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109 of 109 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD|Amazon Verified Purchase
In this, his anniversary year, we have been deluged with 'complete' editions of Chopin's works but this set is something special. Although produced at bargin price, it does not contain bargin performances but some of the finest from the DG, Decca and Philips catalogues.
Rather than concentrating on one pianist, the compilers have included all the major musicians who recorded for the Universal labels between 1970 and 2007 in what are, arguably, some of their very greatest greatest Chopin recordings. Thus we have, among other fine discs, Zimerman's quite superb and moving Piano Concertos from 1999, Pires' wonderful Nocturnes, Pollini's fine Etudes, Ashkenazy's Waltzes and - a great surprise for me - the young Blechacz's superlative Preludes.
The chamber works and songs are extremely enjoyable and, as you would expect, the recording quality excellent throughout. The booklet contains an interesting essay by Jeremy Siepmann, a time-line, and full discographical details.
A wonderful set which will provide a lifetime's pleasure. It is not the cheapest on the market but the quality of the performances make it will worth the extra outlay.
Rather than concentrating on one pianist, the compilers have included all the major musicians who recorded for the Universal labels between 1970 and 2007 in what are, arguably, some of their very greatest greatest Chopin recordings. Thus we have, among other fine discs, Zimerman's quite superb and moving Piano Concertos from 1999, Pires' wonderful Nocturnes, Pollini's fine Etudes, Ashkenazy's Waltzes and - a great surprise for me - the young Blechacz's superlative Preludes.
The chamber works and songs are extremely enjoyable and, as you would expect, the recording quality excellent throughout. The booklet contains an interesting essay by Jeremy Siepmann, a time-line, and full discographical details.
A wonderful set which will provide a lifetime's pleasure. It is not the cheapest on the market but the quality of the performances make it will worth the extra outlay.
167 of 174 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
This isn't a proper review; it's simply a disc by disc list of the music and performers to help you, like myself, decide whether or not you want to invest in this box set.
CD 1: Piano Concertos 1 & 2
Krystian Zimerman/Polish Festival Orchestra
81:49
CD 2: Variations on "La ci darem la mano"; Fantasy on Polish Airs, op.13; Krakowiak - Concert Rondo, op.14; Andante spianato & grande polonaise, op. 22 (orchestral version)
Claudio Arrau/London Philharmonic Orchestra/Eliahu Inbal
63:25
CD 3: Ballades 1-4; Fantaisie, op.49
Krystian Zimerman
3 Nouvelles Etudes; 3 Ecossaises
Anatol Ugorski
63:06
CD 4: Etudes, opp.10 & 25; Barcarolle, op.60; Berceuse, op.57
Maurizio Pollini
69:12
CD 5: Mazurkas 1-29
Vladimir Ashkenazy
68:09
CD 6: Mazurkas 30-57; 3 Mazurkas, WoO; Mazurka no.51 in f (revised version)
Vladimir Ashkenazy
72:07
CD 7: Nocturnes 1-10
Maria Joao Pires
50:29
CD 8: Nocturnes 11-21
Maria Joao Pires
58:42
CD 9: Polonaises 1-7
Maurizio Pollini
61:53
CD 10: Andante spianato & grande polonaise, op. 22 (solo version)
Martha Argerich
3 Polonaises, op.71; six posthumous Polonaises; 2 Bourrees; Galop marquis; Feuille d'Album; Cantabile in B flat; Fugue in a; Largo in E flat
Anatol Ugorski
75:52
CD 11: 24 Preludes, op.28; Prelude in A flat, op. post.; Prelude in c#, op.45
Rafal Blechacz
Impromptus 1-4
Yundi Li
64:22
CD 12: Scherzos 1-4
Maurizio Pollini
Rondeau, op.1; Rondeau, op.5
Lilya Zilberstein
Rondeau, op.16
Mikhail Pletnev
Rondeau for two pianos, op.73
Kurt Bauer, Heidi Bung
76:15
CD 13: Piano Sonata no.1
Lilya Zilberstein
Piano Sonatas nos. 2 & 3
Maurizio Pollini
76:42
CD 14: Variations sur un air national allemand; Souvenir de Paganini; Variations brillantes, op.12; "Hexameron" variations; Allegro de concert, op.46; Bolero, op.19; Tarantelle, op.43
Vladimir Ashkenazy
Introduction, Theme & Variations in D
Vladimir Ashkenazy & Vovka Ashkenazy
50:27
CD 15: Waltzes 1-19
Vladimir Ashkenazy
55:25
CD 16: Piano Trio, op.8
Beaux Arts Trio (Pressler, Cohen, Greenhouse)
Cello Sonata, op.65; Introduction & Polonaise, op.3
Martha Argerich & Mstislav Rostropovich
Grand Duo Concertante on Themes from Meyerbeer's "Robert le Diable"
Lambert Orkis & Anner Bijlsma
79:47
CD 17: Nineteen songs
Elzbieta Szmytka, soprano; Martin Martineau, piano
46:37
CD 1: Piano Concertos 1 & 2
Krystian Zimerman/Polish Festival Orchestra
81:49
CD 2: Variations on "La ci darem la mano"; Fantasy on Polish Airs, op.13; Krakowiak - Concert Rondo, op.14; Andante spianato & grande polonaise, op. 22 (orchestral version)
Claudio Arrau/London Philharmonic Orchestra/Eliahu Inbal
63:25
CD 3: Ballades 1-4; Fantaisie, op.49
Krystian Zimerman
3 Nouvelles Etudes; 3 Ecossaises
Anatol Ugorski
63:06
CD 4: Etudes, opp.10 & 25; Barcarolle, op.60; Berceuse, op.57
Maurizio Pollini
69:12
CD 5: Mazurkas 1-29
Vladimir Ashkenazy
68:09
CD 6: Mazurkas 30-57; 3 Mazurkas, WoO; Mazurka no.51 in f (revised version)
Vladimir Ashkenazy
72:07
CD 7: Nocturnes 1-10
Maria Joao Pires
50:29
CD 8: Nocturnes 11-21
Maria Joao Pires
58:42
CD 9: Polonaises 1-7
Maurizio Pollini
61:53
CD 10: Andante spianato & grande polonaise, op. 22 (solo version)
Martha Argerich
3 Polonaises, op.71; six posthumous Polonaises; 2 Bourrees; Galop marquis; Feuille d'Album; Cantabile in B flat; Fugue in a; Largo in E flat
Anatol Ugorski
75:52
CD 11: 24 Preludes, op.28; Prelude in A flat, op. post.; Prelude in c#, op.45
Rafal Blechacz
Impromptus 1-4
Yundi Li
64:22
CD 12: Scherzos 1-4
Maurizio Pollini
Rondeau, op.1; Rondeau, op.5
Lilya Zilberstein
Rondeau, op.16
Mikhail Pletnev
Rondeau for two pianos, op.73
Kurt Bauer, Heidi Bung
76:15
CD 13: Piano Sonata no.1
Lilya Zilberstein
Piano Sonatas nos. 2 & 3
Maurizio Pollini
76:42
CD 14: Variations sur un air national allemand; Souvenir de Paganini; Variations brillantes, op.12; "Hexameron" variations; Allegro de concert, op.46; Bolero, op.19; Tarantelle, op.43
Vladimir Ashkenazy
Introduction, Theme & Variations in D
Vladimir Ashkenazy & Vovka Ashkenazy
50:27
CD 15: Waltzes 1-19
Vladimir Ashkenazy
55:25
CD 16: Piano Trio, op.8
Beaux Arts Trio (Pressler, Cohen, Greenhouse)
Cello Sonata, op.65; Introduction & Polonaise, op.3
Martha Argerich & Mstislav Rostropovich
Grand Duo Concertante on Themes from Meyerbeer's "Robert le Diable"
Lambert Orkis & Anner Bijlsma
79:47
CD 17: Nineteen songs
Elzbieta Szmytka, soprano; Martin Martineau, piano
46:37
51 of 53 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
This is a superb complete Chopin. I haven't stopped playing it since I bought it. It boasts perfomances from a number of contemporary keybord giants, for example: Pollini (Etudes, Scerzos, Polonaises), Ashekenazy (mazurkas, waltzes), Joao Pires(Nocturnes), Zimerman (ballades, concertos) and an electrifying performance of the underrated cello sonata by Argerich and Rostropovich which has just been rated the best on CD review. My only criticiem is that there could be more of Argerich - but that's always true. Could be the bargain of the year!
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
How wonderful!
My young pianist boy received this set from Santa this Christmas. We listened to 2 of them, had to replay and replay and replay... Read more
Published 5 months ago by Lovereading
Wonderful Chopin
I bought this CD set on Amazon and have marvelled at the exceptional and varied talent that has played the various works of Chopin. Read more
Published 6 months ago by Robin G Humphrey
Recordings of choice at an unbeatable price
As well as various boxed sets of his works, the bicentenary of Chopin's birth generated unforgettable recitals such as Maria Joao Pires' late-night Nocturnes prom at the Albert... Read more
Published 8 months ago by J. McNeill
Chopin piano music
Purely wonderful. Everything that Chopin wrote for the piano, including some songs. Various artists, including some that I've never heard of who play beautifully nevertheless. Read more
Published 9 months ago by J. F. Pye
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