The album "The Piano Works Klavierwerke Oeuvres Pour Piano" by Chopin, performed by Vladimir Ashkenazy, is a beautiful tribute to the legendary composer. The album features some of Chopin's most beloved pieces, including his famous Nocturnes, Études, and Preludes.
Ashkenazy's performance is masterful, capturing the emotion and depth of Chopin's music with every note. His technical skill is evident in the intricate finger work required for pieces such as the Études, but he also brings a delicate touch to the slower, more melodic pieces.
The sound quality of the recording is excellent, with a warm and rich tone that perfectly complements the piano's natural resonance. The album is a must-have for any fan of Chopin's music, and Ashkenazy's interpretation is a worthy addition to any collection.
Recorded in London, 1974-1984 at the following locations: All Saints' Church, Petersham; Kingsway Hall; London Opera Centre; Rosslyn Hill Unitarian Chapel; St. John's, Smith Square; St. George the Martyr; St Barnabus' Church
13 CDs, each with a plain paper clear-view front sleeve, all inside a hinged box; includes a 24-page booklet, notes in English and full track listing.
Made in the EU
Recorded in London 1974-1984
Barcodes
Barcode: 7 1779-46404-2 7
SPARS Code: DDD/ADD
Barcode: 028944373820
About Chopin, Vladimir Ashkenazy
Born: 1810-03-01 (Duchy of Warsaw) at present Żelazowa Wola, Poland.
Died: 1849-10-17 (Paris, France).
Fryderyk Franciszek Chopin (1 March 1810 17 October 1849) was a Polish composer and virtuoso pianist of the Romantic era who wrote primarily for solo piano. He has maintained worldwide renown as a leading musician of his era, one whose "poetic genius was based on a professional technique that was without equal in his generation."
Chopin was born in the Duchy of Warsaw in a small town called Żelazowa Wola (eng. Steel Will), within months of his birth the Chopin family moved to Warsaw the capital of the Duchy, where Fryderyk grew up and learned to play; in 1815 the Duchy became the Kingdom of Poland. A child prodigy, he completed his musical education and composed his earlier works in Warsaw before leaving Poland at the age of 20, less than a month before the outbreak of the November 1830 Uprising. At the age of 21, he settled in Paris. Thereafterin the last 18 years of his lifehe gave only 30 public performances, preferring the more intimate atmosphere of the salon. He supported himself by selling his compositions and by giving piano lessons, for which he was in high demand. Chopin formed a friendship with Franz Liszt and was admired by many of his other musical contemporaries (including Robert Schumann). In 1835, when Chopin obtained French citizenship he became . After a failed engagement to Maria Wodzińska from 1836 to 1837, he maintained an often troubled relationship with the French writer Amantine Dupin (known by her pen name, George Sand). A brief and unhappy visit to Majorca with Sand in 183839 would prove one of his most productive periods of composition. In his final years, he was supported financially by his admirer Jane Stirling, who also arranged for him to visit Scotland in 1848. For most of his life, Chopin was in poor health. He died in Paris in 1849 at the age of 39, probably of pericarditis aggravated by tuberculosis.
All of Chopin's compositions include the piano. Most are for solo piano, though he also wrote two piano concertos, a few chamber pieces, and some 19 songs set to Polish lyrics. His piano writing was technically demanding and expanded the limits of the instrument: his own performances were noted for their nuance and sensitivity. Chopin invented the concept of the instrumental ballade. His major piano works also include mazurkas, waltzes, nocturnes, polonaises, études, impromptus, scherzos, preludes and sonatas, some published only posthumously. Among the influences on his style of composition were Polish folk music, the classical tradition of J.S. Bach, Mozart, and Schubert, and the atmosphere of the Paris salons of which he was a frequent guest. His innovations in style, harmony, and musical form, and his association of music with nationalism, were influential throughout and after the late Romantic period.
Chopin's music, his status as one of music's earliest superstars, his (indirect) association with political insurrection, his high-profile love-life, and his early death have made him a leading symbol of the Romantic era. His works remain popular, and he has been the subject of numerous films and biographies of varying historical fidelity.
"The Piano Works Klavierwerke Oeuvres Pour Piano" is a stunning album that showcases Chopin's genius and Ashkenazy's incredible talent. It is a true pleasure to listen to and will undoubtedly be enjoyed for years to come.