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See Terms & Conditions for p&p rates. | |  | Chopin: Best Loved Piano
The life and career of Frédéric Chopin (“a man of noble ideas”, according to Debussy) have been much written about, and have given rise to numerous legends and exaggerated stories. The hackneyed clichés of the fragile and ailing artist, of the worldly seducer, and the unfortunate circumstances of his break-up with George Sand are all too well known to need re-telling here. Heinrich Heine said of Chopin that he was “the kindest, the most reserved and the most modest of men of genius”. The composer himself was notably reticent, but summed up his own complex personality with the words: “On the outside I am cheerful, but inside I am in turmoil.” In addition to its staggering virtuosity, Chopin’s music is pervaded by an indefinable sadness that combines suffering, sensuousness and melancholy – characteristics that may owe something to his exile from his native Poland, which he left in 1830, never to return. The Nocturnes and some of the Preludes – several of which acquired sub-titles that the composer detested – give off a mysterious aura of poetry and comtemplation. “What emotions he was able to embody in music! And what passionate and melancholy reveries he liked to indulge in!” Berlioz recalled. Whatever sentiment is expressed in the music of Chopin, sensuousness remains one of the dominant elements of his aesthetic palette and of a musical style that was completely new and inimitable. | | | In stock - usually despatched within 1 working day. |
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| |  | The Very Best of Chopin
Chopin: | Impromptu No. 4 in C sharp minor, Op. 66 'Fantaisie-Impromptu' Nocturne No. 21 in C minor, BI 108 Waltz No. 6 in D flat major, Op. 64 No. 1 'Minute Waltz' Barcarolle in F sharp major, Op. 60 Nocturne No. 5 in F sharp major, Op. 15 No. 2 Scherzo No. 2 in B flat minor, Op. 31 Piano Sonata No. 2 in B flat minor, Op. 35 'Marche funèbre': 3rd movement (Funeral March) Mazurka No. 10 in B flat major, Op. 17 No. 1 Étude Op. 10 No. 6 in E flat minor 'Lacrimosa' Étude Op. 25 No. 10 in B minor Piano Sonata No. 3 in B minor, Op. 58 (Finale) Mazurka No. 19 in B minor, Op. 30 No. 2 Étude Op. 10 No. 3 in E major 'Tristesse' Polonaise No. 6 in A flat major, Op. 53 'Héroïque' Waltz No. 1 in E flat major 'Grande Valse Brillante', Op. 18 Waltz No. 3 in A minor 'Grande Valse Brillante', Op. 34 No. 2 Andante spianato & Grande Polonaise, Op. 22 Nocturne No. 13 in C minor, Op. 48 No. 1 Étude Op. 25 No. 12 in C minor Piano Concerto No. 2 in F minor, Op. 21: II. Larghetto Waltz No. 9 in A flat major, Op. 69 No. 1 'Farewell Waltz' Ballade No. 4 in F minor, Op. 52 Mazurka No. 13 in A minor, Op. 17 No. 4 Étude Op. 25 No. 11 in A minor 'Winter Wind' Prelude Op. 28 No. 4 in E minor Prelude Op. 28 No. 7 in A major Prelude Op. 28 No. 15 in D flat major ‘Raindrop' Prelude Op. 28 No. 24 in D minor |
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| |  | Bullets & Lullabies
“It's proper classical music, but in an overwhelmingly accessible package that screams mass market youth appeal...Balakirev's arrangement of the "Romanza" from Chopin's E minor Piano Concerto is a high point, playing to Rhodes' talents for making a melodic line sing, and for deftly defined ornamentation.” Charlotte Gardner, bbc.co.uk, 12th December 2010 “James Rhodes is forging his own way in the classical world and breaking rules like the most stylish, gifted and daredevil boy in class...[he] plays with reckless high-wire energy, expression and panache.” The Observer, 26th December 2010 “James Rhodes' populist charm is given free rein in the sleevenotes to this double CD of contrasting approaches to the piano, with plenty of winking references to chemical stimulation.” The Independent, 7th January 2011 **** “In the end, this pianist is a night-bird, most persuasive in the blue-mauve moods of Rachmaninov, Debussy and Chopin.” The Independent on Sunday, 16th January 2011 “'Clair de Lune' emerges beautifully, and the Brahms intermezzo has noble grace. Only three stars on the conventional scale, then, but for Quixotic heroism he gets the full five.” BBC Music Magazine, March 2011 *** “Despite the 'cool yoof' market presentation, this is a delightfully old-fashioned recital...[Rhodes] is an engaging communicator who bucks trends and aims high.” Classic FM Magazine, April 2011 **** | | | Usually despatched in 4 - 5 working days. |
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| |  | The Art of Lang Lang
“The world’s most successful pianist.” Die Welt, November 2006 | | | Usually despatched in 2 - 3 working days. |
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| |  | Casadesus: First Family of the PianoA Documentary on Robert, Gaby & Jean Casadesus.
Bach, J S: | Concerto for Three Keyboards in D minor, BWV1063: Allegro Robert, Gaby & Jean Casadesus (pianos) Bell Telephone Hour Orchestra, Donald Voorhees | Beethoven: | Piano Sonata No. 23 in F minor, Op. 57 'Appassionata', 3rd movement Robert Casadesus (piano) | Casadesus, R: | Concerto for three pianos & string orchestra: third movement Robert, Gaby & Jean Casadesus (pianos) Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra, William Steinberg | Chopin: | Piano Sonata No. 3 in B minor, Op. 58 (Finale) Robert Casadesus (piano) | Debussy: | Préludes - Book 2: No. 12, Feux d’artifice Jean Casadesus (piano) | Saint-Saëns: | Piano Concerto No. 2 in G minor, Op. 22: Presto Jean Casadesus (piano) Bell Telephone Hour Orchestra, Donald Voorhees |
This documentary chronicles a true musical family dynasty. Though Robert Casadesus had the most visible career as a performing and recording artist, his wife, Gaby, and son, Jean, were fine musicians in their own right and frequently concertized independently. In “First Family of the Piano,” narrated by Jean, we meet the Casadesus family as performers and as devoted family members. Bonus features include performances by Robert, Jean and Gaby from the Bell Telephone Hour archives. Format: Colour, DVD-Video, PAL Language English Region: Region 2 Aspect Ratio: 1.33:1 Number of discs: 1 Classification: Exempt DVD Release Date: 19 July 2004 Running Time: 90 minutes | | | Usually despatched in 4 - 5 working days. |
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