomas Monson, his Pavin
17. Sir Thomas Monson, his Galliard
18. Almande
19. Sir Henry Umptons Funerall
20. Captayne Pipers Galliard
21. A fantasie

Amazon.com

Dowland did for lute music what Haydn did for the string quartet and Beethoven the piano sonata. The finest lutenist and songwriter of his age--he composed several of the greatest hits of the late 16th and early 17th centuries--the surviving lute works constitute a sort of encyclopedia of the possibilities of the instrument. There are song arrangements, dance pieces, tributes to the composer's friends, even a musical self-portrait. Much of the music is fashionably sad. Lute songs generally deal with the agony of lost love, and Dowland's most popular tune was called Lachrimae (Tears). Paul O'Dette is simply the best lutenist alive. These five discs are available together at a special price, or separately. A reference edition. --David Hurwitz

Customer Reviews:

Outstanding.......2007-03-31

If you are a fan of the music of John Dowland, you must own this CD. The playing is outstanding to say the least.

It's not heavy breathing.......2006-08-22

It's great that O'Dette gives us the complete solo works, of course. I have the common reaction to O'Dette: his technique is flawless, his performance unengaging.

Others have remarked on the "heavy breathing" noticeable on the recordings -- it's not heavy breathing, but the movement of his fingers on the gut strings making that sound.

Technically good, emotionally bland. .......2006-04-11

Considering the extreme paucity of (especially solo) lute recordings currently available worldwide,
but especially in the US, this set becomes an essential "must have" for all lovers of the lute.
Yet it somehow disappoints.
I am sure that Paul O'Dette is brimming over with virtuousity and a technical expertise
that I am hardly one to pass sound judgement upon.
But the recordings have a flatness and monotony;
the songs are rendered with precision, but seem to lack feeling, empathy, or enthusiasm throughout the offering.
It is an impressive compendium, and I'm glad I purchased it.
There are very few lutenists out there producing any music at all, so Mr. O'Dette should certainly be praised
for delivering such a substantial feast to our ears.
It just should have had more flavor.
Where is Konrad Ragossnig when you need him?

Highly recommended.......2005-10-23

I bought Volume 1 of this set a couple of years ago. It has become one of my favorite CDs, so I thought I would enjoy the full set. I have not been disappointed. I find the sound quality excellent, the playing superb. The included booklet has a lot of interesting background material. The music is great as background for a dinner party or intimate conversation, but has depth aplenty for concentrated listening. I often listen to it while working at the computer where I swear it improves concentration and productivity!

A few tunes appear more than once as Dowland reused some work, but the arrangements are sufficiently different to be interesting. It is his complete lute works, after all. Some might criticise the set for sounding too much in the same style. It is the work of one composer, and if you happen to like the style, as I do, this is a pro rather than a con.

Another reviewer mentioned obtrusive breathing on the recording. I had listened to Volume 1 for two years before reading the review and had not noticed this. On listening carefully, there is breathing audible, but I do not find it a problem. Perhaps it depends whether one listens to the music or the background.

just a warning..........2005-10-14

Beautiful music, but... you can hear Paul's heavy breathing throughout. Apparently a lot of other reviewers either don't hear the heavy breathing, or aren't bothered by it, but for me, it's a near deal-breaker. Go ahead and mark my review as unhelpful, but I had to put the warning out there.

Average customer rating: piano for the suburbanite This would be the greatest exce[pt.... Who Better than to Record the Mazurkas? Arthur Rubinstein: Chopin's 51 Mazurkas The unsurpassable Rubinstein

Rubinstein Collection, Vol. 50 Manufacturer: RCA ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD Mazurkas | Ballets & Dances | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Chopin | Chopin, Frédéric | ( C ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music General Modern | Modern, 20th, & 21st Century | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music General | Symphonies | Classical | Styles | Music General | Classical | Styles | Music Classical Instrumental Music | The Sony BMG Masterworks Store | Amazon.com Label Stores | Stores | Music Similar Items: Rubinstein Collection, Vol. 48 Arthur Rubinstein - Chopin 19 Nocturnes (Vol. 49) Rubinstein Collection, Vol. 46 The Rubinstein Collection Vol 47 - Chopin: Waltzes, Impromptus, Bolero Rubinstein Collection, Vol. 45 ASIN: B00004ZD5E Release Date: 2001-03-06

Tracks:

1. Mazurka No.1 in f#, Op.6
2. Mazurka No.2 in c#, Op.6
3. Mazurka No.3 in E, Op.6
4. Mazurka No.4 in e flat, Op.6
5. Mazurka No.1 in B flat, Op.7
6. Mazurka No.2 in a, Op.7
7. Mazurka No.3 in f, Op.7
8. Mazurka No.4 in A flat, Op.7
9. Mazurka No.5 in C, Op.7
10. Mazurka No.1 in B flat, Op.17
11. Mazurka No.2 in e, Op.17
12. Mazurka No.3 in A flat, Op.17
13. Mazurka No.4 in a, Op.17
14. Mazurka No.1 in g, Op.24
15. Mazurka No.2 in C, Op.24
16. Mazurka No.3 in A flat, Op.24
17. Mazurka No.4 in b flat, Op.24
18. Mazurka No.1 in c, Op.30
19. Mazurka No.2 in b, Op.30
20. Mazurka No.3 in D flat, Op.30
21. Mazurka No.4 in C#, Op.30
22. Mazurka No.1 in G#, Op.33
23. Mazurka No.2 in D, Op.33
24. Mazurka No.3 in C, Op.33
25. Mazurka No.4 in b, Op.33

Tracks:

1. Mazurka No.1 in c#, Op.41
2. Mazurka No.2 in e, Op.41
3. Mazurka No.3 in B, Op.41
4. Mazurka No.4 in A flat, Op.41
5. Mazurka No.1 in G, Op.50
6. Mazurka No.2 in A flat, Op.50
7. Mazurka No.3 in C#, Op.50
8. Mazurka No.1 in B, Op.56
9. Mazurka No.2 in C, Op.56
10. Mazurka No.3 in c, Op.56
11. Mazurka No.1 in a, Op.59
12. Mazurka No.2 in A flat, Op.59
13. Mazurka No.3 in f#, Op.59
14. Mazurka No.1 in B, Op.63
15. Mazurka No.2 in f, Op.63
16. Mazurka No.3 in C#, Op.63
17. Mazurka No.1 in G, Op.67
18. Mazurka No.2 in g, Op.67
19. Mazurka No.3 in C, Op.67
20. Mazurka No.4 in a, Op.67
21. Mazurka No.1 in C, Op.68
22. Mazurka No.2 in a, Op.68
23. Mazurka No.3 in F, Op.68
24. Mazurka No.4 in f, Op.68
25. Mazurka 'A'Emile Gaillard' in a
26. Mazurka 'Notre Temps' in a

Amazon.com

Chopin wrote mazurkas throughout his all-too-brief life, using this Polish dance as the basis for short pieces that encompass a world of harmonic explorations and varied emotions, from the subtly comic to the intensely sad. Rubinstein plays the 51 in the standard canon, skipping the unpublished youthful ones. Of his three recordings of the set, connoisseurs tend to prefer his first, from 1938-1939 (available on RCA, EMI, and Naxos) for their spontaneity. But these 1965-1966 stereo recordings in refreshingly alive transfers can't fail to please most listeners. They're a bit weightier than the early ones, but the added depth and Rubinstein's characterization of each piece yield big dividends. In the great C sharp minor Mazurka, Op. 50, No. 3, for example, he plays the beautiful opening theme with disarming simplicity that invests it with mournful regret, manages the transitions to bolder statements flawlessly, and turns a charming dance into a dramatic tone poem that says in five minutes what some composers need a full symphony to say. That miracle is repeated often in this set, as Rubinstein appears at first to be underplaying a piece until you realize the sophistication of his carefully modulated dynamics, gentle rubato, and varied tone. His was an outward simplicity that hid complex art. Throughout, he plays with a wonderful, singing tone, rhythmic life, and an aristocratic authority few have matched. --Dan Davis

Customer Reviews:

piano for the suburbanite.......2005-04-23

nothing artistic here.
plays like a student.
pass it up...

This would be the greatest exce[pt...........2002-01-08

This would be the greatest of all Rubinstein Chopin recordings except...there are the Polonaises (Volumte 28!), and the Nocturnes (Volume 46!). Count this one tied for 3rd, with the Ballades, the Waltzes, the.... Hey, wait -- you might as well get them all.

My only problem with this recording is that the repeat button on my CD player isn't working. I listen to one and say, "That's gotta be the best Rubinstein/Chopin Mazurka there could possibly be," but no sooner than I think that, that another one comes on, EVEN BETTER.

Okay, I have my fav. The great B Minor Opus 33 Number 4. This is mid-period Chopin at his finest, and Rubinstein at his finest, and we are privileged to be alive so that we can rehear it.

Who Better than to Record the Mazurkas?.......2001-12-01

Chopin. Rubinstein. Mazurkas. Perfection. The impeccable Rubinstein rubato shines most when he plays the works which invite overindulgence, like the dance forms, or the easily sentimentalized nocturnes. Especially in these mazurkas where his rhythmic restraint is admirable. These recordings are quirky yet authoritative enough to make me wonder whether only a fellow Pole can play Chopin with such multifariousness (16 letters!) of movement within the staff. I've heard other recordings of the mazurkas, mainly Ashkenazy (boring... where's the life?) and individual performance pieces in compiliations, but none sparkle like the way Rubinstein makes them sparkle. Sublime.

Arthur Rubinstein: Chopin's 51 Mazurkas.......2001-04-07

Fabulous! Polish music at its best!

The unsurpassable Rubinstein.......2001-03-29

While his recordings of other composers is somewhat uneven, Rubinstein is the absolute master of Chopin. Noone else captures the beauty, nuance, depth, poetry, and feel of his music in quite the same way, and the Mazurkas (which by the way sound wonderful in their new remastering) are no exception. Even the very familiar ones sound fresh in Rubinstein's hands, and whether you listen to these a few at a time (as I usually do) or straight through, I highly recommend this recording as well as the other reissues in this series.

Average customer rating:

Haydn: The Masterworks [Box Set] Manufacturer: Brilliant Classics ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD Trios | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music General | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Franz Joseph Haydn | Haydn, Franz Joseph | ( H ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music General | Concertos | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music General | Sonatas | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music Sonatinas | Sonatas | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music Suites | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music Classical | Symphonies | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music Sinfonia Concertante | Symphonies | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music Chamber Music | Forms & Genres | Classical (c.1770-1830) | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music General | Classical (c.1770-1830) | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music Trumpet | Brass | Instruments | Classical | Styles | Music Cello | Strings | Instruments | Classical | Styles | Music General | Symphonies | Classical | Styles | Music General | Classical | Styles | Music General | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Oratorios | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Masses | Vocal Non-Opera | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Oratorios | Vocal Non-Opera | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music General | Soundtracks | Styles | Music Blowout Box Sets | Classical Music Blowout | Stores | Music More Titles at Least 20% Off | Classical Music Blowout | Stores | Music All Classical Music Blowout | Classical Music Blowout | Stores | Music Haydn, Franz Joseph | ( H ) | Composers, A-Z | Classical Music Blowout | Stores | Music Opera & Vocal | Classical Music Blowout | Stores | Music Similar Items: Mendelssohn: The Masterworks [Box Set] Handel: The Masterworks (Box Set) Dvorák: The Masterworks [Box Set] Vivaldi: The Masterworks (Box Set) Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart: Complete Works (170 CD Box Set) ASIN: B00062FLJM Release Date: 2004-11-30

Average customer rating: wonderful mazukas Ashkenazy's Mazurkas Sweet and Moving Hello, Anybody home ? A Fine Performance

Chopin: Mazurkas Manufacturer: Decca ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD Mazurkas | Ballets & Dances | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Chopin | Chopin, Frédéric | ( C ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music Ashkenazy, Vladimir | ( A ) | Featured Performers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music General | Classical | Styles | Music The Decca Records Store | Specialty Stores | Music Similar Items: Chopin Polonaises Chopin: Waltzes Chopin: Nocturnes, 4 Ballades Chopin: Waltzes; 4 Scherzos; 26 Preludes Chopin: Twenty Four Préludes Op.28 ASIN: B00000427T Release Date: 1996-04-09

Tracks:

1. 4 Mazurkas, Op. 6: I. F Sharp Minor
2. 4 Mazurkas, Op. 6: II. C Sharp Minor
3. 4 Mazurkas, Op. 6: III. E Major
4. 4 Mazurkas, Op. 6: IV. E Flat Minor
5. 5 MAZURKAS, OP. 7: I. B Flat Major
6. 5 MAZURKAS, OP. 7: II. A Minor
7. 5 MAZURKAS, OP. 7: III. F Minor
8. 5 MAZURKAS, OP. 7: IV. A Flat Major
9. 5 MAZURKAS, OP. 7: V. C Major
10. 4 MAZURKAS, OP. 17: I. B Flat Major
11. 4 MAZURKAS, OP. 17: II. E Minor
12. 4 MAZURKAS, OP. 17: III. A Flat Major
13. 4 MAZURKAS, OP. 17: IV. A Minor
14. 4 Mazurkas, Op. 24: I. G Minor
15. 4 Mazurkas, Op. 24: II. C Major
16. 4 Mazurkas, Op. 24: III. A Flat Major
17. 4 Mazurkas, Op. 24: IV. B Flat Minor
18. 4 MAZURKAS, OP. 30: I. C Minor
19. 4 MAZURKAS, OP. 30: II. B Minor
20. 4 MAZURKAS, OP. 30: III. D Flat Major
21. 4 MAZURKAS, OP. 30: IV. Sharp Minor
22. 4 Mazurkas, Op. 33: I. G Sharp Minor
23. 4 Mazurkas, Op. 33: II. D Major
24. 4 Mazurkas, Op. 33: III. C Major
25. 4 Mazurkas, Op. 33: IV.B Minor
26. 4 Mazurkas, Op. 33: I. C Sharp Minor
27. 4 Mazurkas, Op. 41: II. E Minor
28. 4 Mazurkas, Op. 41: III. B Major
29. 4 Mazurkas, Op. 41: IV. A Flat Major

Tracks:

1. 3 Mazurkas, Op. 50: I. G Major
2. 3 Mazurkas, Op. 50: II. A Flat Major
3. 3 Mazurkas, Op. 50: III. C Sharp Minor
4. 3 Mazurkas, Op. 56: I. G Major
5. 3 Mazurkas, Op. 56: II. C Major
6. 3 Mazurkas, Op. 56: III. C Minor
7. 3 Mazurkas, Op. 59: I. A Minor
8. 3 Mazurkas, Op. 59: II. A Flat Major
9. 3 Mazurkas, Op. 59: III. C Minor
10. 3 Mazurkas, Op. 63: I. B Major
11. 3 Mazurkas, Op. 63: II. F Minor
12. 3 Mazurkas, Op. 63: III. C Sharp Minor
13. 4 Mazurkas, Op. 67: I. G Major
14. 4 Mazurkas, Op. 67: II. G Minor
15. 4 Mazurkas, Op. 67: III. C Major
16. 4 Mazurkas, Op. 67: IV. A Minor
17. 4 Mazurkas, Op. 68: I. C Major
18. 4 Mazurkas, Op. 68: II. A Minor
19. 4 Mazurkas, Op. 68: III. F Major
20. 4 Mazurkas, Op. 68: IV. F Minor
21. Mazurka In A Minor
22. Mazurka In A Minor
23. Mazurka In B Flat Major
24. Mazurka In G Major
25. Mazurka In A Flat Major
26. Mazurka In C Major
27. Mazurka In B Flat Major
28. Mazurka In D Major
29. Mazurka In D Major
30. Mazurka In F Minor, Op. 68, No. 4

Customer Reviews:

wonderful mazukas .......2005-08-17

this disc is really worth the money all the Mazurkas i ever wanted are on this although i am not too keen on the artist as he plays some too fast my music teacher used to play these with nostalgia so they bring back a lot of lovely memories

Ashkenazy's Mazurkas.......2005-01-22

Why do some audience love Ashkenazy so much, praising him to the 7th Heaven-- because he had the gust to deflect from Communism, or because like Li Yundi, he was then a novelty to the West? Part of the reason lies in the fact that Ashkenazy was and is still in possession of a great and unique technique, being able to make certain wonderful chimes with his double thirds etc with his comparatively small hands. And Chopin fits well with Ashkennazy's physique as audience would be able to discover from these pieces. (But to be fair, his Rachmaninov is also quite a sensation.)

It's so much fun listening to Ashkenazy alongside with some other great pianists. Coming to Mazurkas, it is of interest to compare him with Friedman whom most critics say is unsurpassable. There are some marvelous Mazukas from Horowitz too. Be that as it may, there is some uniqueness about Ashkenazy's music that may or may not be altogether to all audience's taste. To me, as far as Chopin is concerned, I like Dang Thai Son even better. And he himself admires Dang so much that he often invites him as his partner.

Sweet and Moving.......2003-01-13

A fully satisfying rendition of Chopin's mazurkas. Ashkenazy, a Russian, reminds us that these are first and foremost Polish folk dances, and are only secondarily French salon pieces (hence, he avoids the temptation to play these like dreamy, oozing, cloudy, nebulous bits of musical cotton candy, a treatment to which so many artists joy in subjecting poor Frederic's music.) Also, don't miss Ashkenazy's wonderfully introspective recordings of Shostakovich's supremely introspective preludes and fugues. A revelation.

Hello, Anybody home ?.......2001-09-25

Its got to be one of the worst chopin mazurka recording i've ever heard , It feels like chopin is on a break and put a sign 'will be right back' , I waited for something to happend but no.
try Barenboim or Rubinstein.

A Fine Performance.......1999-11-27

A wonderful performance of some of Chopin's most poignant compositions. The relatively low profile enjoyed by Chopin's mazurkas, in comparison with his nocturnes, waltzes and preludes, enables them to move the spirit in a manner that is not possible with excessively familiar works - and the mazurkas do move the spirit quite a bit. Get this CD - it will afford you many years of pleasure for less than the cost of two movie tickets.

Average customer rating: One of the best of the Masterworks series Will not buy this Worth it! Great way to jumpstart a schubert collection Better to Pick a Few First-rate Performances

Schubert: The Masterworks [Box Set] Manufacturer: Brilliant Classics ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD Ecossaises | Ballets & Dances | Classical | Styles | Music Waltzes | Ballets & Dances | Classical | Styles | Music Quartets | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music Quintets | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music Trios | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music General | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Schubert | Schubert, Franz | ( S ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music Fantasies | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music Impromptus | Short Forms | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music Sonatinas | Sonatas | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music Romantic | Symphonies | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music Scherzo | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music Chamber Music | Forms & Genres | Classical (c.1770-1830) | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music Chamber Music | Forms & Genres | Romantic (c.1820-1910) | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music Vocal & Song | Romantic (c.1820-1910) | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music General | Keyboard | Instruments | Classical | Styles | Music Violin | Strings | Instruments | Classical | Styles | Music General | Symphonies | Classical | Styles | Music General | Sacred & Religious | Classical | Styles | Music General | Classical | Styles | Music Oratorios | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Choruses | Vocal Non-Opera | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Magnificats | Vocal Non-Opera | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Masses | Vocal Non-Opera | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Oratorios | Vocal Non-Opera | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Blowout Box Sets | Classical Music Blowout | Stores | Music More Titles at Least 20% Off | Classical Music Blowout | Stores | Music All Classical Music Blowout | Classical Music Blowout | Stores | Music Schubert, Franz | ( S ) | Composers, A-Z | Classical Music Blowout | Stores | Music Opera & Vocal | Classical Music Blowout | Stores | Music Brilliant Classics | Amazon.com Label Stores | Stores | Music Similar Items: Mendelssohn: The Masterworks [Box Set] Dvorák: The Masterworks [Box Set] Haydn: The Masterworks [Box Set] Handel: The Masterworks (Box Set) Brahms: The Masterworks (Box Set) ASIN: B00062FLJC Release Date: 2004-11-30

Customer Reviews:

One of the best of the Masterworks series.......2007-07-06

Brilliant Classics' "Masterworks" series, if you can get them cheaply (and currently they go for about $1/CD from Amazon's France Web site), are a great way to amass a significant library of the works of several great computers. The production values and the performances themselves are uneven, and the interpretations are not always historically-informed (unlike the bulk of Brilliant's "Complete Editions" of the works of Bach and Mozart). But there are numerous gems in the rough in The Masterworks, and the economic value is unsurpassed, even if you were to throw away half of the CDs in each set.

You're unlikely to throw away much of this Schubert collection though. This seems to be the finest of the Masterworks sets, with a succession of solid, often first-rate performances of most of the major Schubert works. Here's what you get:

- The symphonies, performed by The Hanover Band in a historically-informed style. Very interesting performances perhaps marred by an odd recording balance that makes the woodwinds sound distant. Takes up four CDs
- The six Latin masses. Also the Deutsche Messe in the version with wind instruments. Five CDs in all
- Edison Denisov's completion of Schubert's unfinished dramatic work Lazarus (2 CDs, Helmuth Rilling's premier recording)
- The last four string quartets (including the Quartettsatz) with #9 thrown in. Also the octet, piano quintet ("The Trout"), string quintet and both piano trios. In short all the canonical chamber works. Performances are strong, and well recorded
- Two CDs of violin/piano duets, including Op. 137 and Op. 162
- 19 of the 21 "canonical" piano sonatas (missing #7 and #12) as well as the Moments Musicaux, Impromptus, German Dances, Wanderer Fantasy and several other piano works, 11 CDs in all. As with the chamber music, the performances and recordings are strong, often stunning
- Two CDs of piano duets, including the Divertissements and D. 617
- Song cycles: Die Schöne Müllerin, Winterreise, Schwanengesang, and four CDs of standalone songs, including such "standards" as Erlkönig and Gretchen am Spinnrade. The singers are a bit uneven here, ranging from standouts Robert Holl, Deitrich Fischer-Dieskau and John Shirley-Quirk to the somewhat shrill Arleen Augér

Missing from the collection is Rosamunde, and a number of famous songs: Die Forelle (The Trout), Death and the Maiden, Ellens Gesang III (the so-called Ave Maria, D. 839), Der Hirt auf dem Felsen and Der Wanderer. But you do have almost all the important instrumental works, and most of the vocal works generally considered to be essential, with some padding added in the form of minor works such as the parochial Deutsche Messe, the German Dances, and the modernist-informed completion of Lazarus by the 20th Century Russian composer Denisov.

As with the other Masterworks sets, there are no program notes. You'll need to do your own research. Answers.com is a good starting point for Schubert compositions. There are also no song texts or translations provided, so again you'll need to track down your own. Try "The Lied and Art Song Texts Page" for lieder lyrics and translations. Hunt down a good price on this collection, browsing one of Amazon's European sites if necessary, and treat yourself to many hours of lovely music for the cost of a modest night out.

Will not buy this.......2007-03-16

I can't see D965 or D945 on this 40 disks worth of Schubert. Bizarre! There are so many great songs missing it scares me.

Worth it!.......2006-12-19

One of the best in "The Masterpices" series. Many of the discs (the symphonies in particular) were licensed from Nimbus and other full-line labels. Not all that long ago these discs would have set you back $18 to $20 a piece. That said, I still wouldn't part with my Hyperion collection. 40 CD's at this price... you can't go wrong.

Great way to jumpstart a schubert collection.......2006-12-19

Hartmut Holl, Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau, Stephanie Brown, and Jaime Laredo as well as the Stuttgart Bach Collegium performing Schubert are hardly "left-behind artists and ensembles" as the previous naysayer states. These are licensed from major label releases and from the original masters issued at a bargain price, especially for the number of discs you get. Sound quality ranges from good to excellent. Good for all Schubertians and anyone who wants to jumpstart a Schubert collection.

Better to Pick a Few First-rate Performances.......2006-11-14

This is a bargain in dollar/listening time ratio, but who cares? There are many second-rate performances by left-behind artists and ensembles. Obviously the economics of resurrecting disks that don't require royalties has been the driving factor of selection. (On the other hand, the complete edition boxed sets of Bach and Mozart, which you'll find if you look, are stupendous successes artistically.)

Average customer rating: The Greatest of Music--Certainly Not of Playing 5 stars for value, 4 for performance, 3 for packaging and mastering Worth the price, but you get what you pay for Great! Good Quality for the Price!

Chopin: Complete Piano Music Idil Biret , Slovak State Philharmonic Orchestra , and Robert Stankovsky Manufacturer: Naxos 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 All Works by Chopin | Chopin, Frédéric | ( C ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music Ballads | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music General | Concertos | 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 Character Pieces | Short Forms | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music Impromptus | Short Forms | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music Nocturnes | Short Forms | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music Sonatinas | Sonatas | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music Marches | Theatrical, Incidental & Program Music | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music Chamber Music | Forms & Genres | Romantic (c.1820-1910) | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music Vocal & Song | Romantic (c.1820-1910) | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music General | Keyboard | Instruments | Classical | Styles | Music Piano | Keyboard | Instruments | Classical | Styles | Music Biret, Idil | ( B ) | Featured Performers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music General | Symphonies | Classical | Styles | Music General | Classical | Styles | Music Lullabies & Berceuse | Vocal Non-Opera | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Barcarolles | Vocal Non-Opera | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Classical | Box Sets | Stores | Music Bargain Box Sets | Classical General | Classical | Today's Deals in Music | Formats | Music All Bargain Titles | Classical General | Classical | Today's Deals in Music | Formats | Music Bargain Box Sets | Opera & Vocal General | Opera & Vocal | Today's Deals in Music | Formats | Music All Bargain Titles | Opera & Vocal General | Opera & Vocal | Today's Deals in Music | Formats | Music Similar Items: Rachmaninov: Piano Music (Box Set) Beethoven: Complete Piano Sonatas Brahms: Works for Solo Piano Schubert: The Piano Sonatas Chopin: Polonaise brilliante; Cello Sonata; Piano Trio ASIN: B00001NTN0 Release Date: 1999-09-28

Tracks:

1. Ballades - Berceuse - Fantaisie - Trois nouvelles des - Galop Marquis - Largo - Marche fune - Cantabile
2. Ballade No.2 In F Major, Op.38
3. Ballade No.3 In A Flat Major, Op.47
4. Ballade No.4 In F Minor, Op.52
5. Berceuse In D Flat Major, Op.57
6. No.1 In F Minor
7. No.2 In A Flat Major
8. No.3 In D Flat Major
9. Fantaisie In F Minor, Op.49
10. Galop Marquis In A Flat Major
11. Largo In E Flat Major, BI 109
12. Marche Funebre
13. Cantabile In B Flat Major

Tracks:

1. Etudes
2. No.2 In A Minor
3. No.3 In E Major
4. No.4 In C Sharp Minor
5. No.5 In G Flat Major, 'Black Keys'
6. No.6 In E Flat Minor
7. No.7 In C Major
8. No.8 In F Major
9. No.9 In F Minor
10. No.10 In A Flat Major
11. No.11 In E Flat Major
12. No.12 In C Minor, 'Revolutionary'
13. No.1 In A Flat Major
14. No.2 In F Minor
15. No.3 In F Major
16. No.4 In A Minor
17. No.5 In E Minor
18. No.6 In G Sharp Minor
19. No.7 In C Sharp Minor
20. No.8 In D Flat Major
21. No.9 In G Flat Major
22. No.10 In B Minor
23. No.11 In A Minor, 'Winter Wind'
24. No.12 In C Minor

Tracks:

1. Mazurkas - Volume 1
2. No.2 In C Sharp Minor, Op.6/2
3. No.3 In E Major, Op.6/3
4. No.4 In A Flat Minor, Op.6/4
5. No.5 In B Flat Major, Op.7/1
6. No.6 In A Minor, Op.7/2
7. No.7 In F Minor, Op.7/3
8. No.8 In A Flat Major, Op.7/4
9. No.9 In C Major, Op.7/5
10. No.10 In B Flat Major, Op.17/1
11. No.11 In E Minor, Op.17/2
12. No.2 In A Flat Major, Op.17/3
13. No.13 In A Minor, Op.17/4
14. No.14 In G Minor, Op.24/1
15. No.15 In C Major, Op.24/2
16. No.16 In A Flat Major, Op.24/3
17. No.17 In B Flat Minor, Op.24/4
18. No.18 In C Minor, Op.30/1
19. No.19 In B Minor, Op.30/2
20. No.20 In D Flat Major, Op.30/3
21. No.21 In G Sharp Minor, Op.30/4
22. No.22 In G Sharp Minor, Op.33/1
23. No.23 In D Major, Op.33/2
24. No.24 In C Major, Op.33/3
25. No.25 In B Minor, Op.33/4
26. No.26 In C Sharp Minor, Op.41/1

Tracks:

1. Mazurkas - Volume 2
2. No.28 In B Major, Op.41/3
3. No.29 In A Flat Major, Op.41/4
4. No.30 In G Major, Op.50/1
5. No.31 In A Flat Major, Op.50/2
6. No.32 In C Sharp Minor, Op.50/3
7. No.33 In B Major, Op56/1
8. No.34 In C Major, Op.56/2
9. No.35 In C Minor, Op.56/3
10. No.36 In A Minor, Op.59/1
11. No.37 In A Flat Major, Op.59/2
12. No.38 In F Sharp Minor, Op.59/3
13. No.39 In B Major, Op.63/1
14. No.40 In F Minor, Op.63/2
15. No.41 In C Sharp Minor, Op.63/3
16. No.42 In G Major, Op.67/1
17. No.43 In G Minor, Op.67/2
18. No.44 In C Major, Op.67/3
19. No.45 In A Minor, Op.67/4
20. No.46 In C Major, Op.68/1
21. No.47 In A Minor, Op.68/2
22. No.48 In F Major, Op.68/3
23. No.49 In F Minor, Op.68/4
24. No.50 In A Minor, Op. Posth.
25. No.51 In A Minor, Op. Posth.

Tracks:

1. Nocturnes - Volume 1
2. E Flat Major, Op.9, No.2
3. B Major, Op.9, No.3
4. F Major, Op.15, No.1
5. F Sharp Major, Op.15, No.2
6. G Minor, Op.15, No.3
7. C Sharp Minor, Op.27, No.1
8. D Flat Major, Op.27, No.2
9. B Major, Op.32, No.1
10. A Flat Major, Op.32, No.2
11. C Minor, B.I. 108
12. C Sharp Minor, B.I. 49

Tracks:

1. Nocturnes - Volume 2
2. G Major, Op.37, No.2
3. C Minor, Op.48, No.1
4. F Sharp Minor, Op.48, No.2
5. F Minor, Op.55, No.1
6. E Flat Major, Op.55, No.2
7. B Major, Op.62, No.1
8. E Major, Op.62, No.2
9. E Minor, Op.72, No.1 (Posth.)

Tracks:

1. Piano Sonatas
2. Menuetto
3. Larghetto
4. Fianle
5. Grave - Doppio Movimento
6. Scherzo
7. Marche Funebre: Lento
8. Finale: Presto
9. Allegro Maestoso
10. Scherzo: Molto Vivace
11. Largo
12. Finale: Presto, Non Tanto

Tracks:

1. Polonaises - Volume 1
2. E Flat Minor, Op.26, No.2
3. A Major, Op.40, No.1, 'Military'
4. C Minor, Op.40, No.2
5. F Sharp Minor, Op.44
6. A Flat Major, Op.53, 'Heroic'
7. A Flat Major, Op.61, 'Polonaise-Fantaisie'

Tracks:

1. Polonaises - Volume 2
2. B Flat Major, Op.71, No.2
3. F Minor, Op.71, No.3
4. G Minor, BI 1
5. B Flat Major, BI 3
6. A Flat Major, BI 5
7. G Sharp Minor, BI 6
8. B Flat Minor, 'Adieu', BI 13
9. G Flat Major, BI 36
10. Andante Spianato
11. Grande Polonaise

Tracks:

1. Preludes (Including "The Raindrop) - Barcarolle - Bolero
2. No.2
3. No.3
4. No.4
5. No.5
6. No.6
7. No.7
8. No.8
9. No.9
10. No.10
11. No.11
12. No.12
13. No.13
14. No.14
15. No.15
16. No.16
17. No.17
18. No.18
19. No.19
20. No.20
21. No.21
22. No.22
23. No.23
24. No.24
25. Prelude In A Flat Major, Op. Posth.
26. Prelude In C Sharp Minor, Op.45
27. Barcarolle, Op.60
28. Bolero, Op.19
29. Bourree I
30. Bourree II
31. Wiosna
32. Feuille D'Album
33. Fugue

Tracks:

1. Rondos and Variations
2. Rondo A La Mazurka, Op.5
3. Rondo, Op.16
4. Rondo, Op.73
5. Mazurka In G Major, BI 16
6. Mazurka In B Flat Major, BI 16
7. Mazurka In B Flat Major, BI 73
8. Mazurka In C Major, BI 82
9. Mazurka In A Flat Major, BI 7
10. Mazurka In D Major, BI 4
11. Variations Brillantes, Op.12
12. Variations On A German Air
13. Variations On A March From Bellini's I Puritani
14. Variations 'Souvenir De Paganini'
15. Variations In D Major For Two Pianos

Tracks:

1. Scherzi and Impromptus - Allegro de concert
2. No.2 In B Flat Minor, Op.31
3. No.3 In C Sharp Minor, Op.39
4. No.4 In E Major, Op.54
5. No.1 In A Flat Major, Op.29
6. No.2 In F Sharp Major, Op.36
7. No.3 In G Flat Major, Op.51
8. No.4 In C Sharp Minor, Op.66, 'Fantaisie-Impromptu'
9. Allegro De Concert, Op.46

Tracks:

1. Waltzes - Contredanse - Ecossaises - Tarantelle
2. In A Flat Major, Op.34/1
3. In A Minor, Op.34/2
4. In F Major, Op.34/3
5. Valse In A Flat Major, Op.42
6. Valse In D Flat Major, Op.64/1, 'Minute'
7. Valse In C Sharp Minor, Op.64/2
8. Valse In A Flat Major, Op.64/3
9. Valse In A Flat Major, Op.69/1, 'L'adieu'
10. Valse In B Minor, Op.69/2
11. Valse In G Flat Major, Op.70/1
12. Valse In F Minor, Op.70/2
13. Valse In D Flat Major, Op.70/3
14. Valse In A Flat Major, BI 21
15. Valse In E Major, BI 44
16. Valse In E Minor, BI 56
17. Valse In A Minor, BI 150
18. Valse In E Flat Major, BI 133, 'Sostenuto'
19. Valse In E Flat Major, BI 46
20. Contredanse In G Flat Major, BI 17
21. No.1 In D Major
22. No.2 In G Major
23. No.3 In D Flat Major
24. Tarantelle In A Flat Major, Op.43

Tracks:

1. Piano Concertos Nos. 1 and 2
2. Romanza: Larghetto
3. Rondo: Vivace
4. Maestoso
5. Larghetto
6. Allegretto Vivace

Tracks:

1. Fantasia on Polish Airs - Krakowiak - Variations on "Li darem la mano" Andante spianato and Grande Polonaise
2. Air: Juz Miesiac Zaszedi: Andantino
3. Theme De Charles Kurpinski: Allegretto
4. Kujawiak: Vivace
5. Allegro Maestoso
6. Scherzo: Molto Vivace
7. Introduction: Largo
8. Tema: Allegretto
9. Variation I: Brillante
10. Variation II: Veloce, Ma Accuratamente
11. Variation III: Sempre Sostenuto
12. Variation IV: Con Bravura
13. Variation V: Adagio - Alla Polacca
14. Introduction: Andantino Quasi Allegretto
15. Rondo: Allegro Non Troppo

Amazon.com

This 15-disc set, recorded from 1990 to 1992, is a truly complete survey of Chopin's piano music, including juvenilia and the works for piano and orchestra. It may not be quite the triumph of Biret's Brahms set, in which the performances are competitive with the best to be heard anywhere. But all of this playing is thoroughly worthy of the music, and Biret's technique is strong enough to deal with such hurdles as the Études and Scherzi without flinching. Her style is a bit more straightforward than that of the most famous Chopin poets (such as Rubinstein and Cortot), making these recordings a particularly good bet for students and listeners who are first learning to love Chopin. One can often come up with a (more expensive) recording that expresses even more of the poetry of the music than Biret does: Moravec's Nocturnes, Rubinstein's Mazurkas, Zayas's Études, and so on. And occasionally some of the lesser-known music (such as the First Sonata) might be better skipped except by scholars and curious listeners who want to know why these pieces are so obscure. But finding 15 well-filled CDs of such great music, in such excellent performances, so well recorded, for such an absurdly low price becomes an irresistible bargain. Even connoisseurs who know the great Chopin recordings of the past may well find these recordings a refreshing alternate view of the music. --Leslie Gerber

Customer Reviews:

The Greatest of Music--Certainly Not of Playing.......2007-05-11

Having been listening to Chopin's celestial piano music ever since I was a young boy, I will probably never stop marveling at the pure beauty of his unique way of conjuring up those dangerously memorable themes, harmonies and figurations. There are days when one of his Etudes, Preludes, Mazurkas or Nocturnes just starts playing itself inside my head, to the extent that I simply have to get to my hi-fi equipment. Whilst still young, I purchased a large amount of Naxos CDs, of which Chopin's piano music account for a major part. Today, I still find a great deal of pleasure in Szekely's Ballades, Scherzos, Waltzes, Sonatas and Concertos (though not as much in his Etudes), in Szokolay's Barcarolle and Fantaisie-Impromptu as well as in Zartitzkaya's Polonaise-Fantaisie.

Of course, playing any well written piano music is difficult--that is to do it so well that the music emerges as an autonomous being. In the case of Chopin, it is even more difficult as his music is composed with such flexibility and plasticity that the chances of going wrong are so immense. Generally, Ms Biret avoids going so much wrong that the result is less than adequate. Alas, though, there are a number of occasions where her playing is not worthy of preserving on disc--most notably the Allegro de Concert, the Barcarolle, the Nocturnes, the Mazurkas, and most of all the Etudes (this certainly not what the music says!--cf. e.g. Op 10 Nos 1, 8 & 12 or Op 25 Nos 3, 8 & 11). So, what is then the problem with Biret's Chopin playing? Well, it can rather neatly be summed up in that it is driven by her very own erratic will rather than the natural force inherent in the music. This implies highly eccentric tempos and rubatos, exaggerated sforzandos, weird pedaling, stiff keystroke, and a clumsy technique that simply is not refined enough to handle the music.

Considering the fact that the 13-disc Ashkenazy set (Decca--review pending) is available at virtually the same price (even less on amazon.com!), there is really no rational motivation whatsoever acquiring the Biret set. Ashkenazy is always good, sometimes great; Biret is mostly functional, sometimes poor. For Chopin playing of out-and-out excellence, one needs to turn to the likes of Argerich, Ohlsson, Pletnev, Perahia, Zimerman, Demidenko or Rubinstein.

Nowadays, Naxos certainly knows how to record the piano (e.g. for Glemser in Scriabin, Prokofiev and Schumann). The recordings given to Biret are, if consistent, among the ugliest ever given to the instrument. The sound is sharp, boxy and clunky, making the piano sounding more like a digital Yamaha than a Bösendorfer concert grand (indeed it is--not a Steinway).

5 stars for value, 4 for performance, 3 for packaging and mastering.......2006-08-01

I got this box set because I wanted to have all of Chopin's piano music without investing in the redundancies of various artists' recordings. In that respect the price value is unbeatable. Much has been said about Idil Biret's playing and it is fine enough.

The packaging is unimaginative. You get the fifteen individual CDs of the series tucked in a slip case. That's a lot of jewel box plastic and shelf space that could have been cut down to at least half. The booklets give thumbnail analyses of the works, but much of the historical background is repeated. Fifteen iterations of "Iterpreting Chopin" and Biret's biography is just a waste of paper. Naxos has made its name with quality, no-frills, budget releases. They may have done a cost analysis against repackaging but there seems little consideration toward the end user experience.

The mastering is careless. In the Variations and Sonatas, for instance, the attack for one track happens at the tail end of the previous track. This becomes evident and annoying when listening on an mp3 player. You get First movement-S[squib-pause]econd movement resumed. If the track indexing was done by an automated system they should have calibrated it a few milliseconds earlier. If it was done by a human, shame on you.

Worth the price, but you get what you pay for.......2005-07-28

Ms. Gerber sums it up very well above: the playing is not what you'd find from Rubinstein, Cortot, or Ashkenazy, but it is still better than many recordings out there, and is a tremendous bargain.

Chopin only wrote one piece in his entire life that didn't include the piano, so a collection this complete of his piano music is a fascinating look into Chopin's creative life, and as a study in music history, it is worth the time. Nevertheless, people who are searching out definitive performances of more familiar works should probably search elsewhere.

Now, I am not a professional music critic, and I would never say that you should trust me over the critics. In fact, much of the acclaim this set receives is merited. Her first and fourth ballades are fine performances, and the scherzi and polonaise in A flat are well executed. That being said, I personally found several other performances to be large disappointments. (For the record, her recording was not universally praised, and some of the favourable reviews, like mine, are somewhat back-handed, but overall the set was a critical success.)

In particular, I couldn't help but think that the Berceuse, third ballade, several of the preludes, the First Concerto, and the Barcarolle were mediocre. In the Barcarolle, Biret's tempi are erratic and constantly changing, sometimes in the opposite way as Chopin indicated! (Where Chopin writes "poco piu mosso" at the transition to the B section, Biret slows to a crawl) Her dynamics are similarly strange and sometimes backward, and the climax is rushed and unmoving. For the third Opus 28 Prelude in e minor--probably one of the best-known preludes after the Raindrop in D flat--Biret takes almost a full measure's worth to play the opening figure (which is written to last one beat), and then proceeds to choose an allegretto tempo despite Chopin's directions to play slowly. She indulges here, and throughout much of the rest of the CDs, in a rubato that breaks momentum and makes it very difficult to follow the melody. It is as if a singer were to take a breath in the middle of important words--it quickly becomes hard to understand a thing she was saying.

It is true that many performers deviate from the score, sometimes in ways that enhance the musicality of the performance. Indeed, even Chopin was reported to play with dynamics that were different than the ones he himself wrote in the score, but Biret's indulgences take away from, rather than add to, the performances. I personally found many of the interpretative decisions to be distracting, or even unmusical.

I don't mean this to sound at all mean-spirited, but if I were to sum up my feelings of this set in one sentence, it would be this:

It is worth every dollar of its relatively low price.

Great!.......2005-02-13

I really enjoyed listening to Biret's approach of chopin on these 15 discs. I have heard other pianists play and i personally find every one of them comparable and each have their own pros and cons. The price of this influenced me over the grammophon's boxset.

Good Quality for the Price!.......2003-05-26

This 15-CD set, covering all of Chopin's piano solo music, is the only complete set out there, and at a bargain price, it is one of the best sets out there that everyone should have.

Some of the playing and interpretations are controversial, such as the lack of noticable dynamics in the nocturnes and other pieces. However, overall, the quality and the price is hard to beat.

Biret is a world-class pianist, with lots of experience. While this set doesn't bring out all of Chopin's character, it is still a new view of Chopin to many pianists out there, and for the price, it is a must-have for everyone out there/

Average customer rating: A great Chopin stylist emerges Piotr Anderszewski: Yes, He really Is That Good! The material is Polish, but the cut is French

Chopin: Ballades, Mazurkas, Polonaises Manufacturer: EMI Classics ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD Mazurkas | Ballets & Dances | Classical | Styles | Music Polonaises | Ballets & Dances | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Chopin | Chopin, Frédéric | ( C ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music Ballads | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music Chamber Music | Forms & Genres | Classical (c.1770-1830) | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music General | Classical | Styles | Music General | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music Similar Items: Piotr Anderszewski Plays Bach: English Suite BWV 811/Beethoven: Piano Sonata Op. 110/Webern: Variations Op. 27 Piotr Anderszewski - Beethoven: Diabelli Variations Karol Szymanowski: Piano Sonata No. 3; Métopes; Masques J.S. Bach: Suite Francaise No. 5 / Ouverture Dans Le Style Francais Mozart: Piano Concertos Nos. 21 & 24 ASIN: B0000DIGJ8 Release Date: 2004-01-13

Tracks:

1. No. 1 In A Minor
2. No.2 In A Flat Major
3. No.3 In F Sharp Minor
4. No.1 In B Minor
5. No.2 In F Minor
6. No.3 In C Sharp Minor
7. No.3 In A Flat Major
8. No.4 In F Minor, Op.52
9. No.5 In F Sharp Minor, Op.44
10. No.6 In A Flat Major, Op.53 'Polonaise Heroique'
11. Mazurka In F Minor, Op.68 No.4

Amazon.com

Anderszewski, having gained many favorable reviews for recordings of Bach and Beethoven, now proves his musicianship in Chopin. The first positive element in this recital is the programming. Discs of all Mazurkas or Polonaises may make it easy to find a piece on your shelves, but a varied program like this is much more intelligent programming for a listening experience. The performances are engrossing. Tonal beauty and variety, necessary for great Chopin playing, are in short supply today, but Anderszewski displays greater tonal control than the contemporary norm and adds an intelligent, penetrating, poetic approach to the music. The result is a thoroughly gratifying Chopin recital, highly recommended for home listening. Unless you drive a luxury sedan, though, keep this disc out of your car or you'll lose a lot of its wonderful subtlety to road noise. The so-called program notes are just a puff piece for the artist but Virgin's sound quality is excellent. --Leslie Gerber

Customer Reviews:

A great Chopin stylist emerges.......2006-02-15

Now in his mid-thirties, the Polish piaanist Piotr Anderszewski has earned accolades from the outset, and in concert he is an enthralling performer. As he is here, in a miscellany of seven mazurkas, the last two Ballades, and two Polonaises. His musical style is quiet, measured, and inwrdly lyrical, as if he is singing to himself and we are eavesdropping.

It takes courage to play thrice-familiar music your own way. Fortunately, Anderszewski has a unique melodic gift, as free in its way as Cortot's or Rachmaninov's in their Chopin. In all, I'd rate this the best Chopin recital I've heard since Kissin made his Carnegie Hall debut over a decade ago.

Piotr Anderszewski: Yes, He really Is That Good!.......2005-12-11

A sleeping giant of the keyboard has firmly assured his credentials with this fine recording of fellow countryman Fryderyk Chopin's finest ballades, Mazurkas, and Polonaises. Hearing this young pianist progress in his command of Beethoven and Bach and Mozart, displaying a flawless technique, poetic vision, and an intuitive sense of each composer's intentions, begs the question 'but is he really consistently fine?'.

Listening to Anderszewski's Chopin erases all doubt that this once controversial personality might be all parade and no circus. Here is Chopin performed with all the fire and poetry, passion and bliss, introspection and attention to inner voices and details while controlling the overall architecture of this touch works. His sound is extraordinary and the recording captures that with faithful reproduction.

Passing through each of the generous pieces for individual review is unnecessary: that is the joy left for the listener. It is enough said that here is a recording by an artist of major importance who simply seems to have it all. And seeing him in concert only adds the beauty of his physical appearance to the joy of this playing! Highly recommended. Grady Harp, December 05

The material is Polish, but the cut is French.......2004-01-17

Let me start by saying that this is a truly outstanding Chopin recital - one of the best that I have heard over the last few years. Lasting for slightly more than 60 minutes, it begins with 6 late Mazurkas Op. 59 & 63, which are often considered to be musical idioms deeply rooted in Polish tradition. Prototypically, mazurkas are rustic dance forms, but in Chopin's oeuvre they are rather personal tone poems characterized by pathos, delicacy, and measured melancholy. Anderszewski is absolutely convincing in communicating idiosyncratic lyricism of these short pieces. He plays them with an overwhelming simplicity and tenderness, which showcases them as the most intimate musical journeys of the human soul.

The Ballades nos. 3 & 4 are among the most compelling and innovative works of Chopin. The A flat major Ballade Op. 47 is the essence of charm and warmth. Anderszewski focuses on conveying its epic narrative features while playing it with astonishing subtlety and poise. His performance is emotional yet full of classical restraint which confirms that with Chopin emotions are better expressed by underplaying rather than overplaying them. This interpretation of this work is as good as any you will find on record. The F minor Ballade Op. 52 is generally agreed to be one of the most sublime works of the romantic piano repertoire. For me it is the most sensual and intense work of Chopin verging on insanity and oblivion evoked by obsessive melody 'which probes the very coverts of the soul' as stated by Huneker. In this case Anderszewski's performance is perhaps not on a par with my favorite interpretations (Zimerman, Rubinstein, Horowitz), but nevertheless it is well worth hearing.

The Op. 44 & 53 Polonaises are works on a more epic scale. Anderszewski's playing here is again among the finest available (Rubinstein). As summarized by Andrew McGregor in the BBC CD Review it is 'some of the quietest, stillest Chopin you'll hear, which means Anderszewski doesn't have to pound the piano like a boxer on steroids to make a massive impact... and some of the most effective and beautiful moments are achieved through rubato, a momentary hesitation or a subtle lingering over a melodic phrase or cadence.' These works require stature, nobility and tension to communicate effectively, and here they are as prominent, noble and tense as can be.

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Three Friends: Music of Ian Krouse

Up with People [CD-single] [Import]

Music: Nougaro [Original recording remastered] [Import]

Best of the Monochrome Set

Son Una Bomba

The Tomato Collection: the Big Album

The Women in My Life: A Passionate Serenade to Opera's Leading Ladies

The ShakeDowns

The Pupils of Beethoven

Top Tunes Karaoke CDG Frank Sinatra Hall Of Fame Vol. 2 TT-029

Tocando Tierra: Tribute to Latin American Music

Tractor Amarillo

Schubert: Piano Sonatas D. 537 & D. 664

How My Heart Sings!