Composer: Ludwig van Beethoven, Frédéric François Chopin
Performer: Bella Davidovich
Orchestra: Moscow Philharmonic Orchestra, All-Union Radio and Television Symphony Orchestra
Conductor: Arvīds Jansons
Number of Discs: 2
Format: FLAC (tracks)
Label: Melodiya
Catalogue: MELCD1002584
Release: 2018
Size: 537 MB
Recovery: +3%
Scan: cover
CD 01
Beethoven: Piano Concerto No. 1 in C major, Op. 15
01. I. Allegro con brio
02. II. Largo
03. III. Rondo – Allegro
Chopin: Piano Concerto No. 1 in E minor, Op. 11
04. I. Allegro maestoso
05. II. Romance – Larghetto
06. III. Rondo – Vivace
CD 02
01. Chopin: Waltz No. 1 in E flat major ‘Grande Valse Brillante’, Op. 18
Chopin: Waltzes, Op. 34
02. No. 1 in A-Flat Major
03. No. 2 in A Minor
04. No. 3 in F Major
05. Chopin: Waltz No. 5 in A flat major, Op. 42
Chopin: Waltzes, Op. 64
06. No. 1 in D-Flat Major
07. No. 2 in C-Sharp Minor
08. No. 3 in A-Flat Major
Chopin: Waltzes, Op. 69
09. No. 1 in A-Flat Major
10. No. 2 in B Minor
Chopin: Waltzes, Op. 70
11. No. 1 in G-Flat Major
12. No. 2 in F Minor
13. No. 3 in D-Flat Major
14. Chopin: Waltz No. 14 in E minor, Op. post., KKIVa:15, B 56
For the most part, Davidovich did not play quite like this on her Philips recordings—which is not to say that they are better or worse than her work for Melodiya. These nervier, edgier, and yet (generally) more classical readings will be a surprise (a nice one, I hope) to listeners who know only her later work, and I recommend them with enthusiasm for those who are curious, especially for the Beethoven Concerto, which is a thriller.