Ballades & Mots D'amour [Limited Edition] [Import]

Product Description
A Compilation of Bashung's Most Romantic Ballads and Love Songs.

Ballades & Mots D'amour,Alain Bashung,Universal/Polygram,World Music

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: 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: Get anything Grigory Sokolov recorded Grigory Sokolov - The (Almost) Unknown Major Pianist

Grigory Sokolov: Bach, Beethoven, Chopin, Brahms [Box Set] Manufacturer: Opus 111 ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD All Works by J.S. Bach | Bach, Johann Sebastian | ( B ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Beethoven | Beethoven, Ludwig van | ( B ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Brahms | Brahms, Johannes | ( B ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Chopin | Chopin, Frédéric | ( C ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music Ballads | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music Improvisation | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music Preludes | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music Rondos | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music Sonatinas | Sonatas | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music Suites | 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 General | 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 Similar Items: Grigory Sokolov (Box Set) Grigory Sokolov - Live in Paris Chopin: 24 Preludes Art of Emil Gilels Beethoven, Mozart & Brahms Piano Concertos ASIN: B000ALCFZ2 Release Date: 2005-10-18

Customer Reviews:

Get anything Grigory Sokolov recorded .......2006-07-29

Grigory Sokolov is definitely one of the most underrated pianist for the past few decades, and I truly believe he is the best still around.

Currently there are two CD boxes( each contains 5 CDs)and one DVD (Live in Paris) available in the market. This is one of the CD set, including some previously single release. Because of his reclusive personality and unwilling to record (perhaps due to perfectionism) , he never had contract with major labels and therefore lots of people were not aware of him. However, the one single DVD is good enough to do him justice--you have to see it to believe it.

He is one of the best classic pianists ever, along with Gilels, Richter, etc----definitely the best still around. If you have not heard of him, get both CD sets and DVD--that will be the best investment for your classic music collection and years of enjoyment. And if one of us get lucky, we might still be able to see him one stage one day.

Grigory Sokolov - The (Almost) Unknown Major Pianist.......2005-11-09

One of the best-kept secrets in the piano world is the amazing Grigory Sokolov, a man in his fifties who won the Tchaikovsky Prize in 1966 at the age of sixteen. He has been somewhat reclusive. tending to play in Europe only, and has generally not made studio recordings, but among the cognoscenti his recitals are sought after and often sold out. All the music recorded in this five-CD box has been released on single CDs before (and as a box from Opus 111), and is here offered at budget price. I have owned three of the five previously. Earlier this year I also reviewed a marvelous DVD of a recital he gave in the Châtelet and filmed by the redoubtable Bruno Monsaingeon. Since Amazon has not yet included the contents of this box (or even told us how many CDs are included) I will list them now:

CDs 1 & 2: Bach: Art of Fugue; Partita No. 2

CD 3: Beethoven: Rondos in C Major and G Major, Op. 51; Rondo, 'Rage over a lost penny,' Op. 129; Sonata No. 4 in E Flat Major, Op. 7; Sonata No. 28 in A Major, Op. 101

CD 4: Chopin: 24 Préludes, Op. 28

CD 5: Brahms: Ballades, Op. 10; Sonata in F Minor, Op. 5

Possibly the most marvelous thing about Sokolov's playing is his variety of touch. He can play in a tiny whisper, with a lightning fast leggiero, with deep-in-the-keys but never clangy fortissimo. His legato is legendary and he tends to obtain it more by finger technique than with pedaling. One can argue with his interpretive choices but never with his musicianship or sincerity, and certainly not with his almost inhuman virtuosity.

All five CDs were recorded live in recital and in gorgeous sound. There does not appear to be much in the way of editing. There are a very few dropped notes, but on the whole the playing is incredibly accurate as well as being musicianly. His 'Art of Fugue' is rather a combination of some Romantic gestures coupled with a purity of tone that depends more on touch than on pedaling. His Brahms is a bit more Romantic but is not sentimental -- something is that is not easy to avoid in the Ballades particularly. His Beethoven is much the same. 'Rage over a lost penny' is the most exciting performance I've ever heard since I heard Brendel play it live in the 1960s. Sokolov, like Michelangeli (to whom he has been compared), does not play many of the Beethoven sonatas, but the ones he plays are his utterly.

The Chopin is the glory of this set. It sings, whispers and roars as need be. It is ultraromantic and yet is not maudlin or sickly sentimental. This is masculine Chopin.

At this bargain price this set is a must-have, I should think, for those who enjoy masterful playing and are willing to become acquainted with a heretofore unknown pianist sometimes called 'the new Sviatoslav Richter.'

Scott Morrison

Average customer rating: Magnificent Brahms Poor Masterful, beautiful Brahms

Brahms: Complete Piano Music Manufacturer: RCA 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 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 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: Grieg: Complete Solo Piano Music Works for Solo Piano Rachmaninov: His Complete Recordings Sibelius: The 7 Symphonies; Finlandia; Kullervo; etc. Vaughan Williams: The Nine Symphonies ASIN: B0009A1ALO Release Date: 2005-05-31

Customer Reviews:

Magnificent Brahms.......2007-06-23

I cannot imagine better performances of any of these pieces. The emotional impact of Oppitz's playing is overwhelming. He captures the
mood of each work perfectly. He plays with what can be best described as a flexible sound. At times it is pianoforte like, and at other times it rings out like a full orchestra. His use of the sustain pedal is very sparing; and when he does use it, it is with a subtlety that does not draw attention to itself. I will admit that this sound took awhile to get used to; but after listening to these discs a few times, it now seems
absolutely right for this music. One can hear each note clearly. There
is none of the muddiness that some performers bring to this music. These
performances would be worth having at any price; but at about $25.00 for
six discs and each disc having more than 70 minutes of music, this box set
is a steal! I cannot recommend it highly enough.

Poor.......2007-05-26

Of all the various complete sets of Brahms I have heard this is by far the worst. Even the piano tone grates. The Brilliant set is cheap and good; the Katchen set is very good indeed.

Masterful, beautiful Brahms.......2006-01-13

It's great to hear Oppitz perform all of Brahms' solo piano music. He has a deep, idiomatic understanding of the music and is wonderfully expressive. The packaging is nice and it's a treat to have all of this music in one set, especially at such a good price. Go for it!

Average customer rating: a masterwork Three stars for the sound and for hitting the notes. A virtuoso performance Great as Kissin Carnegie Hall Recital Gidion Graveland

Chopin: 4 Ballades / Perahia Manufacturer: Sony ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD Mazurkas | Ballets & Dances | Classical | Styles | Music Waltzes | Ballets & Dances | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Chopin | Chopin, Frédéric | ( C ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music Ballads | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music Etudes | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music Nocturnes | Short Forms | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music General | Keyboard | Instruments | Classical | Styles | Music Perahia, Murray | ( P ) | 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: Chopin Etudes Songs Without Words The Aldeburgh Recital Chopin: Piano Sonatas Nos. 2 & 3; Scherzo No. 3 in C sharp minor Brahms: Piano Sonata No. 3, Rhapsodies, Intermezzo, Capriccio ASIN: B000002A6J Release Date: 1995-01-24

Tracks:

1. Ballade No.1 In G Minor, Op.23
2. Ballade No.2 In A Minor, Op.38
3. Ballade No.3 In A-Flat Major, Op.47
4. Ballade No.4 In F Minor, Op.52
5. Grande Valse Brillante In E - Flat Major, Op. 18
6. Grande Valse In A - Flat Major, Op. 42
7. Nocturne In F Major, Op. 15 No. 1
8. Mazurka In A Minor, Op. 17 No. 4
9. Mazurka In A Minor, Op. 17 No. 4
10. Mazurka In D Major, Op. 33 No. 2
11. Etude In E Major, Op. 10 No. 3
12. Etude In C -Sharp Minor, Op. 10 No. 4

Amazon.com

Chopin's Ballades are imaginary short stories that leave the plot to the listener's imagination. The trick to a successful performance of such freeform compositions depends on the pianist's ability to realize all the color and variety of the various episodes while at the same time retaining control over the narrative structure of each piece. In short, it requires a classical poise and balance in projecting the relationship between form and content. This is just the sort of thing that Murray Perahia does so well. He has a firm overview of each work as a whole, but also a keen enjoyment of the music's often ornate details. The result is wholly satisfying both emotionally and intellectually. --David Hurwitz

Customer Reviews:

a masterwork.......2006-10-21

This disc has everything going for it. First of all it is simply not possible to hear too much Chopin in one's lifetime. He was amongst the very best melodists in all of music history; his harmonizations are gorgeous, complex, and highly chromatic; and in terms of pianism qua pianism his music is perfectly idiomatic. As for Perahia's performances, they are masterworks. They won't be everyone's favorites (they are not amongst the most rhapsodic and romantic of readings), but they are conceived and realized with immense skill and sophistication.

Furthermore the programming here presents a very good cross-section of Chopin's pieces, from the ballads to the waltzes, mazurkas, nocturne, and etudes. Each of these genres has its own distinct character, making this an excellent introductory Chopin disc; an interesting essay in the liner notes describes the different poetic effects each of these genres seeks to realize. Buy one without delay.

Three stars for the sound and for hitting the notes........2004-06-26

This recording came as a great disappointment to me. I had wanted ballades, not concertos. This recording seems to miss the point of these pieces completely. The sudden changes in dynamics and the constant changes in tempo almost completely obliterates the line of the music. The ballades have their own drama, but of a more modest and poetic scale. I don't think the extra Lisztian dynamics present on this recording are a blessing.

One of the finest recordings of the Ballades I've heard were by Gary Graffman, but alas those are not available on CD as yet.

A virtuoso performance.......2003-01-27

The Ballades are played with technical flawlessness, energy, and brilliance. However, in some passages his playing seems to lack sufficient emotion. Perhaps some would consider this restraint and dispassionateness a virtue. But I tend to favor a more Rachmaninoffian emphasis on melody lines. Chopin, after all, was a Romantic composer. On the whole, though, highly recommended.

Great as Kissin Carnegie Hall Recital.......2003-01-02

As I said in my previous review about Kissin playing at Carnegie Hall I love that CD but I would put at second place this CD from Murray Perahia. It's really amazing! The first Ballade touched my deeply. Expecially the biginning it's of tremendous power and sweetness. The second also it's very intimistic and meditative and the third will touch you in dept right to your soul. The fourth is excellent as well.
I highly raccomend this CD to everyone who loves Chopin and I would suggest to buy this CD together with the Kissin one that it's another unmissible masterpiece.
A greeting to all my friends around the world
Luca

Gidion Graveland.......2002-10-22

Murray Peraiah is with Krystian Zimmerman the best living pianist on earth. This disc shows you why. Sit in your chair, close your eyes and you will be brought to another planet.

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 Gould Meets Menuhin Haydn: Piano Sonatas, Hob:XVI, Nos. 42, 48-52 Consort of Musicke by William Byrd & Orlando Gibbons; Sweelinck: Fantasia in D (The Glenn Gould Edition) 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: People The Way Lizst Should Be Played As you like it Stephen Hough New King of the Piano Hill Among the best recordings of the Sonata

Liszt: Sonata, Ballades and Polonaises Stephen Hough Manufacturer: Hyperion UK ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD Polonaises | Ballets & Dances | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Liszt | Liszt, Franz | ( L ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music Ballads | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music Sonatinas | Sonatas | 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 Hough, Stephen | ( H ) | Featured Performers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music General | Classical | Styles | Music General | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music Lullabies & Berceuse | Vocal Non-Opera | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Classical | Imports | Stores | Music Similar Items: Brahms: Violin Concerto; Schumann: Fantasie, Op. 131 Mendelssohn: A Midsummer Night's Dream, Symphony No. 3 / Maag, London Symphony Orchestra Chopin: Four Ballades & Four Scherzos John Dowland: Complete Lute Works, Vol. 3 Liszt: Années de pèlerinage - Suisse ASIN: B000050X9P Release Date: 2000-12-12

Tracks:

1. Two Polonaises, S223: No.1 Polonaise Melancolique in c
2. Two Polonaises, S223: No.2 Polonaise in E
3. Ballade No.1 in D flat, S170 ('Le Chant Du Croise')
4. Ballade No.2 in b
5. Berceuse, S174 (First Version)
6. Pno Son in b, S178: Lento Assai - Allegro Energico - Grandioso - Recitativo
7. Pno Son in b, S178: Andante Sostenuto - Quasi Adagio
8. Pno Son in b, S178: Allegro Energico
9. Pno Son in b, S178: (Allegro Energico) - Piu Mosso - Stretta, Quasi Presto - Presto - Prestissimo
10. Pno Son in b, S178: Andante Sostenuto - Allegro Moderato - Lento Assai

Amazon.com

Stephen Hough has already proven his virtuoso credentials elsewhere, so he doesn't need to worry about his reputation for technique with this Franz Liszt collection. And his playing of the Ballade No. 2--deeply serious Liszt, and bristling with technical challenges--is enough to dazzle any listener. So when Hough doesn't dazzle as much in other challenging music, like the Polonaise No. 2 and, above all, the Sonata, we can presume that he is making interpretive decisions instead of ducking hazards he can't overcome. Hough's interpretation of the Sonata does pay some musical dividends. He takes the music very seriously and aims for expression at every moment. Still, there are climaxes in the Sonata, and in the Polonaise No. 2, that simply don't come off with sufficient force. Hough's choices, while they may be honorable, diminish the contrast between fury and philosophy that can be heard more fully in Liszt performances by Martha Argerich and Sviatoslav Richter. --Leslie Gerber

Customer Reviews:

People.......2007-03-16

People expecting unbridled emotional outpouring from Stephen Hough's approach to Liszt's music will undoubtedly be disappointed. The primary and most valuable advice for those who are about to buy or play this cd on their stereos is simply to get Argerich off their minds. Don't get me wrong, Stephen is never analytic or self-conscious. There's no way one could blame him for being inadequately restrained in his playing - he turns in beautiful, haunting and moving performances while affording to preserve and emphasize the structural features of these remarkable pieces. Liszt's Sonata in B minor is played as a coherent and impressive historical account of one's struggle to survive and maintain his sanity in a world ravaged by fear, pain and lack of redemption - it's an essay on vulnerability. Stephen's clearness of articulation and sophisticated lyricism is matched by very few Liszt interpreters out there today. Such remarkable qualities become especially evident in his rendition of the second Polonaise, which is even more convincing and fluent than Hamelin's. This cd is a must-have.

The Way Lizst Should Be Played.......2004-05-03

With the exception of the Sonata, I was unfamiliar with the works on this CD but the pieces are striking in their selection so my interest was peaked. Another recommendation for this CD is Stephen Hough. Anyone who has encountered his playing knows the meticulous and restrained approach he has when performing. Anyone purchasing this CD will be amply rewarded.

The Polonaises were written following the death of Chopin but there is not much in common with the Polish composer in Liszt's two examples. The first Polonaise carries the title "melancolique" and is an introspective work while the second such work is more a dance, containing the brilliant keyboard techniques one associates with Liszt. The Berceuse is an interesting work (played here in the first version) since it is very closely modeled on Chopin's own work down to the key of D flat. The piece unfolds in a contemplative and quiet mood, containing none of the embellishments later added by Liszt. The two Ballades are also reminiscent of Chopin and were composed by Liszt before his friend's death. The neglected First Ballade is based on a Crusader song and the Second, and much longer, piece is a narrative drama with the scale and octave passages usually associated with Liszt.

Stephen Hough plays the Sonata with great restraint and balance. He does not play with the bombast of many pianists but is finely shaded and well balanced. The clarity and respect for the score that Mr. Hough seeks in his performance may not register well with everyone but this performance is a refreshing contrast to more passionate accounts. The booklet is very informative, as is usually the case with Hyperion recordings.

As you like it.......2002-02-12

This is a great CD. As usual, Mr. Hough is magnificent: beatiful when the music is expressive, and brilliant in the cadanzas and other filagree

In my opinion, the musical stars of the show are the second Polonaise and the second Ballade. Immersed in Chopin's music in my younger days, I always considered his Ballades as narratives telling wondrous and fabulous stories (like something out the "Arabian Nights" perhaps).

The second Ballade evokes the same feeling: wondrous, fabulous, glorious. The opening is awesome. There are moments when I am reminded of his Benediction.

Fifty-some years ago. I heard Horowitz play this Sonata; it was terrific. I haven't hear any records or CDs that can reproduce the effects of its live performance. In my opinion, this CD is no exception. The pianist is being the very best he can be, but is dealing with too many slam-bangs in the score. So I leave this sonata to more knowledeable reviewers,

Stephen Hough New King of the Piano Hill.......2001-05-31

This was the first recording of Hough I've heard and it knocked me off my chair! Gerber's objections to insufficient power and wildness miss the mark. I will reserve my confirmation of King of List until I hear the Agerich recording. I don't know if the Richter version is clean of the usual scratches but I'm open to other performances. The Horowitz version is wild to excess. In just one recording Stephen replaced my hero Murray Perahia as King. Never before have I heard such thoughtful and imaginative playing. The technique is flawless and the dynamics, coloration and great beauty are evident. The English Language cannot convey the musical beauty, you have to hear it! I am playing the "New Album" now and am hearing more of the same. It's great to discover a new gem of a pianist! Keep it up Stephen!

Dave Richards

Among the best recordings of the Sonata.......2001-01-16

I have always enjoyed the recordings of Stephen Hough and was very excited about this new release. I must admit that on the first listen, I skipped the Polonaises and Ballades and went straight for the Sonata. My first impression of the Sonata was not favorable; it seemed slow and too careful. However, repeated listenings have made me think that this is among the best recordings of the Sonata. Hough pedals through the descending line of the opening, creating a wonderfully ominous atmosphere. The passage at 7:12 on track 6 is most often played with a wild accelerando (which Liszt did not write). Hough avoids this tradition and plays it as written (a practice for which he is well-known). The result is amazingly beautiful. I too enjoy the drive of Horowitz and Argerich, they are phenomena in a class of their own. However, this new recording is much more satisfying emotionally. The Polonaise in C Minor sounds very much like Chopin, and Hough plays it very convincingly. The other gem on the recording is the 2nd Ballade. Never have I heard it played more lovingly, with greater attention to detail. A highly recommended disk.

Average customer rating: Making a case for Pollini in the Ballades? Played as only Pollin could play them Pollini sings, and you'll regret if you don't hear him Pollini's Chopin Ballades : Craftmanship and nothing else Awesome fluency

Chopin: 4 Ballades; Fantaisie, Op. 49; Prelude, Op. 45 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 Preludes | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music Chamber Music | Forms & Genres | Classical (c.1770-1830) | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music General | Keyboard | Instruments | Classical | Styles | Music Pollini, Maurizio | ( P ) | Featured Performers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music General | Classical | Styles | Music General | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music Deutsche Grammophon: Music | Specialty Stores | Music More Titles at Least 20% Off | 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 Pollini, Maurizio | ( P ) | Performers, A-Z | Classical Music Blowout | Stores | Music Instrumental | Classical Music Blowout | Stores | Music Similar Items: Chopin: 4 Scherzi/Berceuse/Barcarolle Chopin: Polonaises / Maurizio Pollini Chopin: Nocturnes Chopin: Etudes/Preludes/Polonaises Maurizio Pollini ~ Schubert - Wanderer-Fantasie · Schumann - Fantasie op. 17 ASIN: B00001X58L Release Date: 1999-10-05

Tracks:

1. Ballade No.1 In G Minor Op.23: Largo - Moderato - Presto con fuoco
2. Ballade No.2 In F Major Op.38: Andantino - Presto con fuoco - Agitato - Tempo I
3. Ballade No.3 In A Flat Major Op.47: Allegretto
4. Ballade No.4 In F Minor Op.52: Andante con moto
5. Prelude In C Sharp Minor Op.45: Sostenuto
6. Fantasie In F Minor Op.49: Marcia. Grave

Amazon.com

This disc is typical of Pollini's Chopin playing. There is always feeling in the music, and it is consistently expressive, in Pollini's patrician way. But if you want to hear a pianist getting his hands dirty in this music, this is definitely not the disc for you. Pollini's poetry is always refined; even his stormy outbursts are elegant. Although the Fantasie seems underpowered--and Pollini, with his extraordinary technique, still takes an unwritten extra beat for comfort when he has to skip from the top of the keyboard to the bottom--the remaining performances are extraordinary enough in their way to be well worth hearing, providing their own unique perspective on Chopin. Just don't expect the passion of Rubinstein. At 48:16, this is quite short measure for a contemporary full-price CD. --Leslie Gerber

Customer Reviews:

Making a case for Pollini in the Ballades?.......2005-11-01

Piano recitals tend to bring out good reviewers here at Amazon, but Pollini's Chopin Ballades haven't been well described yet. Each reviewer seem to have strong thumbs-up or thumbs-down opinions. They declare that Pollini is either in top form or has lost his touch completely.

As to the bare facts, Pollini plays all these works faster than the norm--Kissin, who recorded the Ballades in 1998 (RCA), roughly contemporaneous with this 1999 DG release, takes a full minute more for each piece, and Emanuel Ax, in his excellent 1990 RCA release, is almost as slow.

Pollini plays a rich-toned instrument caught close up. There is no air around the piano at all, which accentuates his intensity--these are controlled, almost breathless readings with a minimum of gentle rubato compared to other Chopin specialists like Rubenstein and Moravec. Kissin is also recorded closely on a fine-sounding instrument, although not of this caliber. Ax is given average sound with no special delight in the piano's sonorities.

Pollini doesn't intrude with an overt display of personal expression. For some listeners this disqualifies him, since Chopin playing going back to the age of Paderewski, Rachmaninoff, and Cortot has used the score as a starting point for the pianist's own extempore inspirations in tempo, phrasing, and emotional display. Pollini interpretss the Ballades as heroic, somewhat extroverted pieces--much closer to Beethoven than we usually hear. He is careful to avoid sounding nonchalant, informal, dainty, improvisatory, or fussy. In short, Pollini doesn't re-compose the music.

Kissin also plays the Ballades as big-boned, heroic pieces, but he uses more individual expression than Pollini--he slows down as much as he wants in order to give his own expressive touch free rein. Fortunately, his persoanl ideas are very convincing and musicl. Ax is passionately romantic, especially in the first Ballade, and in addition has a remarkable control over rubato--he's the overlooked contender here.

So, what is the case for Pollini in particular? Anyone who has heard this pianist live knows that he relies not at all on charm or superficial appeal. One is expected to sit up and pay close attention to Pollini's extraordinary ability to carry a piece straight through, in one intense arc of concentration. He uses his right and left hands so independently that there is never an accompaniment--something important is happening in one or both hands at every second. The overall result is mesmerizing--he has a hypnotic effect on audiences, in common with Michelangeli. If you want to be riveted in a breathtaking sweep from first note to last, no one excels Pollini in these works.

Played as only Pollin could play them.......2002-03-09

The four Ballades are Chopin's greatest masterworks. In fact, in my opinion, besides Beethoven's late sonatas, they are the greatest works for piano ever written. However, they are incredibly demanding pieces to play. Not only do they require the utmost technical virtuosty, they also require an extremely keen sensitivity to musical nuances and just an overall excellent level of musicianship. Very few pianists can surpass the technical demands of these pieces, much less understand the nuances that make these pieces so incredibly powerful, personal, and emotional. The great Vladimir Horowitz said that the first ballade was the most difficult piece for him to play convincingly. Rubinstein played passionately, yet he was never one of the truly great technical pianists, so his playing of the ballades was always short of great. Pollini's is the first recording of the ballades that I've ever heard that is truly convincing. He is obviously unmatched in pure technical ability, but beyond that he adds such heart to his playing and elicits the greatest emotion from the depths of the nuances that Chopin wrote in these masterpieces. The only pianist who i think compares in the playing of the ballades is Ivan Moravec, but his recordings are difficult to come by. Get this recording. You've never heard the ballades played this well. chopin would be proud.

Pollini sings, and you'll regret if you don't hear him.......2001-09-25

Like many others, I was waiting for Pollini's interpretation of these extremely serious Chopin music, which happen to be my most favorites of Chopin after Preludes. After several passes into his interpretation I couldn't help admiring how beautifully he have made them sound. I have heard some other performers play them, such as Zimmerman, Arrau and Rubinstein, but none of them impressed me as this one. The first ballade (my most favorite) was an exception, and I prefer Michelangeli which, in his only Chopin recording with DG, made the most beautiful interpretation of this piece. The second ballade is specially impressing. The caressing main melody line, as well as the dramatically violent middle part has never been played this effective before. Third and fourth ballades are also real delights, when you come to notice the emotional generosity that Pollini puts into them. Pollini's presentation of prelude Op.45 captures you so deeply that you can hardly forget this experience. Pollini tells everything that there is to say in ballades, and you're forced to remember that he's one of the best musicians.

Pollini's Chopin Ballades : Craftmanship and nothing else.......2001-07-31

Already owning various of Pollini's Chopin recordings, i was looking forward to being impressed by this release of some of my favorite piano works. And i was - but unfortunately for the wrong reasons. When you listen to records from modern pianists such as Kissin, Zimermann, Argerich, i think it is fair to take their technique for granted - and in this recording as usual, Pollini's technique is fabulous and probably second to none. So, when i hear a performance of any of these artists, i am searching for their interpretative insights, for any new ideas they may bring into the works, or to see how emotionaly involved they can be with the music. And here is where Pollini's lack of involvement makes this recording somewhat dissapointing. He plays everything at top speed and seems to be tossing the works one after another as if to get the work done. It is amazing that at this speed he is able to balance the works and also remain detailed, but that is pretty much all there is here: sound, technique, craftmanship, but the playing as it is should leave most knowledged listeners cold and wishing for more passionate performances.

Awesome fluency.......2001-06-04

Pollini is a strange artist: sometimes he's on song, at other times he sounds cool and uninvolved. This affliction can strike him at any time, with any composer: his Chopin sonatas are glorious, while the polonaises are chilly. His Schubert D959 sonata is outstanding, the D960 a dutiful run through.

On this CD he is really on form, happily enough. In fact I can't recall hearing a more exciting and awesome performance of the Ballades. All his tempi are fast (anyone who can despatch the Fourth Ballade in under ten minutes is pushing back the boundaries of piano playing), and the interpretations are ferocious. But he still maintains his poise and immaculate pianism throughout. Recording quality is excellent: vivid in a pleasing acoustic (the Herkulesaal in Munich).

So would I recommend this CD as a first choice? Probably not: that would be Krystian Zimerman's excellent set, also on DG. His readings are straighter than Pollini's (but full of imagination), and the CD is better filled. Wonderful sound as well. But Pollini would be an superb choice as a second set, particularly as the interpretations are unlike any other I've heard.

Another to consider is Ashkenazy's jam-packed Decca Legends CD which has both the Ballades and the Scherzi, and is at midprice. The 1963/4 recordings have been superbly remastered.

Perahia on Sony is OK but unremarkable (and I'm normally a Perahia fan), while Kissin's RCA disc has excessively vehement playing and metallic sound.

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