Audio CD
SPARS Code: DDD
Number of Discs: 2
Format: FLAC (image+cue)
Label: Decca
Size: 451 MB
Recovery: +3%
Scan: yes
Disc 1:
01. Polonaise No.3 in A, Op.40 No.1 – “Military”
02. 24 Préludes, Op.28 – 15. in D flat major (“Raindrop”)
03. Waltz No.6 in D flat, Op.64 No.1 -“Minute”
04. Ballade No.3 in A flat, Op.47
05. Nocturne No.8 in D flat, Op.27 No.2
06. 12 Etudes, Op.10 – No. 12 in C minor “Revolutionary”
07. Waltz No.7 in C sharp minor, Op.64 No.2
08. Berceuse in D flat, Op.57
09. 12 Etudes, Op.10 – No. 5 in G flat “Black Keys”
10. Nocturne No.15 in F minor, Op.55 No.1
11. Mazurka No.5 in B flat Op.7 No.1
12. Scherzo No.2 in B flat minor, Op.31
13. Waltz No.3 in A minor, Op.34 No.2
14. Polonaise No.6 in A flat, Op.53 -“Heroic”
Disc 2:
01. Waltz No.1 in E flat, Op.18 -“Grande valse brillante”
02. Impromptu No.4 in C sharp minor, Op.66 “Fantaisie-Impromptu”
03. Barcarolle in F sharp, Op.60
04. 12 Etudes, Op.10 – No. 3 in E “Tristesse”
05. Mazurka No.23 in D Op.33 No.2
06. Nocturne No.9 in B, Op.32 No.1
07. Waltz No.9 in A flat, Op.69 No.1 -“Farewell”
08. Nocturne No.2 in E flat, Op.9 No.2
09. Waltz No.11 in G flat, Op.70 No.1
10. Piano Sonata No.2 in B flat minor, Op.35 – 1. Grave – Doppio movimento
11. Piano Sonata No.2 in B flat minor, Op.35 – 2. Scherzo – Più lento – Tempo I
12. Piano Sonata No.2 in B flat minor, Op.35 – 3. Marche funèbre (Lento)
13. Piano Sonata No.2 in B flat minor, Op.35 – 4. Finale (Presto)
Fine Chopin from Ashkenazy and London Records.
07-23-2014 This is one of the finest collections of Chopin in the catalog, with the Russian-Jewish pianist of great skill and eloquence Vladimir Ashkenazy at the keyboard. Vastly preferring his piano to his baton, I couldn’t pass up the opportunity to add him to my library, and neither should you. Of the various Chopin interpreters out there, he stands at or near the peak for me, as good or better than Garrick Ohlssohn, Slataslav Richter, Alicia de la Rocha and the legendary, and for many the best, Arthur Rubinstein. What make VA so good? Well, for me, it is his flawless technique, romantic excellence and his irresistible energy. His playing is contagious and riveting, although in the quietest and most tender moments he lags behind Rubenstein, but then so does everyone else. `In this double CD package from London Records, these performances date from 1967 thru to 1984 and are conveniently arranged as such, so one can hear them in chronological progression over a period of years. My preferences are for the following tracks. On CD #1, I opted for cuts numbers 1 thru 3, 5 thru 7 and 13 and 14. On the 2nd disk, I took a shine to 1 thru 4#7 and #8 and the complete Sonata #2 in B Flat Major, itself running for 23:40, including a dramatic 8:20 Marche funebre.
The grand and epic Polonaise in A, leading off the 1st disk, plays like a second Polish national anthem, as it rang out from Polish Radio during the bitter years of WWII, when Hitler sought to flatten Warsaw unmercilessly It lent courage, passion and pride to these hearty people, some of the most courageous of the 20th Century. Not only did they survive the oppressive weight of the Nazis, they also volunteered bravely for the RAF partaking in the Battle of Britain, over the Channel and London, and gave their lives for freedom and peace, much as did the Czech nationals. The track 3 Waltz in D Flat, the so-called “minute “waltz actually runs for 1:51 but never drags and is jfilled with all the poetry Chopin endowed his numerous pieces with