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See Terms & Conditions for p&p rates. | |  | Chopin & Szymanowski: Mélodies
Chopin: | Zyczenie (The Maiden's Wish), Op. 74 No. 1 'Le souhait' Wiosna (Spring), Op. 74 No. 2 'Printemps' Moja pieszczotka (My Sweetheart), Op. 74 No. 12 'Ma mignonne' Smutna rzeka (The Sad River), Op. 74 No. 3 'La Rivière triste' Dwojaki koniec (The Double End), Op. 74 No. 11 'Double fin' Piosnka litewska (Lithuanian Song), Op. 74 No. 16 'Chanson lituanienne' Posel (The Messenger), Op. 74 No. 7 'Le messager' Wojak (The Warrior), Op. 74 No. 10 'Le soldat' Pierscien (The Ring), Op. 74 No. 14 'La bague' Hulanka (Merrymaking), Op. 74 No. 4 'Fête' Nie ma czego trzeba (I Want What I Have Not), Op. 74 No. 13 'Il manque l'essential' Narzeczony (The Bridegroom), Op. 74 No. 15 'Le fiancé' Czary (Charms), KK.IVa/11 'Sortilège' Sliczny chlopiec (Handsome Lad), Op. 74 No. 8 'Le beau garçon' Dumka (Reverie), KK.IVb/9 Spiew z mogilky (Leaves Are Falling), Op. 74 No. 17 'Les feuilles mortes' Melodia (Melody), Op. 74 No. 9 Gdzie lubi (What She Likes), Op. 74 No. 5 Precz z moich oczu (Out of My Sight!), op. 74 No. 6 | Szymanowski: | Dans l'abime d'une sombre lune Saint Francois parle Le doux parfum de tes cheveux Mon ame reve Des penombres du palais Ses cheveux s'emmelent |
Urszula Cuvellier (soprano) & Anne Le Bozec (piano) The Polish soprano Urszula Cuvellier has studied both singing and the violin. Since 2001, she has been a soloist in the Choeur Symphonique de Paris. Anne Bozek teaches vocal accompaniment at the Paris Conservatoire and regularly gives masterclasses in Europe and Asia. All tracks sung in French | | | Usually despatched in 2 - 3 working days. |
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| |  | Chopin - Songs
Chopin: | Zyczenie (The Maiden's Wish), Op. 74 No. 1 Gdzie lubi (What She Likes), Op. 74 No. 5 Posel (The Messenger), Op. 74 No. 7 Czary (Charms), KK.IVa/11 Precz z moich oczu (Out of My Sight!), op. 74 No. 6 Wojak (The Warrior), Op. 74 No. 10 Piosnka litewska (Lithuanian Song), Op. 74 No. 16 Smutna rzeka (The Sad River), Op. 74 No. 3 Narzeczony (The Bridegroom), Op. 74 No. 15 Spiew z mogilky (Leaves Are Falling), Op. 74 No. 17 Pierscien (The Ring), Op. 74 No. 14 Moja pieszczotka (My Sweetheart), Op. 74 No. 12 Wiosna (Spring), Op. 74 No. 2 Sliczny chlopiec (Handsome Lad), Op. 74 No. 8 Nie ma czego trzeba (I Want What I Have Not), Op. 74 No. 13 Dwojaki koniec (The Double End), Op. 74 No. 11 Bowed ‘neath their Crosses (Z. Krasinski) |
APPENDIX A Maiden’s Wish / Leányábránd (S. Witwicki) (No. 1 – Earlier version) Drinking Song (S. Witwicki) (No. 5 - Earlier version) Leaves are Falling (No. 11 – Reconstruction: Julian Fontana) Dumka (B. Zaleski) (No. 16 – Earlier version)
Alicja Wegorzewska-Whiskerd (mezzo soprano) & Alex Szilasi (piano) The lied and Chopin’s world are not as far removed from each other as one might think at first. The Romantic lied, bel canto and Chopin’s piano works are in fact different ‘dialects’ derived from the the same style or mindset. Likewise of a vocal origin, the nocturnes, the folk-like mazurkas and the other small forms rendered immortal by the “poet of the piano”, can be regarded as songs without words. The appeal of works with words lies in the fact that frequently they offer the key to the closed world of a composer – maybe not the whole one but at least a small corner of it. Although it would be in vain to seek in Chopin’s songs for cues to the contextual background of his mysterious instrumental works belonging to the category of absolute music, the some twenty pieces throw new light on his well-known piano works. | | | Usually despatched in 4 - 5 working days. |
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| |  | Ewa Podles & Garrick Ohlsson
Chopin: | Gdzie lubi (What She Likes), Op. 74 No. 5 Pierscien (The Ring), Op. 74 No. 14 Wojak (The Warrior), Op. 74 No. 10 Piosnka litewska (Lithuanian Song), Op. 74 No. 16 Sliczny chlopiec (Handsome Lad), Op. 74 No. 8 | Mussorgsky: | Songs and Dances of Death | Rachmaninov: | Christ is risen, Op.26 No. 6 How fleeting is delight in love, Op.14 No. 3 She is as beautiful as midday, Op.14 No. 9 Prokhodit vse, Op.26 No.15 encore | Szymanowski: | Masques (3), Op. 34 | Tchaikovsky: | Was I not a blade of grass?, Op. 47 No. 7 None but the lonely heart, Op. 6 No. 6 Pesn' Zemfiri (Zemfira's song) |
plus songs by Chopin, Rachmaninov & Tchaikovsky
“I want my singing to have drama, to send a message, sometimes people cry when they hear me-this is what's important. I want people to love me or hate me because of the emotion of my singing” Ewa Podles Wigmore Hall Live proudly presents an all-Russian and Polish recital by the enigmatic Ewa Podles, widely regarded as the world’s leading contralto and one of the true great singers of our time. Recorded live at Wigmore Hall on 23 January 2008, this release marked Ewa Podles´ return to the Wigmore Hall stage after an absence of sixteen years. With her unique, dramatic voice of staggering range, agility and amplitude, Ewa Podles gives the kind of towering performance that has come to be expected of an artist who has acquired cult status and a near-fanatical following within the operatic world. In addition to her rigorous operatic calendar, which notably includes her highly-publicised return this year to the Metropolitan Opera Stage after twenty-four years, Podles´ is one of the most acclaimed recital and concert performers in the world. Accompanying Podles´ is the distinguished Garrick Ohlsson, whose solo performance of Szymanowski’s Masques “was a mastery display of sustained and imaginative virtuosity, matching the singer’s” Opera Now “The Polish-born American singer Ewa Podles is something of a cult figure, a true contralto of a quality rare nowadays. …she makes 'None but the lonely heart' remarkably touching and unhackneyed, and is a fearsomely defiant gypsy in 'Zemfira's song' - no wonder the audience erupts. Altogether, a healthy reminder that power and passion still have their part in memorable Lieder performances.” BBC Music Magazine, April 2009 **** “What comes over loud and clear is Podles's astonishing, bronze-toned lower registers and her remarkable, if slightly grand manner, and powers of declamation. The centrepiece is an unnerving performance of Mussorgsky's Songs and Dances of Death, though the tracks you will want to return to are songs by Rachmaninov in orientalist mode, which she delivers in ways that are simply overpowering.” The Guardian, 13th March 2009 **** | | | Usually despatched in 3 - 4 working days. |
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| |  | Piano Virtuosos
Booklet Notes:Tracklisting in English, French, German. This recital by György Cziffra (1921-94) was made by the BBC in 1962-3 and should probably be re-classified as a class-A drug, so mind-blowing are the pianist's incredible gifts. The improvisation that opens the programme recalls the nights that he spent at the piano in bars in his native Budapest and is inspired in particular by Chopin's Gdzie lubi Op.74 No.5, which Cziffra paraphrases alla zingarese, before tackling the same composer's Étude in C major Op.10 No.1, which he plays at a vertiginous prestissimo. The programme builds to a thrilling climax with a highoctane performance of the Hungarian Rhapsody No.6 by Cziffra's favourite composer, Franz Liszt. Benno Moïseïwitsch (1890-1963) was famous for his impassivity at the piano even when the technical difficulties seemed insurmountable, encouraging observers to dub him "Pokerface Benno". His virtuosity and musicality were marvellously well suited to the Romantic and post-Romantic repertoire. He is heard here in works by Schumann and Rachmaninov. Moïseïwitsch was a good friend of Rachmaninov, who regarded him as one of the finest interpreters of his music. Like Cziffra, Jorge Bolet (1914-90) belonged to the Lisztian tradition, having had the privilege of working with Leopold Godowsky while he was still very young. Above all, however, his mentors included two of Liszt's most famous pupils, Moriz Rosenthal and Emil von Sauer. Capable of mastering even the most difficult scores, Bolet never sought virtuosity for its own sake alone, as is clear from his performances of Liszt's Grand galop chromatique, which contrasts sharply with Cziffra's reading of the same piece, and of Chopin's Berceuse. “Fuzzy filming from the 1950s and '60s, but a boggling feast of performances from three of the greatest piano virtuosos of the 20th century, crowned by those of Cziffra whose improvisation has to be heard to be believed.” BBC Music Magazine, November 2008 ***** “Cziffra's 1962 recital… opens with astonishing "warm-up", an improvisation that ends with a vertiginous Chopin C major Etude. After this, Moiseiwitsch seems to be from another age - economically, quietly singing his way through his beloved Schumann. Finally, the magisterial Jorge Bolet. How wonderful it is to see again that huge torso bent in concentration over the keyboard and the characteristic upward snap of the hands.” Gramophone Magazine, December 2008 | | | Usually despatched in 2 - 3 working days. |
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| |  | Song Recital
Chopin: | Piosnka litewska (Lithuanian Song), Op. 74 No. 16 Gdzie lubi (What She Likes), Op. 74 No. 5 Sliczny chlopiec (Handsome Lad), Op. 74 No. 8 Dumka (Reverie), KK.IVb/9 | Liszt: | O quand je dors (Hugo), S282 Enfant, si j'étais roi (Hugo), S283 | Mendelssohn: | Minnelied 'Wie der Quell so lieblich', Op. 47 No. 1 Frühlingslied 'Durch den Wald, den dunkeln', Op. 47 No. 3 Das erste Veilchen, Op. 19a No. 2 Auf Flügeln des Gesanges, Op. 34 No. 2 Neue Liebe, Op. 19a No. 4 Bei der Wiege, Op. 47 No. 6 | Schumann: | Frauenliebe und -leben, Op. 42 |
Bozena Harasimowicz (soprano), Olga Niecziporenko (piano) | | | Usually despatched in 4 - 5 working days. |
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| |  | The Very Best of Chopin
Chopin: | Polonaise No. 6 in A flat major, Op. 53 'Héroïque' Piotr Paleczny (piano) Scherzo No. 1 in B minor, Op. 20 Kevin Kenner (piano) Ballade No. 1 in G minor, Op. 23 Zbigniew Raubo (piano) Étude Op. 10 No. 3 in E major 'Tristesse' Tomasz Sikorski (piano) Étude Op. 10 No. 12 in C minor ‘Revolutionary' Jerzy Romaniuk (piano) Étude Op. 25 No. 1 in A flat major 'Aeolian Harp' Jerzy Romaniuk (piano) Impromptu No. 4 in C sharp minor, Op. 66 'Fantaisie-Impromptu' Kazimierz Gierzod (piano) Mazurka No. 44 in C major, Op. 67 No. 3 Kevin Kenner (piano) Mazurka No. 45 in A minor, Op. 67 No. 4 Kevin Kenner (piano) Mazurka No. 41 in C sharp minor, Op. 63 No. 3 Kazimierz Gierzod (piano) Berceuse in D flat major, Op. 57 Teresa Kaban (piano) Waltz No. 6 in D flat major, Op. 64 No. 1 'Minute Waltz' Zbigniew Raubo (piano) Waltz No. 7 in C sharp minor, Op. 64 No. 2 Zbigniew Raubo (piano) Prelude Op. 28 No. 19 in E flat major Edward Wolanin (piano) Prelude Op. 28 No. 20 in C minor Edward Wolanin (piano) Prelude Op. 28 No. 24 in D minor Edward Wolanin (piano) Nocturne No. 2 in E flat major, Op. 9 No. 2 Jerzy Romaniuk (piano) Nocturne No. 8 in D flat major, Op. 27 No. 2 Tatiana Szebanowa (piano) Zyczenie (The Maiden's Wish), Op. 74 No. 1 Teresa Zylis-Gara (soprano) Gdzie lubi (What She Likes), Op. 74 No. 5 Teresa Zylis-Gara (soprano) Piosnka litewska (Lithuanian Song), Op. 74 No. 16 Ewa Podles (contralto) Sliczny chlopiec (Handsome Lad), Op. 74 No. 8 Ewa Podles (contralto) Introduction, Theme and Variations on a Theme of Moore Waldemar Malicki, Tamara Granat (pianos) Piano Concerto No. 1 in E minor Op. 11: Romance Piotr Paleczny Prima Vista Quartet Krakowiak - Concert Rondo in F, Op. 14 Piotr Paleczny Prima Vista Quartet Allegro de Concert in A major Op. 46 Edward Wolanin National Chamber Orchestra of Slupsk Sinfonia Baltica, Bohdan Jarmolowicz Andante spianato & Grande Polonaise, Op. 22 Marek Drewnowski Warsaw National Philharmonic Orchestra, Wojciech Michniewski Prelude Op. 28 No. 4 in E minor (orchestral version) Polish Chamber Philharmonic, Wojciech Rajski |
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| |  | Ewa Podles & Garrick Ohlsson Live
Chopin: | Gdzie lubi (What She Likes), Op. 74 No. 5 Sliczny chlopiec (Handsome Lad), Op. 74 No. 8 Pierscien (The Ring), Op. 74 No. 14 Piosnka litewska (Lithuanian Song), Op. 74 No. 16 Moja pieszczotka (My Sweetheart), Op. 74 No. 12 | Mussorgsky: | Songs and Dances of Death | Rachmaninov: | Christ is risen, Op.26 No. 6 Prokhodit vse, Op.26 No.15 How fleeting is delight in love, Op.14 No. 3 She is as beautiful as midday, Op.14 No. 9 Spring torrents, Op. 14 No.11 In the silence of the secret night, Op. 4 No. 3 | Scriabin: | Étude Op. 2 No. 1 in C sharp minor 12 Etudes for piano, Op. 8 Étude Op. 42 No. 5 in C sharp minor Étude Op. 42 No. 8 in E flat major Three Etudes Op. 65 (1911/1912) |
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| |  | The Complete Chopin Edition
Chopin: | Piano Concerto No. 1 in E minor, Op. 11 Krystian Zimerman (piano) Polish Festival Orchestra Piano Concerto No. 2 in F minor, Op. 21 Krystian Zimerman (piano) Polish Festival Orchestra Variations on Mozart's 'La ci darem la mano' in B flat major, Op. 2 Claudio Arrau (piano) London Philharmonic Orchestra, Eliahu Inbal Fantasia in A major on Polish Airs, Op. 13 Claudio Arrau (piano) London Philharmonic Orchestra, Eliahu Inbal Krakowiak - Concert Rondo in F, Op. 14 Claudio Arrau (piano) London Philharmonic Orchestra, Eliahu Inbal Andante spianato & Grande Polonaise, Op. 22 Claudio Arrau (piano) London Philharmonic Orchestra, Eliahu Inbal Ballades Nos. 1-4 Krystian Zimerman (piano) Fantasia in F minor, Op. 49 Krystian Zimerman (piano) Etude No. 25 in F Minor Op. Posth Anatol Ugorski (piano) Etude No. 26 in A-flat major, Op. posthumous Anatol Ugorski (piano) Étude Op. 25 No. 8 in D flat major Anatol Ugorski (piano) Marche Funebre, Op. 72 No. 2 Anatol Ugorski (piano) Écossaises (3), Op. 72 No. 3 Anatol Ugorski (piano) Études (12), Op. 10 Maurizio Pollini (piano) Études (12), Op. 25 Maurizio Pollini (piano) Barcarolle in F sharp major, Op. 60 Maurizio Pollini (piano) Berceuse in D flat major, Op. 57 Maurizio Pollini (piano) Mazurkas Nos. 1-51 Vladimir Ashkenazy (piano) Mazurka in C major (1833) Vladimir Ashkenazy (piano) Mazurka No. 49 in F minor, Op. 68 No. 4 Revised version Vladimir Ashkenazy (piano) Nocturnes Nos. 1-21 (complete) Maria João Pires (piano) Andante spianato & Grande Polonaise, Op. 22 Martha Argerich (piano) Polonaises (16) Anatol Ugorski (piano) Two Bourrees B160B Anatol Ugorski (piano) Galop in A flat major 'Marquis', WN 59 Anatol Ugorski (piano) Albumblatt in E major Anatol Ugorski (piano) Cantabile in B Flat Major (Andantino) Anatol Ugorski (piano) Fugue in A minor Anatol Ugorski (piano) Largo in E flat major, BI 109 Anatol Ugorski (piano) Preludes (24), Op. 28 Rafal Blechacz (piano) Prelude Op. posth. in A flat major (No. 26) Rafal Blechacz (piano) Prelude Op. 45 in C sharp minor (No. 25) Rafal Blechacz (piano) Impromptus Nos. 1-4 Yundi Li (piano) Scherzi Nos. 1-4 Maurizio Pollini (piano) Rondo in C minor Op. 1 Lilya Zilberstein (piano) Rondo a la Mazurka, Op. 5 Lilya Zilberstein (piano) Rondo in E flat major, Op. 16 Mikhail Pletnev (piano) Rondo in C major for two pianos, Op. 73 Kurt Bauer, Heidi Bung (pianos) Piano Sonata No. 1 in C minor, Op. 4 Lilya Zilberstein (piano) Piano Sonata No. 2 in B flat minor, Op. 35 'Marche funèbre' Maurizio Pollini (piano) Piano Sonata No. 3 in B minor, Op. 58 Maurizio Pollini (piano) Introduction and Variations on a German National Air, Op. post. Vladimir Ashkenazy (piano) Variations in A - Souvenír de paganini Vladimir Ashkenazy (piano) Variations brilliantes in B flat major on 'Je Vends des Scapulaires', Op. 12 Vladimir Ashkenazy (piano) Introduction, Theme and Variations on a Theme of Moore Vladimir Ashkenazy, Vovka Ashkenazy (pianos) Hexaméron KKIIb/2 Vladimir Ashkenazy (piano) Allegro de Concert in A major Op. 46 Vladimir Ashkenazy (piano) Bolero, Op. 19 Vladimir Ashkenazy (piano) Tarantella in A flat major, Op. 43 Vladimir Ashkenazy (piano) Waltzes Nos. 1-19 Vladimir Ashkenazy (piano) Piano Trio in G minor Op. 8 Beaux Arts Trio Introduction and Polonaise Brillante in C, Op. 3 Mstislav Rostropovich (cello), Martha Argerich (piano) Grand Duo for Cello and Piano (on themes from Meyerbeer's Robert le Diable) Anner Bijlsma (cello), Lambert Orkis (piano) Cello Sonata in G minor, Op. 65 Mstislav Rostropovich (cello), Martha Argerich (piano) Zyczenie (The Maiden's Wish), Op. 74 No. 1 Elzbieta Szmytka (soprano), Martin Martineau (piano) Wiosna (Spring), Op. 74 No. 2 Elzbieta Szmytka (soprano), Martin Martineau (piano) Smutna rzeka (The Sad River), Op. 74 No. 3 Elzbieta Szmytka (soprano), Martin Martineau (piano) Hulanka (Merrymaking), Op. 74 No. 4 Elzbieta Szmytka (soprano), Martin Martineau (piano) Gdzie lubi (What She Likes), Op. 74 No. 5 Elzbieta Szmytka (soprano), Martin Martineau (piano) Precz z moich oczu (Out of My Sight!), op. 74 No. 6 Elzbieta Szmytka (soprano), Martin Martineau (piano) Posel (The Messenger), Op. 74 No. 7 Elzbieta Szmytka (soprano), Martin Martineau (piano) Sliczny chlopiec (Handsome Lad), Op. 74 No. 8 Elzbieta Szmytka (soprano), Martin Martineau (piano) Melodia (Melody), Op. 74 No. 9 Elzbieta Szmytka (soprano), Martin Martineau (piano) Wojak (The Warrior), Op. 74 No. 10 Elzbieta Szmytka (soprano), Martin Martineau (piano) Dwojaki koniec (The Double End), Op. 74 No. 11 Elzbieta Szmytka (soprano), Martin Martineau (piano) Moja pieszczotka (My Sweetheart), Op. 74 No. 12 Elzbieta Szmytka (soprano), Martin Martineau (piano) Nie ma czego trzeba (I Want What I Have Not), Op. 74 No. 13 Elzbieta Szmytka (soprano), Martin Martineau (piano) Pierscien (The Ring), Op. 74 No. 14 Elzbieta Szmytka (soprano), Martin Martineau (piano) Narzeczony (The Bridegroom), Op. 74 No. 15 Elzbieta Szmytka (soprano), Martin Martineau (piano) Piosnka litewska (Lithuanian Song), Op. 74 No. 16 Elzbieta Szmytka (soprano), Martin Martineau (piano) Spiew z mogilky (Leaves Are Falling), Op. 74 No. 17 Elzbieta Szmytka (soprano), Martin Martineau (piano) Czary (Charms), KK.IVa/11 Elzbieta Szmytka (soprano), Martin Martineau (piano) Dumka (Reverie), KK.IVb/9 Elzbieta Szmytka (soprano), Martin Martineau (piano) Mazurka No. 58 in A flat major Vladimir Ashkenazy (piano) Mazurka No. 53 in G major Vladimir Ashkenazy (piano) Mazurka No. 52 in B flat major Vladimir Ashkenazy (piano) Mazurka in D major (1820) Vladimir Ashkenazy (piano) Mazurka in D major (1832) Vladimir Ashkenazy (piano) |
A completely reworked version of the 1999 DG Edition, now split between DG and Decca recordings. 17 CDs, non-limited, in capbox. Pollini recordings backbone of collection (Etudes, Sonatas, Polonaises, Scherzos) New DG Highlights: Zimerman's Concertos, Blechacz's Preludes, Pires's Nocturnes New from Decca: Arrau - Piano Works with orchestra, Ashkenazy - Mazurkas and Waltzes. Available for the Chopin 200th anniversary in March 2010. “The quality, both of DG's chosen recordings and the set's general presentation, is just about as good as it gets. To have in one box such wonders as Zimmerman's Ballades, Pollini's Etudes, Pires's Nocturnes, Ashkenazy's Mazurkas and Waltzes, and the Cello Sonata incandescently performed by Rostropovich and Argerich is a treat indeed and could scarcely by bettered. The Concertos are Zimmerman's second recording. ...it is gorgeously romantic, with every string slide cherished and each note turned like wrought gold. This is a set to treasure...” BBC Music Magazine, February 2010 ***** | | | (Sorry, download not available in your country) | Usually despatched in 2 - 3 working days. |
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