Features

• Original recording reissued
• Original recording remastered

Subjects:  1. Baroque Suite/Partita for Orchestra    2. Chamber Music & Recitals    3. Choral    4. Classical    5. Classical Composers    6. Classical Music    7. Concerto    8. Concerto Grosso    9. Fugue for Keyboard    10. Italian Baroque Opera    11. Keyboard    12. Opera    13. Oratorio    14. Orchestral   

Reviews (15)

Beautiful!
This is a beautifully played collection of Chopin's work. It was a birthday gift,
Well worth the money.Wonderful!Wonderful!
I am not a classical music expert but I am an expert when it comes to a great product.I have listened to the works of rubenstein and Horowitz, but nothing is comparable to this great collection of polands favorite son.The nocturnes are dreamy and romantic.The other pieces though not as mesmerizing have plenty of depth and feeling.This is a collection that you will listen to over and over again.Although this music is great anytime, it's especially meaningful during a light rainfall.Go ahead and make this investment.It's only $100.00.For the next 100 days save a dollar and you will have it paid for.I promise you won't be sorry.Excellent!Excellent!

Best investment to make
In my opinion, this is the apex of classical music. You will not find a better CD for Chopin or any piano recordings. There may be plenty of comparable CDs, but nothing can claim to surpass this.
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Subjects:  1. Allegro for Keyboard    2. Balladefor Keyboard    3. Barcarollefor Keyboard    4. Berceuse for Keyboard    5. Character/Single-Movement/Miscellaneous Work for Keyboard    6. Classical    7. Classical Composers    8. Classical Music    9. Coll. of Character/Single-Movement/Misc. Works for Keyb.    10. Collection of Dance-Based Music for Keyboard    11. Collection of Etudes, Studies, or Exercises for Keyboard    12. Collection of Preludes for Keyboard    13. Contradance for Keyboard    14. Ecosse/Ecossaise for Keyboard    15. Etude for Keyboard    16. Fantasy/Fantasia for Keyboard    17. Fugue for Keyboard    18. Galop for Keyboard    19. Impromptu for Keyboard    20. Individual Dance for Keyboard   

Reviews (4)

exceptional tone quality
When I purchased this recording, I had not yet had the pleasure of owning an Andrew Parrott/Taverner Consort recording. I was so impressed! Andrew really excercises an understanding of this genre, an understanding that I haven't often seen. In particular I was quite pleased with this rendintion of Gabrieli's "In ecclesiis" (although the Bass, I don't know his name, is too lacking in volume). Other than that,I just adore this CD set. I also recommend Andrew Parrot for anything predating Bach (*not including Bach!). There is a 5 CD of particular interest and quality called "From Monteverdi to Vivaldi" by this same ensemble that you might consider purchasing instead of this set (almost exact same price, and one of the CDs- the better of the two in this set- is included in the 5CD set).

The Fabulous Andrew Parrott
Who else but Andrew Parrott?! The fabulous adventurer in the field of early music, Parrott has time and again unearthed unknown masterpieces, shedding light on their original luster through a keen sense of the historical settings, employment of the proper historic instruments & period vocal style, and his own inspired musicianship. Throughout the 2nd half of the 20th century music lovers like me knew the works of Gabrieli through the appropriations by well-meaning ensembles of modern brass instruments: Chicago Symphony Brass, Canadian Brass, etc. Parrott has been the first to perform and record many of these works with early 17th century instruments, providing a restored sonic image for the 21st century connoisseur. Bravo! Encore, please!

Fabulous introduction to Venetian sacred music
This fantastic collection of music is probably one of the best introductions to Venetian Baroque (early to late) on offer.Read more

Subjects:  1. Baroque Motet    2. Chamber    3. Chamber Music    4. Choral    5. Classical    6. Classical Artists    7. Classical Music    8. Early Music / Chant    9. Fugue for Keyboard    10. Keyboard    11. Madrigal for Solo Voice and Contiuo    12. Magnificat    13. Medieval/Renaissance Organ Music    14. Motet    15. Polychoral Music For Brass    16. Renaissance Instrumental Polyphony    17. Renaissance Motet    18. Solo Voice(s) and Small Ensemble    19. Violin with Keyboard    20. Vocal   

Editorial Review

This 15-disc set, recorded from 1990 to 1992, is a truly complete survey of Chopin's piano music, including juvenilia and the works for piano and orchestra. It may not be quite the triumph of Biret's Brahms set, in which the performances are competitive with the best to be heard anywhere. But all of this playing is thoroughly worthy of the music, and Biret's technique is strong enough to deal with such hurdles as the Études and Scherzi without flinching. Her style is a bit more straightforward than that of the most famous Chopin poets (such as Rubinstein and Cortot), making these recordings a particularly good bet for students and listeners who are first learning to love Chopin. One can often come up with a (more expensive) recording that expresses even more of the poetry of the music than Biret does:Moravec's Nocturnes,Rubinstein's Mazurkas,Zayas's Études, and so on. And occasionally some of the lesser-known music (such as the First Sonata) might be better skipped except by scholars and curious listeners who want to know why these pieces Read more

Features

• Box set

Reviews (6)

5 stars for performance, 3 stars for packaging and mastering
I got this box set because I wanted to have all of Chopin's piano music without investing in the redundancies of various artists' recordings. Much has been said about Idil Biret's playing and I find it splendid.
Worth the price, but you get what you pay for
Ms. Gerber sums it up very well above: the playing is not what you'd find from Rubinstein, Cortot, or Ashkenazy, but it is still better than many recordings out there, and is a tremendous bargain.
Great!
I really enjoyed listening to Biret's approach of chopin on these 15 discs. I have heard other pianists play and i personally find every one of them comparable and each have their own pros and cons. The price of this influenced me over the grammophon's boxset. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Allegro for Keyboard    2. Balladefor Keyboard    3. Barcarollefor Keyboard    4. Berceuse for Keyboard    5. Box Sets (Audio Only)    6. Character/Single-Movement/Miscellaneous Work for Keyboard    7. Classical    8. Classical Composers    9. Classical Music    10. Coll. of Character/Single-Movement/Misc. Works for Keyb.    11. Collection of Dance-Based Music for Keyboard    12. Collection of Etudes, Studies, or Exercises for Keyboard    13. Collection of Preludes for Keyboard    14. Concerto    15. Contradance for Keyboard    16. Ecosse/Ecossaise for Keyboard    17. Fantasy/Fantasia for Keyboard    18. Fugue for Keyboard    19. Galop for Keyboard    20. Impromptu for Keyboard   

Reviews (4)

Spectacular Polonaises and fine miscellaneous pieces
Nearly everything Ashkenazy recorded of Chopin is of great quality, and these discs are no exception. Ashkenazy always uses a rather no-nonsense style - not too much rubato and hysteria - that works well with Chopin's music. It's not the only way to get through it, but certainly a good one. So is this two-fer. If you're looking for just one good set of all Polonaises - here it is. For a more complete picture however, it's good to hear some other takes on the music as well. Ashkenazy is a joy to hear
Like every other Chopin CD that he's done, Ashkenazy is againmarvelous.There is none better. It's that simple.

Not a Good Choice for Polonaises
The only value I see in this cd is that it contains some posthumous polonaises which were written by Chopin in his teens, along with other miscellaneous pieces which are hard to find.But these minor pieces are really of interest for the collector.For the mature polonaises, I will not return to listen to these recordings.Ashkenazy plays the enthusiastic fortes with insensitivity and lack of emotion.For example if you compare his rendition of the "Military" polonaise with the recording by Rubinstein on RCA, you will stop listening.Also, for some strange reason he omits the Andante spianato and Grande polonaise, Op. 22.Ashkenazy includes the famous Berceuse and Barcarolle, which gives the illusion of being a great bargain.But outside of the miscellaneous pieces, the mature Polonaises and famous pieces could fit on one disk.So this is really not a bargain.I recommend any recording by Rubinstein over the present cd, particularly the one on RCA or the 1930s EMI recording.I don't particularly care much for Pollini's recording of the Polonaises, but it is better than Ashkenazy.For the Barcarolle I recommend Dinu Lipatti, and for the Berceuse, Solomon.Ashkenazy in general has a mixed bag of recordings.Some of them, e.g. the Rachmaninov Preludes and the Chopin Ballades and Scherzi, are outstanding and near definitive.But if someone were to ask me for an example of a poor Ashkenazy recording, the present cd is the first example I would give. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Allegro for Keyboard    2. Barcarollefor Keyboard    3. Berceuse for Keyboard    4. Classical    5. Classical Composers    6. Classical Music    7. Collection of Dance-Based Music for Keyboard    8. Collection of Etudes, Studies, or Exercises for Keyboard    9. Fugue for Keyboard    10. Galop for Keyboard    11. Individual Dance for Keyboard    12. Keyboard    13. Keyboard Work with Descriptive or Unclassified Title    14. Polonaise for Keyboard    15. Romantic Music for Voice and Keyboard    16. Vocal   

Reviews (6)

Be warned there are shortcomings, but also be prepared for brilliance!
There are some shortcomings to this album and they are pointed out by other reviewers.However, there are gems present here that continue to dazzle long after Glenn Gould's untimely death.
An universal patrimony !
The huge and significant loss that for the musical worldrepresented the disappearance of Glenn Gould resides in the simple fact that even twenty four years after his sensible departure, there has not been another pianist able to fill his place. His legacy seems to enhance proportionally through the years. His powerful cantabile line, his profound conviction still deserves him this status ?clat, that certainly have guaranteed a well wrought name in the immortality.
Perfection
There neither is, nor has been (am may likley never be), anyone who can interpret Bach like Glenn Gould. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Baroque Sonata/Sonatina for Keyboard    2. Baroque Variations for Keyboard    3. Classical    4. Classical Composers    5. Classical Music    6. Classical Sonata/Sonatina for Keyboard    7. Fantasy/Fantasia for Keyboard    8. Fugue for Keyboard    9. Keyboard    10. Keyboard Music    11. Music for Organ   

Subjects:  1. Cantata    2. Choral    3. Classical    4. Classical Composers    5. Classical Music    6. Classical Vocals    7. Fugue for Keyboard    8. Keyboard    9. Vocal   

Reviews (1)

Perfect starter CD!
I'm surprised that no one has reviewed this CD yet.Released in conjuction with the Nationally-released PBS documentary "America's Choir" - this album is a perfect starting place for people who wish to have a sampler of the Mormon Tabernacle Choir.Serving as both a latter-day "greatest hits" and a stand alone album, this CD gathers six tracks from the Choir's recently released albums "Consider The Lilies," "Spirit Of America" and "Peace Like A River" and adds TEN brand new tracks recorded specially for this project, creating a perfect sampler of both the Choir's magnificent history and it's current sound.It highlights the strengths of the Choir's repetoire, from well-known hymns ("Come Thou Fount Of Every Blessing") to patriotic standards ("Battle Hymn Of The Republic") to folk songs ("Shenandoah," "Bound For The Promised Land") and even some surprises, like the traditional Welsh anthem "O Home Beloved" and the "Fugue In C Major (Jig)" for organ and orchestra.A wonderful, wonderful CD, with startling changes in mood and tempo, but with the unifying artistry of the Tabernacle Choir and Orchestra at Temple Sqare. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Battle Music    2. Carols    3. Choral    4. Choral Music    5. Christmas    6. Classical    7. Classical Artists    8. Folk Song    9. Fugue for Keyboard    10. Gospel Choir    11. Holiday    12. Hymns    13. Keyboard    14. Lds - Latter Day Saints    15. Miscellaneous    16. Miscellaneous Music    17. Miscellaneous Vocal Music    18. Oratorio    19. Orchestral & Symphonic    20. Solo Voice(s) and Small Ensemble   

Reviews (4)

The last composition of Brahms, Op. 122
These organ pieces of Brahms are wonderuflly written and it is sad they are nowadays neglected. Especially the last piece Brahms ever penned, the 11 Chorale Preludes of 1896. All of these are beautiful but track 5 "O Welt, ich muss dich lassen" is especially so. My German is a bit rusty but I believe the translation is "O world, I must leave you." Indeed, Brahms did, within the next year after Op. 122 was composed.
P.S.
Why are we not even told who the performer is?

Complete nonsense
These were Brahms's last works before his death. Not only did he have no chance to publish them or to have second thoughts about them, but they have always stood as his last musical testament. Why the inventions above? ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Chorale Prelude or Chorale Treatment for Keyboard    2. Classical    3. Classical Composers    4. Classical Music    5. Fugue for Keyboard    6. Keyboard    7. Prelude and Fugue for Keyboard   

Subjects:  1. Anthem    2. Antiphon    3. Art Song (General)    4. Ballet    5. Baroque Ballet    6. Baroque Motet    7. Chamber    8. Chamber Music    9. Chamber Music & Recitals    10. Choral    11. Choral Music    12. Chorale Prelude or Chorale Treatment for Keyboard    13. Classical    14. Classical Composers    15. Classical Music    16. Fugue for Keyboard    17. Individual Dance for Keyboard    18. Keyboard    19. Minuet for Keyboard    20. Miscellaneous   

Features

• Box set

Reviews (1)

Die Orgelwerke Buxtehudes minus 2
This is by far (with the exception of the set performed by Harald Vogel) the best recording of Buxtehude's complete output for Organ.With two exceptions (not included in this recording are the Praeludium C-Dur BuxWV 138 and the Kanzonette a-Moll BuxWV 225), Walter Kraft here records the entire opus for Organ of his illustrious predecessor at the post of Organist and the Marienkirche zu Luebeck--the Danish/German Organist Dietrich Buxtehude. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Box Sets (Audio Only)    2. Cantata    3. Canzona for Keyboard    4. Chaconne for Keyboard    5. Chamber Music & Recitals    6. Choral    7. Chorale Prelude or Chorale Treatment for Keyboard    8. Classical    9. Classical Composers    10. Fugue for Keyboard    11. Keyboard    12. Keyboard Work with Descriptive or Unclassified Title    13. Passacaglia/Passacaglia and Fugue for Keyboard    14. Prelude and Fugue for Keyboard    15. Prelude for Keyboard    16. Toccata for Keyboard   

Reviews (1)

What a fabulous CD!
The moment I first listened to this CD, I was hooked.The precision that Preston uses in performance is unrivaled, and you of course can't beat the price!I was very impressed.Definetely worth the investment! ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Chamber    2. Chamber Music    3. Choral    4. Chorale Prelude or Chorale Treatment for Keyboard    5. Classical    6. Classical Artists    7. Classical Music    8. Classical Pop    9. Easy Pop    10. Fantasy/Fantasia for Keyboard    11. Fugue for Keyboard    12. Instrumental Pop    13. Keyboard    14. Keyboard Music    15. March for Orchestra    16. Miscellaneous    17. Miscellaneous Music    18. Opera    19. Oratorio    20. Orchestral   

Features

• Box set

Reviews (4)

If you enjoy the sound of static, buy this!!
The sound quality is so poor in this recording that it is difficult at best to enjoy.I suppose if you play your music at extremely low volume, or are used to listening on a poor quality stereo (think victrola sound), then maybe you could get past the static noise.Quite a shame, considering what a masterfully performed, complete set this makes.

Full Price for a Boxset of Mono Records That Comes in 8

Cool, but profound.
While his piano sonatas and variation works are often recorded, I tend to have the most fun in playing the lesser known works that often give the most direct view on Mozart's genius. Looking through the catalogue I had little doubt that Gieseking's collection would give me the most bang for the buck (check out the German Amazon site) and good old Walter did not disappoint.Read more

Subjects:  1. Adagio for Keyboard    2. Allegro for Keyboard    3. Andante for Keyboard    4. Capriccio/Caprice for Keyboard    5. Chamber    6. Character/Single-Movement/Miscellaneous Work for Keyboard    7. Choral    8. Classical    9. Classical Composers    10. Classical Music    11. Classical Period Variations for Keyboard    12. Classical Sonata/Sonatina for Keyboard    13. Dance/Single-Movement/Miscellaneous Work for Orchestra    14. Fantasy/Fantasia for Keyboard    15. Fugue for Keyboard    16. Gigue for Keyboard    17. Keyboard    18. Minuet for Keyboard    19. Miscellaneous Sacred Choral Music    20. Music for Glass Harmonica   

Reviews (2)

A good deal to enjoy
Though Beethoven could play the violin he was not a virtuoso on the instrument.The piano, on the other hand, was changed as an instrument by him.He was always on a quest for more sonorous and richer sounds and piano makers did their best to oblige.Many of Beethoven's avant guarde ideas about composition and the role of music in self expression started as piano sonatas and piano works.With this in mind, Beethovens compositions for the piano are some of the most outstanding, brilliant, and technically pure works to emerge from any composer.It is impossible not to feel the emotions Beethoven wishes to convey from piece to piece.
Jazzy Ludwig!
An excellent set featuring Ludwig van's sets of variations wherein he gets jazzy and swings on catchy tunes!Highly recommended.
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Subjects:  1. Allemand for Keyboard    2. Andante for Keyboard    3. Bagatelle for Keyboard    4. Box Sets (Audio Only)    5. Chamber    6. Chamber Music & Recitals    7. Character/Single-Movement/Miscellaneous Work for Keyboard    8. Classical    9. Classical Composers    10. Classical Music    11. Classical Period Variations for Keyboard    12. Ecosse/Ecossaise for Keyboard    13. Fantasy/Fantasia for Keyboard    14. Fugue for Keyboard    15. Keyboard    16. Keyboard Music    17. Ländler/German Dance for Keyboard    18. Minuet for Keyboard    19. Miscellaneous    20. Miscellaneous Chamber Music   

Reviews (1)

Great "lost" Beethoven...
Whether it's rock and roll, classical, jazz, or any type of music, I always find some of my favorite works in a composer's "B-side" stuff, items that aren't always the best known pieces in their repetoire.And that's what I've found here.So these are not even near "trifles."There's plenty of melody, drama, and humor--the same as in all of LVB's compositions.Read more

Subjects:  1. Chamber Music & Recitals    2. Character/Single-Movement/Miscellaneous Work for Keyboard    3. Classical    4. Classical Composers    5. Classical Music    6. Ecosse/Ecossaise for Keyboard    7. Fantasy/Fantasia for Keyboard    8. Fugue for Keyboard    9. Keyboard    10. Keyboard Music    11. Minuet for Keyboard    12. Miscellaneous    13. Miscellaneous Music    14. Orchestral    15. Polonaise for Keyboard    16. Prelude for Keyboard    17. Rondo for Keyboard    18. Unspecified Dance for Orchestra   

Subjects:  1. Allemand for Keyboard    2. Classical    3. Classical Composers    4. Classical Music    5. Fugue for Keyboard    6. Keyboard    7. Minuet for Keyboard    8. Prelude and Fugue for Keyboard    9. Prelude for Keyboard    10. Suite/Partita for Keyboard   

Reviews (1)

"Best of the rest"
This CD - the last in the Hewitt's cycle of solo keyboard works of Bach - is one in Hewitt's discography that doesn't get as much attention as some others but is an emmensely satisfying musical experience. Spanning decades of Bach's life, the selections on this CD are quite diverse and represent what Angela Hewitt calls, "The best of the rest" - referring to the remaining works of Bach she felt were significant to record ... but by no means "the bottom of the barrel." She saved some treasures for last which include here two grand fantasies/fugues, two choral preludes of simple beauty, a few suite- and tocatta-like pieces, one radiant sonata and the star of the recital for me, the magnificant Aria with variations in "the Italian style" (BWV989).
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Subjects:  1. Adagio for Keyboard    2. Baroque Sonata/Sonatina for Keyboard    3. Baroque Variations for Keyboard    4. Chamber Music & Recitals    5. Chorale Prelude or Chorale Treatment for Keyboard    6. Classical    7. Classical Composers    8. Fantasy/Fantasia for Keyboard    9. Fugue for Keyboard    10. Keyboard    11. Music for Organ    12. Suite/Partita for Keyboard   

Features

• Extra tracks
• Original recording remastered

Subjects:  1. Chamber Music & Recitals    2. Classical    3. Classical Artists    4. Classical Music    5. Fantasy/Fantasia for Keyboard    6. Fugue for Keyboard    7. Keyboard    8. Music for Organ    9. Prelude and Fugue for Keyboard    10. Prelude for Keyboard   

Reviews (4)

Durufl? by Latry
Attention: the recording of Olivier Latry mentioned below was NOT made in St-Ouen/Rouen, but at Durufl?s organ at St-Etienne-du-Mont/Paris. It could hardly be recommended because the organ was then in a very bad state (out-of-tune!). What a pity, because Latrys playing is brilliant. Moreover, Durufl? didn't consider his own instrument appropriate to his music. He preferred the one in Soisson Cathedral.

decent performance, bad sound
The performances on this disc are generally good but the engineering is muffled and distant. Even in a good room recording choral and organ music is extremely difficult to do well. The loud passages are quite loud and the quiet passages are hard to make out, especially with all the detailed passages Durufle liked to write. The Veni Creator performance threw me off a lot by having a men's choir intone each succeeding verse of the chant between variations. BIG SURPRISE, and not a pleasant one since I'd already noted how fuzzy and distant much of the recording sounded and how hard it was to make out the counterpoint. A much better engineered recording is the Todd Wilson recording where all the counterpoint comes through and the Veni Creator variations are heard as one seamless piece, more likely what Durufle wanted. The performances here aren't bad (except for the disruptive idea of the singing), they just deserved better engineering.

The wrong instrument !
This recording of the complete Organ Works of Maurice Durufl� isactuallyvery well performed , exspecially the Veni Creator Spiritus , where heworks with the choir , but unfortunatly the organ (a Gigantic Britishromantic organ ) is not compatible with Durufl�s quite romantic organpieces . Exspacially the Prelude and Fuge does not build up the way itcould , and the Toccata from the Suite just does not have the power as forexamle Bernard Leonardys recording from St.Eustache or Olivier Latrysrecording from St.Ouen , Rouen (this I must say is my favorite recording)has. Too bad he didn't choose a great Cavaill�-Coll Organ for this project. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. 20th/21st Century Variations for Keyboard    2. Chamber Music & Recitals    3. Choral    4. Classical    5. Classical Composers    6. Classical Music    7. Fugue for Keyboard    8. Keyboard    9. Prelude and Fugue for Keyboard    10. Prelude for Keyboard    11. Scherzo for Keyboard    12. Suite/Partita for Keyboard   

Reviews (1)

BRAHMSIAN ROADS LESS TRAVELED
Although never far afield of Bach, this complete collection of Brahms' works for organ still offers curious insight, with many of the pieces, especially the sorrowful Choral Prelude and Fugue on "O Traurigkeit, o Herzeleid" [c. 1858] and the intensively introspective Fugue in A flat minor [1864], reflecting the composer's penchant for autumnal ambience, pianistic lyricism and orchestral breadth. Admittedly, as even Brahms himself felt, these works are not representative. With this in mind, it's interesting to note that he allowed only the two compositions above to be published during his lifetime. Supplemental to this is the fact that the Preludes and Fugues in A minor [1856] and G minor [1857] and the diverse Chorale Preludes, Op. 122 [1896] were published posthumously, the former in 1927, the latter in 1902. But be this as it may, organist Rudolf Innig makes a good case for Brahms' few "organic" efforts. His playing on the Klais-Organ of St. Dionysius in Rheine is idiomatically warm, nostalgic and caressing. The sound, as well, fills the room with a burnished, heartfelt glow.Read more

Subjects:  1. Chamber Music & Recitals    2. Chorale Prelude or Chorale Treatment for Keyboard    3. Classical    4. Classical Composers    5. Fugue for Keyboard    6. Keyboard    7. Prelude and Fugue for Keyboard