Ballade 77-82 [Import]

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Tracks:

Sonata In E Major, K 531 (L430): Allegro
Sonata In A Major, K322 (L483): Allegro
Sonata In G Major K455 (L209): Allegro
Sonata No. 8 In C Minor, Op. 13 'Pathetique': I. Grave - Allegro di molto e con brio
Sonata No. 8 In C Minor, Op. 13 'Pathetique': II. Adagio cantabile
Sonata No. 8 In C Minor, Op. 13 'Pathetique': III. Rondo. Allegro
Impromptu In G-flat Major, Op. 90 (D899) No. 3: Andante
Etude in C minor, Op. 10 No. 12: Allegro con fuoco
Etude In C-sharp Minor, Op. 25 No. 7: Lento
Scherzo No. 1 In B Minor, Op. 20: Presto con fuoco
3 Preludes - From Book II: IV. Les fees sont d'exquises danseuses. Rapide et leger
3 Preludes - From Book II: V. Bruyeres. Calme
3 Preludes - From Book II: VI. General Lavine - eccentric.
Poeme In F-sharp Major, Op. 32 No. 1: Andante cantabile
Etude In C-Sharp Minor, Op. 2 No. 1: Andante
Etude In D-Sharp Minor, Op. 8 No. 12: Patetico

Tracks:

Piano Sonata No.2 In B- Flat, Op.35: I. Grave- Doppio movimento
Piano Sonata No.2 In B- Flat, Op.35: II. Scherzo
Piano Sonata No.2 In B- Flat, Op.35: III. Marche funebre. Lento
Piano Sonata No.2 In B- Flat, Op.35: IV. Finale. Presto
Etude-Tableau In C, Op.33 No.2: Allegro
Etude-Tableau In C, Op.33 No.2: Appassionato
Arabeske In C, Op.18: Leicht und zart
Kinderszenen, Op.15 - Scenes From Childhood: 1. Von fremden Landern und Menschen
KINDERSZENEN, OP.15: 2. Kuriose Geschichte
KINDERSZENEN, OP.15: 3. Hansche-Mann
KINDERSZENEN, OP.15: 4. Bittendes Kind
KINDERSZENEN, OP.15: 5. Gluckes genug
KINDERSZENEN, OP.15: 6. Wichtige Begbenheit
KINDERSZENEN, OP.15: 7. Traumerei
KINDERSZENEN, OP.15: 8. Am Kamin
KINDERSZENEN, OP.15: 9. Ritter vom Steckenpferd
KINDERSZENEN, OP.15: 10. Fast zu ernst
KINDERSZENEN, OP.15: 11. Furchtenmachen
KINDERSZENEN, OP.15: 12. Kind im Einschlummern
KINDERSZENEN, OP.15: 13. Der Dichter spricht
Toccata In C, Op.7: Allegro
Hungarian Rhapsody No.19 In D Minor: Lento patetico (Lassan)- Vivace (Friska)

Tracks:

Keyboard Sonatas: Allegro
Keyboard Sonatas: Allegro
Keyboard Sonatas: Allegro
Keyboard Sonatas: Andante moderato
Keyboard Sonatas: Allegretto
Keyboard Sonatas: Allegro
Keyboard Sonatas: Andante
Keyboard Sonatas: Andante e cantabile
Keyboard Sonatas: Allegro
Keyboard Sonatas: Allegro
Keyboard Sonatas: Andante e cantabile
Keyboard Sonatas: Allegro
Keyboard Sonatas: Allegro
Keyboard Sonatas: Andante
Keyboard Sonatas: Allegro
Keyboard Sonatas: Andante moderato
Keyboard Sonatas: Vivo
Keyboard Sonatas: Allegro

Tracks:

Toccata, Adagio And Fugue In C, BWV 564: I. Preludio, quasi improvvisando. Tempo moderato
Toccata, Adagio And Fugue In C, BWV 564: II. Intermezzo. Adagio
Toccata, Adagio And Fugue In C, BWV 564: III. Fuga. Moderamente sherzando, un poco umoristico
Fantasie In C, Op.17: I. Durchaus phantastisch und leidenschalflich vorzutragen
Fantasie In C, Op.17: II. Massig. Durchaus energisch
Fantasie In C, Op.17: III. Langsam getragen. Durchweg leise zu halten
Piano Sonata No.9, Op.68 'Black Mass': Moderato quasi andante-Molto meno vivo-Allegro-Piu vivo-Allegro...
Poeme In F-Sharp Major, Op.32 No.1: Andante cantibile

Tracks:

Mazurka In C-sharp Minor, Op. 30. No. 4: Allegretto
Etude In F major, Op. 10 No. 8: Allegro
Ballade No. 1 In G Minor, Op. 23: Largo - Moderato - Meno mosso - Presto con fuoco
Serenade For The Doll. Allegro ma non troppo
Etude In C-Sharp Minor, Op. 2 No. 1: Andante
Etude In A-Flat Major, Op. 72 No. 11: Presto e con leggierezza
Traumerei
Sonata No. 11 In A Major, K.331: I. Tema.Andante grazioso e variazioni
Sonata No. 11 In A Major, K. 331: II. Menuetto - Trio
Sonata No. 11 In A Major, K. 331: III. Rondo alla Turca
Polonaise-Fantaisie In A-Flat Major, Op. 61: Allegro maestoso

Tracks:

Mazurka In B minor, Op. 33 No. 4: Mesto
Nocturne In E Minor, Op. 72 No. 1: Andante
Piano Sonata No. 10, Op. 70: Moderato - Allegro - Puissant, radieux - Allegro - Piu vivo - Presto - Moderato
Piano Sonata In F Major, Hob. XVI: 23: I. Allegro
Piano Sonata In F Major, Hob. XVI: 23: II. Adagio
Piano Sonata In F Major, Hob. XVI: 23: III. Finale
Blumenstuck In D-Flat Major, Op. 19: Leise bewegt
L'ISLE JOYEUSE: Quasi una cadenza - Tempo.
Vallee d'Obermann: Lento assai - Piu lento - Un poco piu di moto ma sempre lento - Presto - Lento

Tracks:

Ballade No. 1 In G Minor, Op. 23: Largo - Moderato - Meno mosso - Presto con fuoco
Nocturne In F Minor, Op. 55 No. 1: Andante
Polonaise In F-Sharp Minor, Op. 44: Tempo di polacca - Doppio movimento, tempo di Mazurka - Tempo I
Sonata In E major, K 380 (L23): Andante commodo
Sonata In G major, K 55 (L335): Allegro
Arabeske In C Major, Op. 18: Leicht und zart
Etude In D-Sharp Minor, Op. 8 No. 12: Patetico
Traumerei
Variations On A Theme From Bizet's Opera 'Carmen'

Tracks:

Sonata In E-Flat Major, Op. 12 No. 2: III. Rondo
Adagio sostenuto In F Major
Sonata In B-Flat Major, Op. 25 No. 3: II. Rondo
Sonata In A Major, Op. 50 No. 1: II. Adagio
Corale Prelude 'Lch ruf zu dir, Herr Jesu Christ'
Sonata In F-Sharp Major, K 319 (L35): Allegro
Sonata In G Major, K 260 (L124): Allegro
Sonata In C Major, HOB. XVI: 48: I. Andante con espressione
Sonata In C major, Hob. XVI:48: II. Rondo
Sonata No. 28 In A Major, Op. 101: I. Allegretto ma non troppo
Sonata No. 28 In A Major, Op. 101: II. Vivace alla Marcia
Sonata No. 28 In A Major, Op. 101: III. Adagio ma non troppo, con affetto - Allegro

Tracks:

Piano Sonata No. 14 In C-Sharp Minor, Op. 27, No. 2 'Moonlight': I. Adagio sostenuto
II. Allegretto
Piano Sonata No. 14 In C-Sharp Minor, Op. 27, No. 2'Moonlight': III. Presto agitato
Piano Sonata No. 21 In C Major, Op. 53 , 'Waldstein-Sonata': I. Allegro con brio
Piano Sonata No. 21 In C Major, Op. 53 , 'Waldstein-Sonata': II. Introduzione. Adagio molto - attacca
Piano Sonata No. 21 In C Major, Op. 53 , 'Waldstein-Sonata': III. Rondo. Allegro moderato - Prestissimo
Piano Sonata No. 23 in F Minor, Op. 57, 'Appassionata': I. Allegro assai
Piano Sonata No. 23 in F Minor, Op. 57, 'Appassionata': II. Andante con moto -attacca
Piano Sonata No. 23 in F Minor, Op. 57, 'Appassionata': III. Allegro, ma non troppo - Presto

Tracks:

Mazurka in A minor, Op. 17 No. 4: Lento, ma non troppo
Etude in G-flat major, Op. 10 No. 5: Vivace
Introduction & Rondo In E-Flat Major, Op. 16: Introduzione. Andante - Rondo. Allegro vivace
Waltz in A minor, Op. 34 No. 2: Lento
Polonaise in A-flat Major, Op. 53: Maestoso
Mazurka in F-sharp minor, Op. 59 No. 3: Vivace
Mazurka in C-sharp minor, Op. 50 No. 3: Moderato
Mazurka in D-flat major, Op. 30 No. 3: Allegro non troppo
Mazurka in E minor, Op. 41 No. 2: Andantino
Mazurka in D major, Op. 33 No. 2: Vivace
Etude in C-sharp minor, Op. 10 No. 4: Presto
Etude in E major, Op. 10 No. 3: Lento, ma non troppo
Etude in C minor, Op. 10 No. 12: Allegro con fuoco
Prelidu In B Minor, Op. 28 No. 6: Lento assai

Tracks:

Posonaise in A major, Op. 40 No. 1: Allegro con brio
Prelude in D-flat major, Op. 28 No. 15: Sostenuto
Etude in E-flat minor, Op. 10 No. 6: Andante
Etude No. 2 in A-flat major from 'Trois Nouvelles Etudes': Allegretto
Mazurka In F Minor, Op. 7 No. 3
Waltz in C-sharp minor, Op. 64 No. 2: Tempo giusto
Variations On A Theme By Clara Wieck From Sonata No. 3 In F Minor,Op. 14: Andantino
Kreisleriana, Op. 16: I. Ausserst bewegt
Kreisleriana, Op. 16: II.Sehr innig
Kreisleriana, Op. 16: III. Sehr aufgeregt
Kreisleriana, Op. 16: IV. Sehr langsam
Kreisleriana, Op. 16: V. Sehr lebhaft
Kreisleriana, Op. 16: VI. Sehr langsam
Kreisleriana, Op. 16: VII. Sehr rasch
Kreisleriana, Op. 16: VIII. Schnell und spielend

Tracks:

Impromptu In A-Flat Major Op. 90 (D899) No. 4: Allegretto
Impromptu In F Minor Op. 142 (D935) No. 1: Allegro moderato
Impromptu In A-Flat Major Op. 142 (935) No. 2: Allegretto
Impromptu In E-Flat Major Op. 90 (D899) No. 2: Allegro
Consolation In E Major S. 172 (R.12) No. 2
Pour les arpeges composes: Dolce e lusingando
La terrasse des audiences du clair de lune: Lent
Etude In A Minor Op. 104b No. 3: Allegro vivace
Scherzo & March S. 177 (R.20)

Tracks:

Feuillet d'album In E-Flat Major Op. 45 No. 1: Andante piacevole
Etude In F-Sharp Minor Op. 8 No. 2: A capriccio, con forza
Etude In B-Flat Minor Op. 8 No. 11: Andante cantabile
Etude In D-Flat Major Op. 8 No. 10: Allegro
Etude In A-Flat Major Op. 8 No. 8: Lento (Tempo rubato)
Etude In F-Sharp Major Op. 42 No 3: Prestissimo
Etude In F-Sharp Major Op. 42 No. 4: Andante
Etude In C-Sharp Minor Op. 42 No. 5: Affannato
Etude Op. 65 No. 3: Molto vivace
No. 1: Allegretto
2 Poemes Op. 69: No. 2: Allegretto
Vers la flamme Op. 72: Allegro moderato
Feuillet d'album Op. 58
Fairy Tale In A Major Op. 51 No. 3
Sonata No. 2 In B-Flat Minor Op. 36: I. Allegro agitato
Sonata No. 2 In B-flat, Minor, Op. 36: II. Non allegro
Sonata No. 2 In B-Flat Minor, Op. 36: III. Allegro molto
Prelude In G-Sharp Minor Op. 32 No. 12: Allegro
Moment musical In B Minor Op. 16 No. 3: Andante cantabile
Etude-Tableau In E-Flat Minor Op. 33 No. 5: Non allegro - Presto
Etude-Tableau In C Major Op. 33 No. 2: Allegro
Etude-Tableau In D Major Op. 39 No. 9: Allegro moderato (Tempo di Marcia)

Amazon.com

It may surprise you to learn that, despite his untouchable reputation with the public, Vladimir Horowitz enjoyed a certain dubious reputation with the critics. For many, he was the epitome of the witless virtuoso, all technique and vulgar display, and no brains. There was some truth in this to the extent that he really could be variable on record, but by general consensus his Masterworks recordings show him at his absolute best. Aside from his famous Carnegie Hall concerts from 1965, you get stunning performances of music by Schumann, Haydn, Beethoven, Chopin, Scriabin, and above all, Scarlatti--the composer that Horowitz, more than anyone, put back on the map for pianists the world over. A great set. --David Hurwitz

Customer Reviews:

Horowitz: good. Amazon: good. Sony Classical: BAD........2004-05-24

I bought this set in December, and because I have so many classical CD's (more than 300), it took me 5 months to realize that the set contained TWO volume 8's and NO volume 9's. Worried that it might be too late, I e-mailed Amazon. Their first reply was that the replacement was already on its way (with return shipping paid for as well). Wow, that was a relief!

When I got the new set, I decided to study it closely and make sure that everything was good. It turns out that several of the discs (in both sets) had holes through the aluminum reflective layer -- which seemed to be because it was too thin to begin with. One disc was cracked, and another looked like the aluminum was "rotting out" on the edge. You would think that for $230, Sony Classical would put more quality into their discs. So what good is "Super Bit Mapping" and "High Definition Remastering" if the discs are so cheap that the player will misread the data? And I don't have much confidence that the discs will last many years, either.

Fortunately I got to pick the best discs from the 2 sets, so I won't need to replace this one for another. But I certainly lost respect for Sony Classical.

And kudos to you Amazon; you're really looking out for your customers!

ARE YOU CRAZY RICH OR CRAZY STUPID?.......2002-08-25

Why would any one in the right mind plunk down [money] for 13 CDS by the same pianist? Is it so you can brag about owning 11 years' worth of the same old thing? Or did you get it as a gift designed to impress but not really to listened to? Now you could probably get [money] for it whether you used it or not. Columbia Masterworks should have brought along new and younger talent. For my bet I can't think of many American pianists who are currently recording. Do we have to recycle Schumann, Rachmaninoff, Schubert, Beethoven, Liszt, Chopin, Scriabin, and others over and over? This is the Twenty-first Century. We should at least be thinking of Twentieth Century piano works. I can get 10 CDs by 10 pianists currently recording if I look to Europe.

merely spectacular!.......2001-03-10

I've only had this set about a week and have already indulged three complete listenings; it's a gold mine! - the power of preaching is persuasive in the Temple of Horowitz! I'm taken aback by the unity and continuity of sonics, an excellent and remarkable display of high engineering art. Everything important is here (almost! I wish some of the Scriabin Preludes had been included). There are sketches of incomparable pianism and supreme intelligence in these discs: Liszt's 'Vallee d'Obermann', and the Consolations; Debussy's 'L'isle joyeux' - so 'russian playing french'! - Scriabin's 'Vers le flamme' and the Black Mass sonata - one simply can't climb out of the volcano, it's terrifying and beautiful! - and the Scarlatti and Chopin. Only Gilels approaches Horowitz's indigenous understanding of Chopin. In the course of thirteen discs the glory can start to crash in around you, but at the last moment of endurance along comes 'Serenade of the Doll', or one of the Consolations. The Bach-Busoni is cerebral and fine. Horowitz gets rapped for the wrong romanticism - it's the romanticism of artistic intelligence that his art claims! I love that famous C clunker at the beginning of the Bach-Busoni in the Return to Carnegie Hall recital; more than that, I appreciate how Horowitz played his public pride in it, no retouches, etc. Shrewd, and very real, I think. He was a pianist of enormous humility on the inside, so completely knowing of his gifts - one of the reason his playing was something special. He possessed the often disregarded ability to stand completely outside his playing and admire it as one might a beautiful woman, with complete humility. It affords us the privilege of reaping joy after joy of a remarkable art the likes of which will surely stand true for a long time. 200 bucks is a lot of money, I probably would have thought it too much for the convenience of a collection; I'm glad someone else didn't feel that way, and gave me the set! - now I find it curiously too clever a package to be considered merely a consolidation of recordings into a 'set' - there is something indefinably congruent about these recordings. They fit together with harmonious intent, and shine and shadow the land with a marvelous music. Highest recommendation without reservation.

I have never regretted buying this..........2000-08-22

Considering that this set is devoted to a single instrument played by one artist in a 12-year period, the depth is mind-blowing. If variety is the spice of life, than this set is a very warming set indeed.

For the most part, Horowitz communicates a deep respect for the specific style of each composer: his Scarlatti is done articulately and without any smear with the pedal. His Liszt is demonic. His Rachmaninov is dazzling, with all of the "superfluous" notes (!) and Russian virtuosity in tact. Horowitz's Schumann is sensitive, passionate and Romantic.

And then there are his interpretations of Chopin. To me, Vladimir Horowitz is one of Chopin's best ambassadors. In particular, I draw attention to the Polonaise-Fantaisie in Vol. 3 and the mazurkas and etudes of Vol. 7.

For a good summary of this collection, listen to Vol. 4, "The Legendary 1968 TV Concert." Applause is omitted between selections, and the repertoire is tailored to Horowitz's pianistic gifts.

The first disc of Vol. 3 (Including the Bach-Busoni Toccata and the Schumann Fantasy) is not top-notch piano-playing... It's a little sloppy and inaccurate. I'm sure there are other minor slips elsewhere in this collection, but here they are most obviously seen.

Regardless, this collection is a MUST for Horowitz fans. Save up your money little by little and go and buy it. It is truly the most rewarding purchase of classical music I have ever made.

The greatest 20th Cent. pianist at his best!.......2000-04-15

If you were to take a set of piano music from only one performer to a desert island, this would be the set. Vladimir Horowitz was a pianist of incredible, almost unique, technical prowess capable of creating wonderful piano textures and tone colorings, and possessing his own dark, distinctive sound on a wonderful Steinway he had transported to each of his concerts or studio recording sessions. Of almost limitless ability, he suffered criticism from music critics because he severely limited his performing repertoire and stayed away from the concert stage for several prolonged periods because of his terrible insecurity and stagefright. He was especially criticized in his early years for bravura performances which were brilliant, but loud and not always tasteful. He was known for giving his enthralled audiences what they wanted, but it should be remembered that he championed Scarlatti and almost single-handedly brought him back into the performing world from near-oblivion, and it was Horowitz who premiered several important works by twentieth century composers such as Barber and Khatchaturian. He kept the works of the mysterious and exotic Alexander Scriabin from disappearing from piano benches in the conservatories, and he created some of the most imaginative and thrilling encore transcriptions ever heard in the concert hall. In later years, his repertoire expanded and he played some wonderful Mozart, Haydn, and Beethoven, much of which is featured in this set. The highlight of this disc collection from the early 60's through about 1973 is the historic return concert at Carnegie Hall in 1965. After a self-imposed exile from public performing for 12 years, he made this famous recital which is one of the most memorable in the history of recorded piano performance. Although he made several nerve-induced mistakes in the opening Bach piece, he settled down quickly and delivered a thrilling performance, highlighted, for me, at least, by the Chopin Ballade in G minor, which took away my breath and featured one of the most dazzling climaxes I have ever heard on a piano. His incredible performance possessed a youthful vitality which belied his 62 years. Throughout the other discs in this set one hears Horowitz at his best: still technically awesome yet more musically mature and capable of producing little miracles from pieces well-known, and less-known. No longer pandering to the expectations of the audience, he gave as his encore at the Carnegie Hall return concert, a precious, child-like Traumerei from Kinderszenen. The Schumann featured on these discs includes some of the most beautiful offerings available anywhere of this composer, including a wonderful Fantasy in C and perhaps the best performance ever on record of Kreisleriana. The Schubert impromptus are little miracles, and the Debussy that's thrown in makes us fantasize about the other French music he could have given us! His wonderful Chopin reminds us there are other views besides Rubinstein's to this most-important-of-all piano literature, and his Rachmaninoff is glorious. Performing into his eighties, he was a wonder of music and the 13 discs offered here give a personal record of a dazzling career from his very best years. It might be pointed out that several pieces are offered more than once in the set as they were recorded in several concerts and studio sessions and it is interesting to hear the differences in his performances. One might wish that his piano oeuvre had included more composers and a wider range of pieces, but this collection certainly highlights the work he was best known for, including as it does the various Chopin, Rachmaninoff, Liszt, Schumann, Scarlatti, Scriabin, Bach, Mozart, Haydn, Schubert, Clementi, and Beethoven gems he was noted for throughout his long career. Anyone loving the piano, or just beautiful music must hear these discs!

Average customer rating:

Exquisite Debussy from an underrated pianist
The low price is an attraction, but...

Debussy: Complete Piano Music, Vol. 2

Manufacturer: Philips
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

Dances | Ballets & Dances | Classical | Styles | Music

Waltzes | Ballets & Dances | Classical | Styles | Music

Ballads | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music

Etudes | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music

Suites | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Classical | Styles | Music

Lullabies & Berceuse | Vocal Non-Opera | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music
Similar Items:

Debussy: Complete Piano Music, Vol. 1
Debussy: The Complete Piano Music
Great Recordings Of The Century - Beethoven: Triple Concerto; Brahms: Double Concerto / Oistrakh, Rostropovich, Richter
Great Recordings Of The Century - Brahms: Violin Sonatas nos 1 - 3 / Perlman, Ashkenazy

ASIN: B00000417I
Release Date: 1994-01-18

Tracks:

12 Etudes: Livre I: Pour les cinq doigts
12 Etudes: Livre I: Pour les tierces
12 Etudes: Livre I: Pour les quartes
12 Etudes: Livre I: Pour les sixtes
12 Etudes: Livre I: Pour les octaves
12 Etudes: Livre I: Pour les huit doigts
12 Etudes: Livre II: Pour les degrchromatiques
12 Etudes: Livre II: Pour les agrnts
12 Etudes: Livre II: Pour les notes rt
12 Etudes: Livre II: Pour les sonoritoppos
12 Etudes: Livre II: Pour les arps compos
12 Etudes: Livre II: Pour les accords
D'un cahier d'esquisses
La plus que lente (valse)
Suite Bergamasque: Prde
Suite Bergamasque: Menuet
Suite Bergamasque: Clair de lune
Suite Bergamasque: Passepied
Danse (Tarantelle styrienne)
Valse romantique
Hommage aydn

Tracks:

Rrie
Nocturne en rl majeur
Ballade slave
Masques
Danse bohenne
Le petit ne
Berceuse he
En blanc et noir - Avec emportement
En blanc et noir - Lent. Sombre
En blanc et noir - Scherzando
Petite Suite - En bateau
Petite Suite - Cort
Petite Suite - Menuet
Petite Suite - Ballet
Lindaraja
Six graphes antiques - Pour invoquerPan, dieu du vent d'
Six graphes antiques - Pour un tombeau sans nom
Six graphes antiques - Pour que la nuit soit propice
Pour la danseuse aux crotales
Pour l'Egyptienne
Pour remercier la pluie au matin
Marche ssaise

Customer Reviews:

Exquisite Debussy from an underrated pianist.......2000-09-13

I bought this set because it included most of the pieces missing from my Debussy piano collection, and the Penguin Guide rated it fairly high. I've been listening to it frequently ever since and can only wonder why Haas is rarely mentioned alongside other great Debussians like Gilels, Arrau, Roge et al. The Philips sound is clean and full and these performances, especially of the Etudes, leave nothing to be desired. No dreamy indulgence here, just penetrating exploration of Debussy's unique tonal world. At this price, the complete duo-piano music (in which Haas is joined by Noel Lee) is a bonus! Don't hesitate on this one, even if it duplicates some other Debussy performances you own -- Debussy's music is so subtle that an alternative performance is virtually a new piece of music.

The low price is an attraction, but..........2000-04-28

I bought this 2-CD set because it was onsale..... Unfortunately, I was somewhat disappointed when I played it. The selection itself is good, it contains the complete Etudes, En blanc et noir, and some other not-so-famous works. However, the performance is no match to the scope. You know that it was played in accordance with the composition, but beyond this you don't feel touched by the playing. I am still enchanted by Debussy's unique style, and will still buy CDs of his music, however I might look for something by other performers.

Average customer rating:

exquisite
An extremely important release

Alain: Organ Works, Vol. 1

Manufacturer: Naxos
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Classical | Styles | Music

4-for-3 Classical | 4-for-3 Music | Stores | Music

4-for-3 All Music | 4-for-3 Music | Stores | Music
Similar Items:

Alain: Organ Works, Vol. 2
Louis Vierne: Complete Organ Symphonies

ASIN: B0000014EK
Release Date: 1997-06-10

Tracks:

Litanies
Petite Piece
Le Jardin Suspendu
Deuxieme Fant
Vars Sur Un Theme De Clement Janequin
Deux Danses A Agni Yavishta: 1ere Danse
Deux Danses A Agni Yavishta: 2eme Danse
Premier Prld Profane
Deuxieme Prld Profane
Chor Cistercien
Climat
Monodie
Ballade En Mode Phrygien
Chor Phrygien
Ste: Intro Et Vars
Ste: Scherzo
Ste: Chor

Customer Reviews:

exquisite.......2001-04-22

The death of Jehan-Ariste Alain, like all of the deaths caused by WWII, was a tragic, senseless one. A mere 29 years of age, Alain was quickly becoming a prominant composer of amazing versitility and life. One can only speculate what wonders he would have composed had be survived the dreaded war, but the output that we do have proves that he had extraordinary talent.

One of 2 volumes of his work released by the Naxos label, Vol. 1 showcases Alain's powerfully distinctive voice in a number of distinct formats, ranging from the one minute "le Jardin Suspendu," complete with an exotic atmosphere akin to contemporary Olivier Messiaen, the wonderfully precocious "Petite Piece," and his best known piece, "Litanies."

To me, it is is the fantastic organ playing of Eric Lebrun that brings Alain's already amazing pieces to greater life. His choice of the Cavaille-Coll organ of the Church of St-Antoine des Quinze-Vingts in Paris was the ideal one for these pieces. Alain meant for his pieces to be played on just such an organ, so one can hear the majesty of Alain and the organ mingling beautifully, with the highly competent Lebrun in command. There is no doubt that Lebrun is attuned to what Alain meant for the pieces to sound like. Listen to his rendition of the Gregorian-esque "Ballade en Mode Phrygien" and feel the shivers go down your spine.

The 2 cd set is a masterful look at one of the greatest 20th century composers that should have been, and with it being a Naxos release, the price is never a factor. Invest the few dollars and hear one of the great lps of organ music you will likely ever hear. It is well worth it.

An extremely important release.......2001-01-24

Paul Dukas, of "The Sorceror's Apprentice" fame, was one of the finest composition tutors of the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. Amongst his pupils were three significant organists: Messiaen - who is now seen as one of the most influential figures of the entire twentieth century; Langlais - who has become somewhat less prominent than Messiaen but was certainly no less important as a composer; and Alain - equally promising as a composer, but killed during military service in 1940 by a Nazi bomb blast. He was just 29 years of age.

It could be said of that tragedy that it robbed us of a great twentieth century composer. However, Alain lived and worked long enough to produce a large corpus of organ music, remarkably mature in style and full of contrasts, and as this two-disc series shows, though his life was cut so brutally short, it was by no means a waste of life.

That Alain shared a class with Messiaen and Langlais seems clear to me on listening to some of the music in this volume. The special harmonic techniques and exotic interests of Messiaen might perhaps be detected in "Le Jardin suspendu" or "Deux Danses a Agni Yavishta" (the first of which is barely a minute long); "Litanies" (one of his better known legacies) and "Variations sur un theme de Clement Janequin" bear testimony to an interest in ancient French musical ideas and traditions, shared by Langlais. Like both, Alain seems to have inherited a strong gift for melody and how best to accompany it; witness the simply delicious "Petite Piece" (track 2), the more extended "Deuxieme Fantasie" or the chorales "Cistercian" and "Phrygien," exquisitely crafted miniatures that harbour some truly innovate musical thinking behind their seemingly pedestrian titles. Alain was obviously a man of clear religious conviction, yet in writing for organ he also catered for the more secular side of performing, as can be seen in the "Deux Preludes Profanes," "Ballade en mode Phrygien" which is derived, Langlais-esque, from Gregorian chant and is thus on the cusp between liturgical and non-liturgical music, or the three-movement "Suite" that closes this programme.

This is music of great quality: well formed, interesting and deserving of a wide audience. Here, it is beautifully performed by Eric Lebrun, himself a pupil of the composer's organ-playing relative, Marie-Claire Alain. Seated at a genuine French Cavaille-Coll organ - the type of instrument for which the music for written - he delivers a beautiful performance: sensitive, brilliantly accurate and wholly communicative. With the Naxos budget price, this disc is certainly hard to resist, particularly for organists like myself!

Tracks:

Polonaise In A flat, Op. 61 'Polonaise-Fantaisie'
Mazurka In F minor, Op. 63 No. 2
Mazurka In A minor, Op. 68 No. 2
Mazurka In C Sharp Minor, Op. 50 No. 3
Mazurka In C Sharp Minor, Op. 63 No. 3
Mazurka In F minor, Op. 68 No. 4
Mazurka In C, Op. 56 No. 2
Mazurka In E minor, Op. 41 No. 2
Scherzo No. 2 In B Flat Minor, Op. 31
Nocturne No. 17 In B, Op. 62 No. 1
Nocturne No. 17 In B, Op. 62 No. 1
Barcarolle In F sharp, Op. 60
Ballade No. 4 In F Minor, Op. 52

Tracks:

Prelude, choral et fugue: Prelude - Prelude
Prelude, choral et fugue: Choral
Prelude, choral et fugue: Fugue
Images (Book 1): Reflets Dans L'eau
Images (Book 1): Hammage A Rameau
Images (Book 1): Mouvement
Images (Book 2): Cloches A Travers Les Feuilles
Images (Book 2): Et La Lune Descend Sur Le Temple Qui Fut
Images (Book 2): Poissons D'or
Pour Le Piano. Suite.: Prelude
Pour Le Piano. Suite.: Sarabande
Pour Le Piano. Suite.: Toccata
Sonatine: 1. Modere
Sonatine: 2. Mouvement De Menuet
Sonatine: 3. Anime

Amazon.com

The battle for the most convincing, or at least resonant, Chopin might be a two-person standoff between Ivan Moravec and Artur Rubinstein. Moravec's Nocturnes nos. 17 and 18 (Op. 62) are about as exquisite as any on record, with life enough to sound as though they were being played in person only inches from the ear. Throughout the first of these two CDs, Moravec uses his pedals to hold Chopin's tones for so long that they become rhapsodic in their balanced extendedness.

A native of Prague, Moravec has eschewed the spotlight, mostly because of his emphasis on teaching and assiduous practice. He's famous for insisting that every aspect of his performance be near-perfect, from his clear command of the work to his intimate knowledge of the instrument on which he'll perform. So it's ideal that he focuses on repertoire fed by perfectionism and elaborately precise pacing--not to mention his penchant for unmistakable contrast. This last trait is most evident in the big energy of Franck's Prélude, chorale, et fugue (recorded in 1962). --Andrew Bartlett

Customer Reviews:

A Great Artist.......2001-11-28

Mr. Moravec is a great artist. I had the privilege of attending his Carnegie Hall Concert, Nov. 27th, 01 and was astonished by his genius. Words can't describe playing of this calibre. If you are a musician or an aspiring artist listen to Mr.Moravec. His deeply felt interpretations of Chopin and Debussy will bring you to a musical world of great beauty and inspire you to get on with your work and do great things also. The above CD is an excellent intro. to Mr. Moravec. But some of his work is hard to get. His CD of Chopin's nocturnes has recently been digitally remastered. I couldn't buy this new version in the United States. I had to order it from England. This is unfortunate. I hope you join me in demanding that Amazon carry everything that Mr. Moravec has recorded. His artistic achievement is a treasure.

Superb Chopin, Yes - but Listen to the Franck!.......2001-02-06

The selections on Disk one convincingly back up the claim that Ivan Moravec is the world's greatest living Chopinist, including a majestic performance of the 4th Ballade that has no recorded equal. But the jewel of this collection is the definitive performance of the Cesar Franck Prelude, Chorale, and Fugue: a work which Mr. Moravec just absolutely "owns". Clarity and pure musicianship are the hallmark of this recording, and Mr. Moravec succeeds in bringing out the complex voices of the fugue in such a way as of which other pianists only dream! The cadenza that mystically weaves together the themes of the three separate parts into a whole is a joy to listen to, and Mr. Moravec resists the mistake made by other artists of rushing the final bars in a high speed bravura dash to the end, instead allowing the broken chords of the chorale to bring the work to a stately yet glorious conclusion. There are a lot of recordings of the Franck Prelude, Chorale, and Fugue. But if you haven't heard this one, then you haven't heard it at all!

Great introduction to a multidimensional artist.......1999-12-08

This collection mainly represents Moravec's recognized contributions to the Chopin and Debussy discography. His Chopin Barcarolle, the composer's homage to Italy, is heart-stopping - one of the great performances of all time, in my humble opinion. The Mazurkas and ravishing Ballade No. 4 too, are worth the price of admission all by themselves.

If you don't have any Ivan Moravec recordings, this is as good a place as any to start. If you do, then you'll probably appreciate this addition. The liner notes by Donald Manildi are superb, describing Moravec the man and musician about as well as anyone has.

Tracks:

Ste: Intro & Var(s)
Ste: Scherzo-
Ste: Chor
Climat
Prld & Fugue
Choral Dorien
Choral Phrygien
Aria
Vars Sur Lucis Creator
Berceuse Sur Deux Notes Qui Cornent
1er Prld Profane
2e Prld Profane
Monodie
Ballade En Mode Phrygien
Chor Cistercien Pour Une Elevation
Vars Sur Un Theme De Clement Jannequin
Le Jardin Suspendu
Litanies

Tracks:

Fantasmagorie
Trois Danses: Joies
Trois Danses: Deuils
Trois Danses: Luttes
Grave
Petite Piece
Intermezzo
Lamento
1er Fant
2e Fant
Deux Danses A Agni Yavishta
Complainte A La Mode Ancienne
Fugue En Mode De Fa
Verset-Choral
Berceuse
De Jules Lemaitre
Chant Donne
Andante
Postlude Pour l'Office De Complies
Page 21 De 8er Cahier De Notes De Jehan Alain

Customer Reviews:

Experience the music of a 20th century original.......2001-01-26

Jehan Alain was a French organist and composer who was tragically killed while fighting the Germans near Saumur in 1940. At the time of his death, he was only 29 years old. Despite his youth, he left behind a significant body of organ music that could be mistaken for no other composer. This two CD set, running almost two and a half hours, includes all his published works, including some that have only recently come to light. Unlike many French composers who wrote for the organ on the vastest of canvases, many of Alain's works run five minutes or less.

One thing is for certain: Kevin Bowyer has technique to burn. He also gets wonderful sounds from the Marcussen organ at Tonbridge School. In fact, the recorded sound is excellent and atmospheric throughout. With one caveat, this is a wonderful introduction to the music of Alain. There is much here that is readily accessible to lovers of organ music including, but certainly not limited to, the two Chorals, Dorien and Phrygien; the two sets of variations, on Lucis Creator and on a theme by Clement Jannequin (although that attribution is in doubt); and the mystical pieces, Le Jardin Suspendu and the Postlude pour l'Office de Complies. There are also works that do not make their wonders readily apparent, but are well worth coming to know. Then, of course, there is Alain's most famous work, Litanies.

And it is Bowyer's performance of that piece about which I have reservations. He plays it breathtakingly fast--again, no question about technique--but the tempo is so rapid in places that, to me at least, the music sounds hectic. Repeated notes at the beginnings of phrases blur together, so that unless you knew that the notes were repeated, you'd hardly be able to tell. When he gives the music room to breathe, the performance is fine; if only he had done so throughout the piece! This performance, although perfectly acceptable, does not rise to the same level as the rest of this recording. And if you like your toccatas astonishingly fast, this performance will not disappoint.

So, if you only want Litanies and have no interest in Alain's other organ works, you'd be better off to purchase one of the many collections that include that piece. However, if you want a survey of the organ works of this original master, there is no need to hesitate.

Ballade 77-82
Average customer rating:
Ballade 77-82
Southern All Stars
Manufacturer: Jvc Victor
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

Japan | Far East & Asia | International | Styles | Music
General | International | Styles | Music
International | Imports | Stores | Music
ASIN: B000059O54
Release Date: 2001-01-22

Tracks:

Japanese
Japanese
Japanese
Japanese
Japanese
Japanese
Japanese
Japanese
Japanese
Japanese
Japanese
Japanese
Japanese
Japanese
Japanese
Japanese
Japanese
Japanese
Japanese
Japanese

Great Pianists of the 20th Century: The Complete Edition

Average customer rating:

Wonderful set
Don't buy the whole thing
Not Insane
insane
For the real music lover

Great Pianists of the 20th Century: The Complete Edition
Great Pianists of the Twentieth Century
Manufacturer: Polygram Records
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

Dances | Ballets & Dances | Classical | Styles | Music

Gavottes | Ballets & Dances | Classical | Styles | Music

Mazurkas | Ballets & Dances | Classical | Styles | Music

Pavanes | Ballets & Dances | Classical | Styles | Music

Polkas | Ballets & Dances | Classical | Styles | Music

Polonaises | Ballets & Dances | Classical | Styles | Music

Waltzes | Ballets & Dances | Classical | Styles | Music

Nonets | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music

Ballads | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music

Etudes | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music

Fantasies | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music

Preludes | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music

Rondos | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music

Suites | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music

Toccatas | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music

Voluntaries | Sacred & Religious | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Classical | Styles | Music

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

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

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

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

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

General | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

German | Languages | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

Italian | Languages | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

Classical | Box Sets | Stores | Music
ASIN: B00002EITP
Release Date: 1999-10-26

Customer Reviews:

Wonderful set.......2004-10-24

This set is for serious piano fans, not for the ones who just start building up a CD library. I sort of agree with one of the reviewers, that there are many repetitions. But if you love piano, you wish to hear the same piece in different interpretations. Indeed, I really like this feature of this set: I can compare the style of various performers.
If you are into piano music, I encourage you to grab this set, if you can find it used (not available anymore at Amazon). I also hope, that there will be a continuation, in which other great pianists, who were left out because of the space limitation, will be included (Prokofiev, Bartok, Dohnanyi, etc).

Don't buy the whole thing.......2001-07-08

I've put a lot of thought into constructing my own piano library, and unless you can easily afford the present set, I would recommend a different approach to collecting piano music. This set emphasizes the piano player rather than the piano composer. Of course both are important. For example, the "Barcarolle" appears in this set EIGHT times. I'm sorry, although I love the piece, if I am going to spend [the money], I would prefer more variety. Where are the Alkan, Medtner, and Szymanawski compositions represented in this set? I appreciate having so many interpretations of the same pieces, but I would also appreciate more exposure to pieces not so popular. The selection by Philips which I consider a somewhat popular selection suggests to me that when Philips constructed this set, they realized most people would be buying the disks separately, and this affected the selection. And it's not just that obscure composers are left out, but also if one spends so much money on piano recordings, you'd think you'd want to buy pieces from a composer in completeness. For example, an alternative way to construct a library would be to combine purchases of complete cycles, e.g. complete Beethoven sonatas, complete Scriabin preludes, etc., along with outstanding recordings of more particular pieces. I'm not sure why someone would want to concentrate so much on so many famous artists, instead of acquiring complete sets of compositions. For me the composer is more important, or at least, if I am going to spend [the money]on piano recordings, I'd prefer more complete, rather than snapshot, exposure to the composers.

Not Insane.......2001-01-02

I had to write this review, as I am enthralled with this set. I have been going through it in order having already purchased a few individual units from the collection earlier. I am not sure what `insane' was talking about as there is NO repetition. Sure some pianists perform the same pieces, isn't that what they did in reality? The idea is to appreciate the different nuances and approaches taken by these artists. You will then enjoy these pieces from a better vantage.

It is a large ambitious contribution to the art of great piano playing. It is a labor of love and represents a tremendous amount of research and cooperation between many record companies. Rather then representing insanity, it is a resource to treasure.

Yes experts can quibble over who was left out, and what performances were inserted. I do not think such a massive undertaking could have been accomplished without someone being able to find faults. Overall however, unless you already have a monumental collection, (it would have to be almost legendary), this incredible set will give you a rewarding look into 74 of the greatest pianist of all time. You will come away with a honed sense of appreciation for your likes and dislikes. You will undoubtedly become someone who will search out recordings and be able to enjoy them for the rest of your life with a refined ear.

The only negative is this price. I would shop around, as it is daunting to spend 2 thousand dollars on such a collection. Of course you do get 200 CD's. However, the used collections might be good to consider.

Enjoy these masterpieces. I am not ashamed of owning this music as `insane' implies. I am proud to have enriched my life.

insane.......2000-10-12

This is not a good library of piano music. The reason is, there is too much repetition. I'm not saying the series is bad. The series is wonderful. But this collection as a whole is a bad libary. For the same money you could collect together (with more effort) an incredible libary of piano music. There are so many wonderful cd's out there, this is just a waste of money. If you can actually afford to spend 2 grand on piano music, then either (1) spend the time and do some research to get a good library of piano music, which will probably include some selections from this collection, or (2) hire someone to do that for you. Personally I would be embarrassed to own this whole collection, since that shows I have put little thought into my purchases of piano music.

For the real music lover.......2000-03-12

This series attempts to present important and representative performances by most of the major pianists of the 20th century. One might quibble a bit with the choices, but the works presented are of consistently high quality, and often do represent what may be the best works of a performer. Since this covers most of the time that recorded music existed, some of the recordings are technically challenged, as there is only so much one can do to enhance an old recording. Still, these appear to have been treated with love and respect in their restorations. Since this series is so large (and expensive!) one is tempted to "cherry pick" through the series, yet by doing so one can easily overlook gems by artists one is less familiar with. This large a set must inevitably have many versions of the same pieces, and takes many hours to listen to. The true enthusiast will appreciate the differences in interpretation, whereas the less experienced listener may find the set repetitive and overwhelming. If one has the time to really dig into this set, it can provide years of exploration and discovery. It would make a wonderful gift for some special music lover in your life ... or for yourself!

Vladimir Horowitz, Piano: Early Recordings 1928 Through 1947

Average customer rating:

Vladimir Horowitz, Piano: Early Recordings 1928 Through 1947

Manufacturer: Andante
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

Mazurkas | Ballets & Dances | Classical | Styles | Music

Polonaises | Ballets & Dances | Classical | Styles | Music

Waltzes | Ballets & Dances | Classical | Styles | Music

Ballads | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music

Etudes | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music

Preludes | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music

Suites | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music

Toccatas | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music

Scherzo | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music

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

Classical | Indie Music | Stores | Music
ASIN: B000066TXG
Release Date: 2002-05-07

Album Description

This four-CD set presents a selection of performances by a young lion of the keyboard: Vladimir Horowitz. Dating from 1928 to 1947, these classic recordings document the piano virtuoso at his most fiery and fearless. The repertoire ranges from Baroque and Classical scores (Scarlatti, Haydn, Beethoven, Mendelssohn) to the great Romantics (Chopin, Schumann, Liszt, Rachmaninoff), 20th-century pieces (Debussy, Poulenc, Prokofiev) and transcriptions by Horowitz himself. Pristine copies of the original HMV/Victor 78s were transferred and digitally remastered using the state-of-the-art CAP 440 technique. The handsomely illustrated 84-page booklet features an introduction by Pulitzer Prize-winner Tim Page and a perceptive essay by New York Times critic Paul Griffiths ("Vladimir Horowitz: Portrait of the Artist as a Young Lion"), as well as detailed artist biographies from The New Grove Dictionary of Music and Musicians.

Average customer rating:

Chopin

Manufacturer: Aura Classics
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

Mazurkas | Ballets & Dances | Classical | Styles | Music

Polonaises | Ballets & Dances | Classical | Styles | Music

Ballads | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music

Etudes | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music

Scherzo | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music

The Rubinstein Collection (Limited Edition) [Box Set]

Average customer rating:

There were greater talents.
This Is No Lesson in Economics...
CLASSICAL MUSIC AT ITS MOST EXPENSIVE (AND BEST)
It's actually not so expensive
A Superb Reissue

The Rubinstein Collection (Limited Edition) [Box Set]

Manufacturer: RCA
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

Dances | Ballets & Dances | Classical | Styles | Music

Mazurkas | Ballets & Dances | Classical | Styles | Music

Polonaises | 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

Ballads | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music

Etudes | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music

Fantasies | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music

Preludes | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music

Rondos | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music

Suites | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music