Ballades & Mots d'Amour [Import]

Product Description
Collection of Gainsbourg's Most Romantic Ballads and Love Songs.

Ballades & Mots d'Amour,Serge Gainsbourg,Polygram Int'l,Foreign Language Rock,French Pop,Int'l & World Music,Pop

Average customer rating: a good collection of classical music. As Good As It Gets Great performances and sound

The Chopin Ballades & Scherzos [Hybrid SACD] Manufacturer: RCA ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD All Works by Chopin | Chopin, Frédéric | ( C ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music Ballads | 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 General | Keyboard | Instruments | Classical | Styles | Music General | Classical | Styles | Music General | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music $7.99 and Under | Classical Music Blowout | Stores | Music All Classical Music Blowout | Classical Music Blowout | Stores | Music Chopin, Frédéric | ( C ) | Composers, A-Z | Classical Music Blowout | Stores | Music Instrumental | Classical Music Blowout | Stores | Music Classical Music | The Sony BMG Masterworks Store | Amazon.com Label Stores | Stores | Music Classical Instrumental Music | The Sony BMG Masterworks Store | Amazon.com Label Stores | Stores | Music Similar Items: Mussorgsky: Pictures at an Exhibition, A Night on Bald Mountain, and Other Russian Showpieces [Hybrid SACD] Brahms, Tchaikovsky: Violin Concertos [Hybrid SACD] Richard Strauss: Also sprach Zarathustra; Ein Heldenleben [Hybrid SACD] Rimsky-Korsakov: Scheherazade; Stravinsky: Song of the Nightingale [Hybrid SACD] Tchaikovsky: Piano Concerto No. 1; Rachmaninoff: Piano Concerto No. 2 [Hybrid SACD] ASIN: B0002TKFS6 Release Date: 2004-09-14

Tracks:

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

Customer Reviews:

a good collection of classical music........2007-01-10

If you enjoy piano music, you should have this CD.

As Good As It Gets.......2006-03-24

Rubinstein was in his prime when these versions of the Chopin Ballades and Scherzos were recorded in 1959. Curiously, although this was his third version of the Scherzos, he had never before recorded the Ballades.

Rubinstein was temperamentally well suited to these works, moreso than in the Mazurkas and Preludes. The narrative aspect of the Ballades suited his intuitive sense of structure well. At this point in his career, Rubinstein had known these pieces for six decades. It is no wonder, therefore, that he performs them more convincingly than, say, Kissin does on his recent recording.

The Scherzos are outright virtuoso works. Rubinstein would occasionally perform all four in concert, back-to-back. Any other pianist would have been exhasted by the effort. Not Rubinstein, who posessed a seemingly inexaustable reserve of energy. The pianist is just as on top of these pieces, technically, as any of his colleagues, and much more attuned to them musically.

The sound, made from original three channel tapes produced by RCA's legendary Jack Pfeiffer, is spectacular in this new SACD edition--sounding every bit as lifelike as the best of today's digital recordings.

This is the one to get!

Great performances and sound.......2004-11-28

Highly recommended. Rubinstein's performances of the Ballades are lyrical, and the Scherzos exciting. The difference with previous issues is the SACD sound, which adds just that much more realism, the sense that the sound is "truer." A wonderful disc both artistically and sonically.

Average customer rating: I disagree with the consensus here Don't hesitate to get this set Superb interpretations by Katchen A little rushed sometimes, but beautiful Radiant and inspired recordings

Brahms: Works for Solo Piano Manufacturer: Decca ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD All Works by Brahms | Brahms, Johannes | ( B ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music Ballads | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music Fantasies | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music Sonatinas | Sonatas | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music Intermezzos | Theatrical, Incidental & Program Music | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music Variations | Variations | 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 General | Keyboard | Instruments | Classical | Styles | Music General | Classical | Styles | Music General | Chamber Music | Classical | 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 The Decca Records Store | Specialty Stores | Music Similar Items: Schubert: The Piano Sonatas Liszt: Piano Works Chopin: The Piano Works Works for Solo Piano Brahms: Concertos for Piano No. 1 & 2, Fantasia Op. 116 ASIN: B0000042GM Release Date: 1997-11-11

Tracks:

1. Variations On A Theme By Paganini, Op.35: Book 1 - Heft 1
2. Variations On A Theme By Paganini, Op.35: Book 2 - Heft 2
3. Variations And Fugue On A Theme By G.F. Handel, Op.24: B Flat Major
4. 4 Ballades, Op.10: Andante
5. 4 Ballades, Op.10: Andante
6. 4 Ballades, Op.10: Intermezzo. Allegro
7. 4 Ballades, Op.10: Andante con moto

Tracks:

1. Works For Solo Piano: Ziemlich langsam
2. Works For Solo Piano: Poco larghetto
3. Works For Solo Piano: Allegro
4. Works For Solo Piano: Walzer Nr. 1 - 8
5. Works For Solo Piano: Walzer Nr. 9 - 16
6. Works For Solo Piano: Scherzo es-moll

Tracks:

1. Works For Piano Solo: Allegro
2. Works For Piano Solo: Andante
3. Works For Piano Solo: Scherzo. Allegro molto e con fuoco
4. Works For Piano Solo: Finale. Allegro con fuoco
5. Works For Piano Solo: Allegro non troppo ma energico
6. Works For Piano Solo: Andante con espressione
7. Works For Piano Solo: Scherzo. Allegro
8. Works For Piano Solo: Finale. Introduzione (sostenuto) - Allegro non troppo e rubato
9. Works For Piano Solo: Agitato
10. Works For Piano Solo: Molto passionato, ma non troppo allegro

Tracks:

1. Works For Piano Solo: Allegro maestoso
2. Works For Piano Solo: Andante espressivo - Andante molto
3. Works For Piano Solo: Scherzo. Allegro energico
4. Works For Piano Solo: Intermezzo. Andante molto
5. Works For Piano Solo: Finale. Allegro moderato ma rubato
6. Works For Piano Solo: Presto energico
7. Works For Piano Solo: Andante
8. Works For Piano Solo: Allegro passionato
9. Works For Piano Solo: Adagio
10. Works For Piano Solo: Andante con grazia ed intimissimo sentimento
11. Works For Piano Solo: Andante teneramente
12. Works For Piano Solo: Allegro agitato

Tracks:

1. Works For Solo Piano: 8 Pieces, Op.76 - I Capriccio in F sharp minor
2. Works For Solo Piano: 8 Pieces, Op. 76 - II Capriccio in B minor
3. Works For Solo Piano: 8 Pieces, Op. 76 - III Intermezzo in A flat major
4. Works For Solo Piano: 8 Pieces, Op. 76 - IV Intermezzo in B flat major
5. Works For Solo Piano: 8 Pieces, Op. 76 - V Capriccio in C sharp minor
6. Works For Solo Piano: 8 Pieces, Op. 76 - VI Intermezzo in A major
7. Works For Solo Piano: 8 Pieces, Op. 76 - VII Intermezzo in A minor
8. Works For Solo Piano: 8 Pieces, Op. 76 - VIII Capriccio in C major
9. Works For Solo Piano: 6 Pieces, Op. 118 - I Intermezzo in A minor
10. Works For Solo Piano: 6 Pieces, Op. 118 - II Intermezzo in A major
11. Works For Solo Piano: 6 Pieces, Op. 118 - III Ballade in G minor
12. Works For Solo Piano: 6 Pieces, Op. 118 - IV Intermezzo in F minor
13. Works For Solo Piano: 6 Pieces, Op. 118 - V Romanze in F major
14. Works For Solo Piano: 6 Pieces, Op. 118 - VI Intermezzo in E flat minor
15. Works For Solo Piano: 4 Pieces, Op. 119 - I Intermezzo in B minorn B
16. Works For Solo Piano: 4 Pieces, Op. 119 - II Intermezzo in E minor
17. Works For Solo Piano: 4 Pieces, Op. 119 - III Intermezzo in C major
18. Works For Solo Piano: 4 Pieces, Op. 119 - IV Rhapsody in E flat major

Tracks:

1. Works For Solo Piano: Andante moderato
2. Works For Solo Piano: Andante non troppo e con molto espressione
3. Works For Solo Piano: Andante con moto
4. Works For Solo Piano: g-moll
5. Works For Solo Piano: d-moll
6. Works For Solo Piano: F-dur
7. Works For Solo Piano: fis-moll
8. Works For Solo Piano: fis-moll
9. Works For Solo Piano: Des-dur
10. Works For Solo Piano: F-dur
11. Works For Solo Piano: a-moll
12. Works For Solo Piano: e-moll
13. Works For Solo Piano: E-dur
14. Works For Solo Piano: d-moll
15. Works For Solo Piano: d-moll
16. Works For Solo Piano: D-dur
17. Works For Solo Piano: d-moll
18. Works For Solo Piano: B-dur
19. Works For Solo Piano: f-moll
20. Works For Solo Piano: fis-moll
21. Works For Solo Piano: D-dur
22. Works For Solo Piano: h-moll
23. Works For Solo Piano: e-moll
24. Works For Solo Piano: e-moll

Customer Reviews:

I disagree with the consensus here.......2007-07-11

I was disappointed by this set and would not recommend it. It's great that all of Brahms' piano works are included here and the boxed set includes some difficult to find works (like those Op. 21 variation sets) as well as the better known and wonderful later piano pieces and the Op. 39 Waltzes.

The problem is that Katchen's performances are flawed and often unpleasant. The worst problem is that he bangs the keys a lot. Fortissimo passages are ideally not supposed to be noisy; they are intended to be loud and forceful without being unpleasant. It's a key distinction that Katchen fails to realize. I also think that Katchen's technique is a bit patchy. He blurs the passagework and there is a lack of both accuracy and delicacy in the fast passages. To take an example, the Op. 76 set is marred by both of these problems: a lack of accuracy and a tendency to bang on the keyboard. I also found many of the passages that didn't suffer from these problems to be interpretationally uninteresting (the slow parts of the Paganini Variations, Bk II are undistinguished, to take an example). Big thumbs down.

I did some direct comparison of sets to the Katchen performances and in every case Katchen was far inferior.

Take the Op. 39 Waltzes: Leon Fleisher's old recording is wonderful and much more sensitive and interesting than Katchen.

I also listened to Radu Lupu's recording of the Opp. 117-119 pieces (THAT is a wonderful recording - if you are looking for a superb recording of Brahms piano music, get that one and save yourself the aggravation of the Katchen set) and it's simply no contest.

I also sampled the terrific Op. 79 Rhapsodies and the Paganini Variations as played by a favorite pianist of mine, the lesser-known French pianist Nicholas Angelich, and Katchen's sloppy and undirected interpretations pales before the versions by a "non-superstar" pianist.

So while I admit I haven't listened to every portion of the Katchen set, I found every reason to avoid it when compared to some alternatives available.

Don't hesitate to get this set.......2007-07-04

It's a good thing I waited to write this until I'd heard these CDs a few times. I would have been guilty of understatement. Katchen's work grows on me in much the same way Brahms' music itself does. It is rich in nuance and insight, and never fails to please.

I'll confess, I bought this set to fill the gaps in my piecemeal collection. What a delightful surprise to find my "stopgap" set more than holds its own against recordings by the likes of Richter, Rubinstein and Gilels. To help the reader overcome any reluctance I offer a few comments on the few "downsides" mentioned by others:

Yes, Katchen does play fast, but not always, and certainly not out of inability to hold the listener's attention through more artful means. Katchen's track times are often slower than Rubinstein's or even Gilels'; but where the spirit moves him, he can go like a rocket. He's generally fastest in the earlier works, where a case can be made for playing them with youthful ardor; Katchen does this to a T. This applies to the first 2 sonatas, the Paganini variations (why would anything associated with Paganini lack splash and dazzle?) and to a much lesser extent, parts of the Handel variations. The main thing is, it works. The very few places where I felt Katchen was rushing the music are heavily outnumbered by places where the added energy seems to "fit" like a glove.

Yes, in an exhaustive set you inevitably endure the "bottom of the barrel." I'm surprised how little of this 6-CD set strikes me as anything less than indispensible. Every track is worth hearing. Katchen has been surpassed here and there, but he doesn't put in a bad performance in the whole batch.

Yes, the recordings are more than 40 years old. They will not satisfy the most jaded audiophile (there's not quite the "presence" of a good recording today). But they are amazingly clean and lifelike for their age (even the 3 tracks that are mono). They sound noticeably better than the popular Rubinstein recordings of equal vintage. At first I thought I heard a touch of bass-heaviness, but now I just think Katchen gives us a strong, clear bass line. Once again, it works. The sound is simply not a problem for a normal listener.

Finally, there's the small stuff. Getting the CDs out of their tight-fitting sleeves without putting your fingerprints on the playing surface is well-nigh impossible, unless you give in and apply a letter opener to solve the problem once and for all. Is that any reason not to get this much wonderful music at such a low price? London has even revived the old practice of offering different program notes in different languages, so that multilingual readers can benefit from more than one set of comments. All around it's a winner!

Superb interpretations by Katchen.......2006-11-16

Katchen's performace throughout this collection are excellent.Brahms integrates many of Schumann's,Bach's and Beethovens compositional ideas into his own works.He is a master of the appoggiatura(suspension of the dominant chord).And the ghosts of Bach,Schumann,and Beethoven appear at intervals throughout this collection of his piano works.The VARIATIONS ON AN ORIGINAL THEME is an ethereal experience,and the Op.09 VARIATIONS ON A THEME BY SCHUMANN, composed after his death,Brahms's pathos,especialy in the slower variations, make you aware of his sadness of Schumann passing, as there is vivid sense of despair and remorse you can hear throughout.It is well documented the profound influence Shumann had on Brahms's compositional process.OP.76 is a passionate performance by Katchen.You also have short piano works culminated in Op116,Op 117,Op.118,which includes the great masterpiece in Ebminor,and Op.119.The Pagganini Variations,Variations on a theme by Haydn,the Ballads Op. 10.And both volumes of the HUNGARIAN DANCES,the 2 Rhapsody's,and VARATIONS ON A THEME BY HANDEL.It quite remarkable that such music could be created by such a young man in the astonishing Sonatas,OP.1,OP.2,and OP.5.The slow movements in all three sonates are very inspiring,and heart fealt.It makes you glad to be alive in order to hear such remarkable music.A well balanced performance throughout.If your a Brahms lover,this is a must for your collection.Enjoy

A little rushed sometimes, but beautiful.......2005-02-03

To be honest, I can't really figure out how much I like Katchen's performance. It's hard to gauge because Brahms's piano music is inherently exceptional played by just about any performer.

I feel that the ballades, op. 10 are played way too fast (although I'm not exactly sure how close Katchen is to Brahms's tempi indications). I've heard them by several other performers and, being a Gould fan, would have to say that his slower interpretation really captures how beautiful the pieces are more than anyone else. I also enjoy Kempff's performances of many later works. Katchen really seems so rushed for some reason. To me, that really takes attention away from the fine details, which I think are so essential to Brahms's piano music. He's not quite delicate enough with some of the pieces.

This faster speed is only very slight for the rest of the set, but pretty consistently. I think he does a better job with more intense pieces like many of his larger-scale variations and the sonatas. Those I would give 5 stars, but only 4 stars for the op. 116-119, for they're a little too fast.

My only other qualm is the arrangement of the set. It would be nice to have all the sonatas together on a disc, 116-119 on a disc, etc., going along with the whole chronological thing..

However, all these things are personal preference. I would definitely recommend this set. It's made up about 1/2 of my music listening for the past couple months. It's not expensive at all for what you're getting, and if you get just one Brahms piano cd, you're going to want to get more, so you should just get it over with and have this whole set, it's fabulous music. Just keep in mind that this is not the only interpretation that should be considered.

Radiant and inspired recordings.......2004-09-19

If there is a more effervescent , idiomatic , innovative and resplendently performance of the Handel Variations , I have not heard it . Katchen emphasizes with colossal scrupulosity the wide doe and the diversity spectre of the orchestral instruments . You must marvel at the technical equipment of Katchen playing .
The other outstanding version of these Variations is of Michael Ponti (live preformance)
gifted with a major emphasis in the striking and color tone ; but the point to remark is that in both performings the approach is similar ; every one of the Variations must be played as a microcosmos in itself ; with nuance , grace , majesty, powerful imagination, sense of the span and above al ; savoir vivre . If you intend to play with authoritative precision without Mediterranean dewy and radiant mood ; you are destined to fail with these Variations and becoming unbearable for the audience and the listener . Lamentably , there are many of them in the actual market but I think you can guess them .
The two Rhapsodies are performed with the highest commitment . Melodic flight and arresting lyricism .
The Sonatas are superbly performed . The Sonata No. 3 may find serious matchers with Clifford Curzon and Paul Badura Skoda .
The intermezzos are depicted with the adequate illuminating . These intimate pages must be played with the perfect balance of light and shadows ; think in Chopin Nocturnes for instance . Only Glenn Gould gets close to him in the Intermezzo Op. 117 No. 2 .
The Ballades may be the weakest works of this fundamental set . Benedetti Michelangeli and Emil Gilels recorded brilliant and eloquent versions.
Finally The Paganini Variations find in Benedetti Michelangeli a serious and unbeatable adversary .
To be honest , this set is widely recommendable for you , to know the whole and intimate world of Johannes Brahms , the beloved son of Hamburg.
Katchen also recorded a powerful Islamey and an unforgettable Rachmaninoff No. 2 .

Average customer rating: The "Clinker" of the bunch

Brahms: The Masterworks (Box Set) Manufacturer: Brilliant Classics ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD Quartets | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music Quintets | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music Sextets | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music Trios | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music General | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Brahms | Brahms, Johannes | ( B ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music Ballads | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music Concertinos | Concertos | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music General | Concertos | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music Fantasies | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music Sonatinas | Sonatas | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music Romantic | Symphonies | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music Intermezzos | Theatrical, Incidental & Program Music | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music Variations | Variations | Forms & Genres | 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 Requiems | Forms & Genres | Early Music | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music General Modern | Modern, 20th, & 21st Century | 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 Piano | Keyboard | Instruments | Classical | Styles | Music Clarinet | Reeds & Winds | Instruments | Classical | Styles | Music Cello | Strings | Instruments | Classical | Styles | Music Violin | Strings | Instruments | Classical | Styles | Music Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra | ( B ) | Featured Performers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music General | Symphonies | Classical | Styles | Music General | Sacred & Religious | Classical | Styles | Music General | Classical | Styles | Music General | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Choruses | Vocal Non-Opera | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Folk Songs | Songs & Lieder | Vocal Non-Opera | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Masses | Vocal Non-Opera | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Motets | Vocal Non-Opera | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Oratorios | Vocal Non-Opera | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Psalms | Vocal Non-Opera | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Requiems | 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 Brahms, Johannes | ( B ) | Composers, A-Z | Classical Music Blowout | Stores | Music Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra | ( B ) | Performers, A-Z | Classical Music Blowout | Stores | Music Opera & Vocal | Classical Music Blowout | Stores | Music Brilliant Classics | Amazon.com Label Stores | Stores | Music Similar Items: Dvorák: The Masterworks [Box Set] Mendelssohn: The Masterworks [Box Set] Vivaldi: The Masterworks (Box Set) Beethoven: The Masterworks (Box Set) Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart: Complete Works (170 CD Box Set) ASIN: B00062FLIS Release Date: 2004-11-30

Customer Reviews:

The "Clinker" of the bunch.......2006-12-19

Having collected the entire "The Masterworks" series (including the Bach and Mozart Complete Works) this set is the 'clinker' of the bunch. First off... 6 CD's of Lieder 'historic' (pre-historic) recordings. No Overtures, No Orchestral Seranades, No Haydn Variations?? The performances of the Symphonies and the Concertos are shakey and not very well recorded. Brilliant Classics, who has done such a wonderful job with the Hadyn Complete Symphonies (licensed from Nimbus), the Mozart and Bach Complete sets, has stumbled a bit with this release.

Average customer rating: Nice Set of Nocturnes Amazing rather devoid of emotions This CD is good. Ashkenzy?

Chopin: Nocturnes, 4 Ballades Manufacturer: Decca ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD All Works by Chopin | Chopin, Frédéric | ( C ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music Ballads | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music Nocturnes | Short Forms | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music General | Keyboard | Instruments | 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: Piano Sonatas; Etudes Chopin Polonaises Chopin: Mazurkas Chopin: Waltzes; 4 Scherzos; 26 Preludes Violin Romances ASIN: B0000041L8 Release Date: 1997-08-26

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
13. 2. Nocturnes, Op. 48: I. C Minor
14. 2. Nocturnes, Op. 48: II. F Sharp Minor

Tracks:

1. 2. Nocturnes, Op. 55: I. F Minor
2. 2. Nocturnes, Op. 55: II. E-flat major
3. 2. Nocturnes, Op. 62: I. B major
4. 2. Nocturnes, Op. 62: II. E major
5. Nocturne In E Minor, Op. 72 No. 1
6. Nocturne In C Sharp Minor
7. Nocturne In C Minor
8. Ballade No. 1 In G Minor, Op. 23
9. Ballade No. 2 In F Major, Op. 38
10. Ballade No. 3 In A-Flat Major, Op. 47
11. Ballade No. 4 In F Minor, Op. 52

Customer Reviews:

Nice Set of Nocturnes.......2005-06-26

In my opinion, Chopin's Nocturnes and Ballades are some of the most beautiful repertoire ever written for the piano, and it doesn't necessarily matter who is playing them, so long as they are Chopin. Yes, I agree that pieces can be performed badly, and this hinders their quality significantly, but anyone who is a dedicated enough musician to have been recorded is obviously capable of performing the repertoire. There is no doubt that Ashkenazy is an incredible pianist, with great technique and versatility. Anyone could nitpick about the nuances of his playing, criticizing certain aspects or welcoming others. The obvious truth is that everyone's preferences and opinions are different, and therefore, there is no way that everyone could possibly be pleased by any one object. This is why you will find various negative reviews scattered among the praise, usuallytaking a shot at Ashkenazy's "stiff" or "emotionless" interpretations.

I find that, as a whole, this set of nocturnes is one of the best available for purchase. When I say best, I mean best for the value, quality of recording, completeness, and quality of playing. There may be other performers whose recordings I like a tiny bit more on some cases (particularly the C Minor Nocturne 48/1) but that doesn't bring down the quality of this set. The facts are, Ashkenazy is a perfectionist, like any other recorded pianist, and therefore there are no mistakes in his playing, the tempi and dynamics are well-thought out, as he has studied these pieces extensively, and the emotions are as ever-present as one could hope, for Ashkenazy has been performing for many years in concert settings, and piano is obviously the focal point of his life.

This is the only set I have found available at such a price which includes the Nocturnes and Ballades. Both cd's contain over 70 minutes of material, which is incredible for the price. As I said before, the recording quality is crisp, without the crackle and pop of some earlier recordings (Rubinstein) or the heavy breathing of others (Arrau). Criticisms and qualms about individual nocturnes aside, (and they are there) this is still one of the best sets around. There are many more good things to say about Ashkenazy's playing than bad ones, in my opinion. If you are expecting these interpetations to sound overly conservative, this is not the case. Ashkenazy is infamous for being very faithful to the score, which I think is very true about these nocturnes. Where rubato is indicated, he uses rubato. Where the score says accelerando, Ashkenazy plays faster. The dynamics and tempi are usually identical to the urtext editions. In this sense, Ashkenazy is conservative, because he does not show his own artistica style possibly as much as some others, but he is very respectful of Chopin, and is most concerned with playing these pieces the way the composer intended. In my opinion, this is superemly important and commendable. This is a great package of Nocturnes and Ballades, and Ashkenazy is reknowned for a reason.

Amazing.......2005-02-26

These are great! Ashkenazy is definentley one of the great Chopin interpreters. All of the people who say that Ashkenazy has no emotion in his playing are wrong! Ashkenazy has a beautiful tone in his playing. His interpretations are also great. He is the thinking man's pianist. If you don't understand what I am saying, I am saying that he plays with perfect technique and he thinks the piece through intellegently and he dosen't go for the big flash while playing. This might be one ofthe reasons why people say he is emotionless. He still has emotion even if he dosen't do that thing where you sway while playing and you move way to much (that is a stupid thing to do because it dosen't help and it can hurt your technique while playing). The only person who has played Chopin better than Ashkenazy is Emanuel Ax (I am not saying that Rubinstein and Horowitz etc. are worse than Ashkenazy, they are just as good, but they all are different. Emanuel Ax has the most beautiful tone I have ever heard. Sadly not many Ax recordings exist anymore. Ashkenazy plays the Nocturnes beautifully especially F minor. Chopin plays the Ballades with the same beauty heard in the Nocturnes and (once again) the F minor ballade (no. 4) is one of, if not the best recording I have ever heard. So to summarize Ashkenazy does have a beautiful tone and an intellegent approach to Chopin, so this is a great buy!

rather devoid of emotions.......2002-12-15

I bought this cd last year. I heard so much about Ashkenazy, and his face is anywhere in music stores.
I think this cd is among the big disappointments I periodically listen to. To do Ashkenazy justice, I have to say there are some older recordings that I still treasure, such as the Rachmaninoff preludes, of the suites for 2 pianos of the same composer, but they are all recordings of the early 70's.

Not much, instead, I manage to treasure of this new Ashkenazy
Regarding this particular Chopin recording, consider, for example, the Prelude in C minor, op. 48 No.1. Its second part is a wild galloping towards a forseeable tragic end, but in Ashkenazy fingers it reduces to a mere pretty lyric piece. It is truly emotionless. This Chopin played by Ashkenazy sounds somewhat like Baudelaire or Apollinaire read in german with a metronome stuck in Largo. And even sober!
What is Chopin worth, I ask, when you leave all his stormy contrapunt out? The rest of the collection surely has a nice cover, but leaves me totally emotionless.

I understand that, as Arrau once said, "Chopin should be played like Mozart and Mozart like Chopin", but why can't someone play Chopin just like Chopin?

A collection that I find really giving Chopin some justice, instead, sometimes not too popular, is the one Nocturnes playes by Dame Moura Lympany, or the Etudes played by Gavrilov, tough, you understand, it can be a matter of taste.

This CD is good........2000-06-10

(I hate writing titles for these reviews.) Anyway, I couldn't disagree more with the reviewer below. Ashenazy is, next to Rubinstein, one of the best Chopin interpreters around. He is not "dry," merely subtle, suggesting rather than declaring, which is what Chopin had in mind with these mood pieces. His technique is flawless but he never flaunts it as some other pianists I have heard do. The ballades are excellent and played at perfect tempos.

Ashkenzy?.......1999-09-03

I bought this CD as a reference as I am learning Chopin's nocturnes. I don't think Ashkenazy as that great a Chopin player. He's playing is relatively dry compared to other pianists. Take Mikhail Pletnev for example. The recording isn't too good either. All in all, this is a great CD to purchase only if your budget is limited and you're not expecting to listen to this over and over again.

Average customer rating: Elegant, Understated Chopin Brilliant!..........!

Chopin: 4 Ballades, 4 Scherzi / Ashkenazy Manufacturer: Decca ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD All Works by Chopin | Chopin, Frédéric | ( C ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music Ballads | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music Preludes | 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 | Keyboard | Instruments | Classical | Styles | Music Ashkenazy, Vladimir | ( A ) | Featured Performers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music General | Classical | Styles | Music General | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music The Decca Records Store | Specialty Stores | Music $9.99 and Under | Classical Music Blowout | Stores | Music All Classical Music Blowout | Classical Music Blowout | Stores | Music Chopin, Frédéric | ( C ) | Composers, A-Z | Classical Music Blowout | Stores | Music Ashkenazy, Vladimir | ( A ) | Performers, A-Z | Classical Music Blowout | Stores | Music Instrumental | Classical Music Blowout | Stores | Music Similar Items: Rachmaninov: Piano Concertos 2 & 3 / Ashkenazy, Kondrashin Chopin: 4 Ballades; Fantaisie, Op. 49; Prelude, Op. 45 Chopin: 4 Ballades/Barcarolle, Op.60/Fantasie in F Tchaikovsky: Ballet Suites / Karajan BBC Friends: Richter (Great Performers of the Twentieth Century) ASIN: B000026D2Q Release Date: 2000-04-11

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. Prelude In C Sharp Minor, Op. 45
6. Scherzo No. 1 In B Minor, Op. 20
7. Scherzo No. 2 In B Flat Minor, Op. 31
8. Scherzo No. 3 In C Sharp Minor, Op. 39
9. Scherzo No. 4 In E Major, Op. 54

Amazon.com

Listening to these superb transfers of Ashkenazy's first complete cycles of the Ballades and Scherzos, which were recorded in the mid-1960s and have been out of the catalog for more than 20 years, is a startling reminder of why the Russian, then only in his 20s, became the dominant Chopin interpreter of his generation. While Ashkenazy's interpretive style had been anticipated by players such as Dinu Lipatti and Solomon, no one else had ever played so much Chopin with such selflessness. This is not to say that Ashkenazy's Chopin was bland, but that it eschewed histrionics and personal idiosyncrasies while missing none of the passion or emotional content of the music. His use of understatement in the G Minor Ballade brings the listener inside the work as more theatrical performances do not. In the F Minor Ballade, he creates an aura of mystery from the opening notes, sustains the labyrinthine narrative line with intensity and intimacy, and concludes with a passionate conquest of the coda. His equally inspired account of the other Ballades and all of the Scherzos make this one of the finest Chopin discs in the catalog. --Stephen Wigler

Customer Reviews:

Elegant, Understated Chopin.......2001-01-24

This is the first Ashkenazy recording of Chopin I've ever heard, and initially I was very surprised. I have Ashkenazy's Rachmaninoff and Beethoven, and his interpretations of both composers are very passionate and fiery, and of course technical challenges are not an issue for him. So you'd think with Chopin he'd really cut loose, especially since the Ballades and Scherzos give a pianist ample license to do so. Yet these interpretations are remarkably understated, and the attenuated passion here creates an entirely different listening experience of these pieces, since very few pianists can resist the temptation to rip into the first and third ballades, or the third scherzo. The consistency of Ashkenazy's vision is remarkable across these eight extremely varied pieces, which are drawn from every stage of Chopin's career, and they really grow on you after a while. Ashkenazy's approach works wonders on the final ballade and scherzo Chopin wrote, when the composer's moods became more introspective and ambiguous, and he was really testing the boundaries of romanticism. Both interpretations of these are superb in their aristocratic restraint and Ashkenazy's unfaltering grasp of the complex story each tells.

I'm not sure I'd recommend this as the one and only interpretation of the Ballades and Scherzos, but it's essential if you're really into these pieces and want a countervailing treatment to hold in opposition to the unbridled fury of Zimerman's rendition of the Ballades, or Pollini's blisteringly intense treatment of the Scherzos (ditto for Pollini's Ballades for that matter). At this very generous price it's luxury you can afford, and I don't think there's another recording of both the Scherzos and Ballades on one disc, with such a masterful pianist playing them.

Brilliant!..........!.......2000-07-03

Only three exclamation marks can express how powerful Ashkenazy's playing is. These days everybody plays the Ballades and Scherzi so it's hard to sift the "good" from the "bad". Of course, it's always a matter of taste, but few would say that Ashkenazy is a poor performer. He really is a hero for lovers of Chopin's music. The second Ballade (trk. 2) will send chills through your skin, especially at the point when the enchanted lake performs its strange magic and the piece reaches a climax into a funky mazurka-style...wow. Also, there has been no better interpretation of the Scherzo No. 2, its essence never lost to virtuosity (similarly the first Scherzo).

As with all Chopin played at this level, there is a certain amount of interpretation. But, with Ashkenazy, it is never showy, always intelligent and insightful, reminding us more of Chopin than the player himself.

Average customer rating: Not my cup of tea. Love it! Can it get any better than this...? Great work, but could go little further A very personal approach, but the competiiton is fierce

Chopin: 4 Ballades/Barcarolle, Op.60/Fantasie in F Manufacturer: Deutsche Grammophon ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD All Works by Chopin | Chopin, Frédéric | ( C ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music Ballads | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music Fantasies | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music General | Keyboard | Instruments | Classical | Styles | Music Piano | Keyboard | Instruments | Classical | Styles | Music Zimerman, Krystian | ( Z ) | Featured Performers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music General | Classical | Styles | Music Barcarolles | Vocal Non-Opera | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Deutsche Grammophon: Music | Specialty Stores | Music Similar Items: Chopin: Piano Concertos Nos. 1 & 2 Claude Debussy: Préludes Liszt: Sonata for piano in Bm; Lugubre Gondola No1&2 Chopin: 4 Ballades, 4 Scherzi / Ashkenazy Rachmaninov: Piano Concertos Nos. 1 & 2 ASIN: B000001G8Q Release Date: 1990-10-25

Tracks:

1. Balladen: No.1 in g, op.23
2. 4 Balladen - Ballades - Ballate: No 2 F-dur Op. 38
3. 4 Balladen - Ballades - Ballate: No. 3 As-dur Op. 47
4. 4 Balladen - Ballades - Ballate: No. 4 f-moll Op. 52
5. 4 Balladen - Ballades - Ballate: Barcarolle Fis-dur Op. 60
6. 4 Balladen - Ballades - Ballate: Fantasie f-moll Op. 49

Amazon.com

Krystian Zimerman's Chopin is big. He plays this music with a great dynamic range and huge contrasts, with little of the shading we love in Rubinstein's Chopin. Except for the Barcarolle, these are pretty big pieces, so Zimerman doesn't exactly overwhelm the music. It's just very 20th- century Chopin, not on the composer's original scale, but not badly done either. I think this disc would sound a lot better in a large listening room than in a small one, however (or in your car). The recording is too close up; we could have used more distance from the piano. --Leslie Gerber

Customer Reviews:

Not my cup of tea........2007-05-30

I am not a great enthusiast of Chopin, but consider his Ballades the best of his compositions both in depth of emotions and lyricism.
Hence I am a rather keen listener of this category of Chopin. I bought Mr. Zimmerman's disc with high hopes, being Chopin Ballades played by a Polish pianist that is both young (1990 recorded) and eminent.
However, I must admit that I did not enjoy this disc.
The playing isn't bad at all, but it is a matter of taste.
The ballades are too straightforward in emotions. The Barcarolle hardly sounds like one such - Argerich had a much much finer rendition of the same piece, much more moving and vivid.
However, I think with maturity and time, Mr. Zimmerman would be able to come up with a newer and more profound version of the same pieces.
I look forward to it.

Love it!.......2006-04-04

As explained in the brief but adequate notes accompanying this recording, the term "ballade" also suggests some poetry and this is 'reading' proves it. I LOVE the way that Zimerman pours over these pieces...like the delicate but vivid watercolours that I envision them to be! The rubato is to die for and the piano, while close, is full and warm. Only by way of comparison, while I'm also a fan of Ashkenazy's interpretations, his piano has a metallic ring that is absent from say Zimerman and Pollini recordings. But back to the present set, in particular the Ballade No. 4 f-moll op. 52 is a lover's caress....languid but never lazy.

I have searched for exactly this interpretation. Not to everyone's taste maybe but after the unrushed but pristine brilliance of Pollini's Ballades, this is the PERFECT counterpoint. My Chopin Ballades are now complete.

Can it get any better than this...?.......2006-02-16

I absolutely LOVE this cd, it is definitely one of my "desert island" discs. For this recording Zimerman again used his own Steinway, which has such a great, warm sound.
Some may find his tempi on the slow side, but that's more a question of personal taste. However, I can hardly think of a better, more beautiful way to play the 4th ballade, it's absolutely stunning, what a sound, what a music! I've heard it better maybe once, by Zimerman live in concert in Rotterdam, Netherlands.

Great work, but could go little further.......2005-11-27

Zimerman's rendition of the Chopin Ballades are well crafted and probing. However, he could vary his style and phrasing a bit. For example, the G minor's entrance could use some more color and momentum (his is as slow is it gets). The F minor and Fantasie are also static during the beginning. I agree with Mr. Gabrowski that Ivan Moravec's recording is more compelling and spontaneous. Fortuanately, DG's digital sonics compell me to listen to this recording every once in a while.

A very personal approach, but the competiiton is fierce.......2005-11-01

Zimerman is Polish, a Chopin specialist of note, and a sometime conductor who founded an orchestra named after his immortal countryman. But this set of Ballades is exactly as reviewer John Grabowski says, a bit too tame and literal.

I have no idea where the official Amazon reviewer is coming from--Zimerman doesn't play the Ballades as big pieces (go to Kissin and Pollini for that), and as for being far away from Rubenstein's style, Zimerman's stiffness and dryness often remind me of Rubenstein. In fact he avoids much of the drama and passion in these great works. As to tempi, Zimerman is a minute slower than Pollini in the first three Ballades, two minutes slower in the Fourth Ballade and the F minor Fantasy. But that still puts him in the same range as Kissin and many others.

There's a lot of clipped, terse playing here, but also a lot of arbitrary pauses for effect, and Zimerman imposes his own temperament in terms of rubato and phrasing. The result is more than a bit calculated. I realize that there are those who love Zimerman as much as I love Pollini, but overall this isn't a Chopin CD I treasure.

Average customer rating: Lyricism + sobriety + lucid tune = Majestic sonority! A surprising find amazing Brahms recordings Surprisingly Exquisite and Tender Brahms

Brahms: 10 Intermezzi for Piano; 4 Ballades Manufacturer: Sbme Import ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD All Works by Brahms | Brahms, Johannes | ( B ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music Ballads | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music Intermezzos | Theatrical, Incidental & Program Music | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music General Modern | Modern, 20th, & 21st Century | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music General | Keyboard | Instruments | Classical | Styles | Music Gould, Glenn | ( G ) | Featured Performers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music General | Symphonies | Classical | Styles | Music General | Classical | Styles | Music Classical | Imports | Stores | Music Similar Items: Glenn Gould Edition: Schumann & Brahms Consort of Musicke by William Byrd & Orlando Gibbons; Sweelinck: Fantasia in D (The Glenn Gould Edition) Brahms: Piano Concerto No. 1 Glenn Gould Edition: Chopin / Mendelssohn / Scriabin / Prokofiev Schoenberg: Piano Works ASIN: B00006G9UM Release Date: 2002-09-30

Tracks:

1. No.1 In D Minor Edward Ballade
2. No. In D Major
3. No. Intermezzo In B Monor
4. No. In B Major
5. Ine-Flat Major, Op.117 No.1 Andante Moderato
6. In C-Sharp Minor, Op.117 No.2 Andante Non Troppe Con Molta Esperessione
7. In C-Sharp Minor, Op.117 No. 3 Andante Con Moto
8. In E-Flat Minor, Op.118 No.6 Andante, Large E Mesto
9. In E-Major, Op.116 No.4 Adagio
10. In A Major, Op.76 No.7 Moderato Semplice
11. In A Major, Op.76 No. 6 Andante Con Moto
12. In B Minor, Op.119 No.1 Adagio
13. In A Minor, Op.118 No. 1 Allegro Non Assai, Ma Molto Appassionato
14. In A Major, Op. 118 No. 2 Andante Teneramente

Customer Reviews:

Lyricism + sobriety + lucid tune = Majestic sonority!.......2006-12-31

The gallant mood, the aristocratic flair, marvelous expressive poetry non romantic and tune's delicacy will surprise you. Gould assumes another idiomatic perspective, and convinces us about his enormous sense of expression and temperament. His astonishing fingering not only gives us another facet around these Brahms works but besides an indication Brahms has been absolutely misunderstood due an awful misconception of his artistic intentions.

One of the most pyramidal musical achievements of Mr. Gould.

A surprising find.......2005-01-16

Brahms and Gould -- a surprising but effective match. From a performer most identified with Bach comes a recording that genuinely captures the Romantic expressiveness of Brahms. Although I knew many of these pieces from previous recordings Gould (as always) brings new ideas to the music. Of course, it wouldn't be Gould without the occasional idiosyncrasy -- op.119 no.1 is played ridiculously fast, for example.

amazing Brahms recordings .......2004-11-06

These performances are really succesful. Glenn Gould is feel very good the atmosphere of Brahms' music. Still, Glenn Gould is a Canadian pianist as you know, so he has a character of a North World man. And Brahms already is a typic a noble man came from North Europe. So, their character is nearly same and Gould is bringing vert good the Brahms' somewhere heavy, cld and stormy but somewhere lyric and warm passages. Especially in Intermezzos. Gould's another Brahms recording, Piano Quintet with Montreal String Quartet, is very good, also. And the both recordings are highly recommended.

Surprisingly Exquisite and Tender Brahms.......2004-10-27

This album is a delight. Seldom has Brahms, or Glenn Gould, sounded better. The tenderness and understated eloquence with which these pieces are rendered reaffirmed something I had always felt about Gould: that he was not out merely to vindicate an artistic credo, but to make beautiful music. He asserted he had enjoyed an opportunity to play these pieces in an improvisational style. If that's true, he should have improvised a lot more. There is a sweetness, lyricism and quiet romantic quality to these works and Gould brings them off tremendously. I have never heard them played better, more simply and sincerely, utterly free of affectation. There is nothing more lovely and calming than to play this just before going to sleep. (They sound just as good when you're wide awake.) Great as Gould was, this is pure ravishment.

Average customer rating:

Brahms: Piano Concerto No. 1; Four Ballades Op.10 Buchbinder , Harnoncourt , and Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra Manufacturer: Apex ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD General | Classical | Styles | Music Similar Items: Brahms: Piano Concerto No.2; Two Rhapsodies Op.79 Beethoven: Symphonien Nos. 5 & 7 / Kleiber, Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra ASIN: B00009RAY5 Release Date: 2006-05-24

Tracks:

1. Piano Concerto No.1 In D Minor, Op.15
2. Four Ballades, Op.10

Average customer rating: Brahms and Gould at Their Best Intriguing Brahms intermezzos. amazing Brahms recordings Powerful refinement and convincing musicality! LIKE NO OTHER

Brahms: 4 Ballades, Op. 10; 2 Rhapsodies, Op. 79; 10 Intermezzi Manufacturer: Sony ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD All Works by Brahms | Brahms, Johannes | ( B ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music Ballads | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music Intermezzos | Theatrical, Incidental & Program Music | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music General Modern | Modern, 20th, & 21st Century | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music General | Keyboard | Instruments | Classical | Styles | Music Gould, Glenn | ( G ) | Featured Performers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music General | Classical | Styles | Music Classical Music | The Sony BMG Masterworks Store | Amazon.com Label Stores | Stores | Music Classical Instrumental Music | The Sony BMG Masterworks Store | Amazon.com Label Stores | Stores | Music Similar Items: Glenn Gould Edition: Schumann & Brahms Glenn Gould Edition: Berg, Krenek, Webern, Debussy & Ravel Haydn: Piano Sonatas, Hob:XVI, Nos. 42, 48-52 Gould Meets Menuhin Grieg, Bizet, Sibelius: Piano Works ASIN: B0000028O2 Release Date: 1993-03-09

Tracks:

1. 4 Ballades, Op.10: No.1 In D Minor
2. 4 Ballades, Op.10: No.2 In D Major
3. 4 Ballades, Op.10: No.3 In B Minor
4. 4 Ballades, Op.10: No.4 In B Major
5. 2 Rhapsodies, Op.79: No.1 In B Minor
6. 2 Rhapsodies, Op.79: No.2 In G Minor

Tracks:

1. 10 Intermezzi: Intermezzo in E-flat major, Op. 117, No. 1
2. 10 Intermezzi: Intermezzo in B-flat minor, Op. 117, No. 2
3. 10 Intermezzi: Intermezzo in C-sharp minor, Op. 117, No. 3
4. 10 Intermezzi: Intermezzo in E-flat minor, Op. 118, No. 6
5. 10 Intermezzi: Intermezzo in E major, Op. 116, No. 4
6. 10 Intermezzi: Intermezzo in A minor, Op. 76, No. 7
7. 10 Intermezzi: Intermezzo in A major, Op. 76, No. 6
8. 10 Intermezzi: Intermezzo in B minor, Op. 119, No. 1
9. 10 Intermezzi: Intermezzo in A minor, Op. 118, No. 1
10. 10 Intermezzi: Intermezzo in A major, Op. 118, No. 2

Amazon.com essential recording

Glenn Gould's accounts of the late pieces, recorded in 1960, are among the most affecting statements he made. He manages to balance the music on the edge of an almost unbearable emotional intensity without becoming larmoyant or dipping into salon sentimentality. The result is downright disturbing and depressing. But few pianists have achieved such extraordinary distillations of Brahms's late style as Gould does here, conveying painful passion held in check and peering into the counterpoint, yet maintaining an overall fluidity within profound emotional stasis. The recording is very present. --Ted Libbey

Customer Reviews:

Brahms and Gould at Their Best.......2005-03-09

A pianist who made his mark with spare and precise recordings of Bach, Gould here shows a romantic and passionate side that may surprise many listeners unfamiliar with this regrettably small portion of his discography. Gould himself thought these recordings among his best, and I wouldn't quarrel. Over the years, I've listened to just about every recording of the Intermezzi ever made, and while Gould's has its drawbacks (notably his notorious humming and the now less-than-stellar sound quality) they're still my favorites by a league. If only he had returned to the Intermezzi to take advantage of digital recording technology! The recording of the Ballades, on the other hand, is not only a fine interpretation but also sonically good. The 4th is especially moving.

Intriguing Brahms intermezzos........2004-11-29

I'm mostly familiar with the Intermezzos played here. Gould released them seperately on vinyl for Columbia in the 1960'a. That recording, as included on this two CD set, is very special.
Particularly, Opus 118 #2. Gould kind of draws out the inner voices of these intimate Brahms piano pieces like no other pianist I have heard. He makes you relealize that each note is important and that it could not possibly be left out. I surely would recommend this CD set, if for no other reason than that.

amazing Brahms recordings .......2004-11-06

These performances are really succesful. Glenn Gould is feel very good the atmosphere of Brahms' music. Still, Glenn Gould is a Canadian pianist as you know, so he has a character of a North World man. And Brahms already is a typic a noble man came from North Europe. So, their character is nearly same and Gould is bringing vert good the Brahms' somewhere heavy, cld and stormy but somewhere lyric and warm passages. Especially in Intermezzos. Gould's another Brahms recording, Piano Quintet with Montreal String Quartet, is very good, also. And the both recordings are highly recommended.

Powerful refinement and convincing musicality!.......2004-10-12

Few pianists in the story have been capable to play Brahms in a classic approach . It seems there is an invisible statement about Brahms scores that titles : play romantic .
This is the secret of this winner album . Gould playing was never romantic , but aristocratic , irreverent and deeply idyosincratic . Gould had no pre - conceived ideas about a performing in particular .
I think the majesty of Gould performances follows the path : soul-mind . I mean emotion , enthusiasm and intellect .
The rhapsodies for instance, are played with universal thinking , forgetting the specific locations and the narrow minded musical conceptions.
Gould is always seeking the precise sound , the definite articulation , that meticulousness which allowed him to play mezzoforte or pianissimo . I guess he felt every little bar as a part of all a complex puzzle and his commitment went in that way .
In the Intermezzos , the result are more than surprising . The first characteristic is the intimate atmosphere and clean transparency of the arpeggios . His octaves never punish the instrument ; he does not want to sound energic and imperative but suggesting and eloquent .
You as consumate listener must find out the intention behind the score . And many times you will have to change your mind about that old fashioned concept which turns around the respect for the tradition . This may be well a serious obstacle for you to get involved in Gould mood .
Have you really ever heard the Intermezzo Op. 117 No. 2 played with such deepness ?
This album is very important for you to acquire because it convinces about the hyperkinetic mind and outstanding wholeness of Gould as pianist and far beyond , as a real artist .
The geniality appears when the beauty domains the greatful (Frederic Nietzsche)

LIKE NO OTHER.......2004-07-14

Gould was not too sure about Beethoven and downright contemptuous of Mozart, but about Brahms he entertained no doubts at all. Let me say without more ado that this disc has some of the greatest Brahms-playing I ever heard or ever expect to. If one thing more than any made an impression on me, it was his handling of the central part of the G minor rhapsody. This sequence is in a uniquely Brahmsian mood and tone, like the passages marked `tranquillo' in the middle of the finale of the second symphony and in the slow section of the tragic overture. None of these are lyrical in style and Brahms doesn't actually say `tranquillo' here in the rhapsody, but the feel is the same. The one thing I can put my finger on explicitly is the way Gould gives the right prominence to the monotonous triplet accompaniment, but there's more to it than that, and as the scripture has it `the hair of my flesh stood up'.

Except in the B minor rhapsody, Gould uses the sustaining pedal a great deal and to great effect. The first ballade made an impact right away. It's taken at a fair tempo for `andante', just slower than I'm used to, and very emotional and theatrical. The other three don't lend themselves to the same kind of treatment, but my impression in all four was much more `personal' than I get from Katchen or Michelangeli. There is a fair amount of rubato, but not as much as he makes it seem, if that makes sense. In the two rhapsodies the style of playing is distinctly different from the rest - less pedal and very little latitude in the tempo. This suits the B minor very well, I found. The G minor is taken at a fairly deliberate pace, and no wonder considering the composer indicates `non troppo allegro'. As a rule I am no stickler for the observance of repeats, but this G minor rhapsody is so marvellously done that I longed to hear the first section done again, and there was nothing else for it but just to repeat the whole thing.

By the end of the first disc I was beginning to suspect that I was going to find nothing eccentric or perverse in the entire recital. I needn't have worried. Gould becomes a little more wilful in the selection of ten intermezzi, but there was only one that I simply couldn't take. Oh the poor A major piece from op 76! What did it do to deserve this? It is one of my favourites of the lot, and it has more ways of perming 3 against 2 in the rhythm than I would otherwise have thought possible. I was a fair way into it before I could even recognise what I was listening to. Katchen always seemed to me a little unadventurous in his playing of it, but I shall go back to his account with relief not to say desperation after the mauling Gould dishes out. Elsewhere Gould's originality wins me over even when I'm used to a different approach. The B minor that stands first in op 119 is marked `adagio', and both Katchen and even more so Serkin understand this as a really slow adagio. Gould made me think. Adagio in Brahms seems to vary in its meaning. The last section of the alto rhapsody is adagio but it must not be dragged, and one of the best performances I ever enjoyed of the slow movement of the violin concerto was by Kremer who took a very flowing tempo indeed. Again the first E major from op 116 (also adagio) is given a fanciful interpretation that absolutely delighted me, although I continue to admire the more normal manner of Kissin. The B flat minor is more low-key and and `romantic' than in Horowitz's typically alert reading that I shall always love, but I find I can take it either way. The great A major from op118 is the last piece here, and I was gratified to hear Gould handle the middle section in much the way I try to do it myself. He makes the repeat (non-negotiable in this instance) and at the second time round he brings out the lower melody - indeed throughout the whole recital his voicing of those very Brahmsian inner parts is a consistent pleasure. In the E flat minor, surely one of the greatest things in the whole literature of the piano, his performance is quite awesome, and nothing short of this will ever satisfy me again. My own idea of the left-hand figuration in the middle section is staccato with very little pedal, which is not how Gould does it. I haven't lost my hankering for that, but until I hear it done like that by a player of less ill repute than myself I shall have to take Gould as my point of reference.

`This nut is a genius' was Szell's famous summing-up of Gould. The overwhelming impact of these two discs is of sheer raw greatness. The recorded sound is really very good, and if you can put up with the liner-note you will be able to read what it has to say not only in French and German as well as English, but also in Italian. The music has to go on to a second disc, although it means that each disc contains only just over 40 minutes' worth each. If it had been 4 minutes each of this quality I would still have wanted the set.

Average customer rating: Three phases of a great Chopin player

Chopin: 4 Ballades; Scherzos; Mazurkas Manufacturer: RCA 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 General | Concertos | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music Etudes | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music Nocturnes | Short Forms | 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 | Keyboard | Instruments | Classical | Styles | Music Piano | Keyboard | Instruments | Classical | Styles | Music Ax, Emanuel | ( A ) | Featured Performers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music General | Classical | Styles | Music General | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music Classical Music | The Sony BMG Masterworks Store | Amazon.com Label Stores | Stores | Music Classical Instrumental Music | The Sony BMG Masterworks Store | Amazon.com Label Stores | Stores | Music Similar Items: Brahms: 7 Fantasies, Op. 116; 4 Piano Pieces, Op. 119; Sonata No. 2, Op. 2 Haydn: Piano Sonatas (Hob. 33, 36, 43, 45, 46) Haydn:Piano Sonatas (Hob. 32, 34, 44, 49) Brahms: Handel Variations/Six Piano Pieces/Two Rhapsodies Brahms: Piano Sonata No. 3, Op. 5; Intermezzi, Op. 117 ASIN: B000BKDO3Y Release Date: 2005-11-01

Tracks:

1. Ballade No.1, Op.23, In G Minor
2. Ballade No.2, Op.38, In F Major
3. Ballade No.3, Op.47, In A-Flat Major
4. Ballade No.4, Op.52, In F Minor
5. Scherzo No.1, Op.20, In B Minor
6. Scherzo No.3, Op.39 In C-Sharp Minor
7. Mazurka, Op.24 No.2, In C Major
8. Mazurka, Op.56 No.3, In C Minor
9. Mazurka, Op.59 No.1, In A Minor
10. Mazurka, Op.59 No.2, In A-Flat Major
11. Mazurka, Op.59 No.3, In F-Sharp Minor

Tracks:

1. Andante Spianato/Grand Polonaise Brillante, Op.22
2. Nocturne, Op.62 No.1, In B Major
3. Scherzo No.2 Op.31, In B-Flat Minor
4. Scherzo No.4, Op.54, In E Major
5. Etude In F Minor
6. Etude In D-Flat Major
7. Etude In A-Flat Major
8. Polonaise-Fantaisie, Op.61, In A-Flat Major

Amazon.com

Emanuel Ax here offers a fine selection of Chopin, showcasing every aspect of the great Polish composer. The G Minor Ballade is played as poetically as the Scherzos are played expressively, with some of the more chaotic moments presented in the most melodious way. Ax rarely showboats and is mostly interested in Chopin's long lines. His tone is always warm and never brittle; the argument could be made that some of the music is emotionally thornier than Ax acknowledges, but he nonetheless is always communicative, underlining the harmonic daring of the music this latter trait particularly in the mazurkas. The two CDs are programmed for variety and it works--listening straight through never tires the ear or the sensations. The sound is big and rich. Highly recommended. --Robert Levine

Customer Reviews:

Three phases of a great Chopin player.......2006-06-14

I think Emanuel Ax has settled into routine playing as he's aged, but these are premiere Chopin interpretations from two decades ago. Now that Sony and BMG have merged their classical divisions, it's possible to issue Ax's excellent 1985 reading of the four Ballades--the best ever done by an American--with a 1988 recital of Mazurkas and the four Scherzi. The first recital was originally on RCA, the second on Sony. But just to confuse things a bit more, the readings here of Scherzos #2 and #4 are dropped in from an even earlier RCA recording.

The provenance won't matter that much to the general listener, who will be happy with the budget price for probably the best Chopin two-fer on the market. Begin listening with the four Ballades, where Ax is at his most impassioned and inspired. Even three years later, when he got to Scherzos #1 and #3, he had become more refined and relaxed, less a romantic risk-taker. He's remained that way ever since, but here at least we can hear Ax in his glory. Faithful as I am to Pollini and Kisin in this repertoire, this collection often rises to their heights.

Pop Music:

1. Best by Far [Import]
2. Best of Bullamakanka [Import]
3. Best of Italian Western Movie Themes [Import]
4. Célia Maria [Import]
5. Canta Milton Nascimento: Um Gosto de Sol [Import]
6. Caribbean Mood: the Waves of Seychelles Groove [Import]
7. Chanson Francaise: Paris Toujours Paris
8. Chante Et Danse [Import]
9. Chinese Garden [Import]
10. Cinema Amore [Import]

Pop Music