Chopin: Piano Sonata No. 2 in B flat minor, Op. 35 'Marche funèbre'

A Liszt recital on Sony Classical last year was Khatia Buniatishvili’s critically acclaimed debut as a recording artist. After the great recognition of this first album, she is now following this up with an album that encompasses five works by Frédéric Chopin. This album marks her debut concerto recording with orchestra.

Khatia Buniatishvili has been described by The Independent as “the young Georgian firebrand”. At the age of only 24 years, this Tblisi-born pianist has already achieved an exceptional maturity of interpretation and a distinctive artistic approach that make her playing unmistakable.

In the current season she is the “rising star” in Vienna at the Musikverein and Konzerthaus, is giving recitals in Berlin, Vienna, Amsterdam and Paris, as well as at the Wigmore Hall, is a guest at the festivals in Schwetzingen, Lucerne and Verbier and is making her first appearances with the Munich Philharmonic and the San Francisco Symphony.

The reissue of a wonderful Chopin recital by Russian/Greek pianist Katia Skanavi, which received an Editor’s Choice in Gramophone. A prizewinner of the Marguerite Long and Van Cliburn Competitions Skanavi set on an international career, bringing her to all continents, and playing with the orchestras of Cincinnati, Dallas, Indianapolis and San Francisco. She plays with Gidon Kremer and Yuri Bashmet, and recorded several highly acclaimed CD’s for the Lyrinx label. Her playing is highly personal, intuitive, passionate and tender, a true artist!

Two releases on Deutsche Grammophon will be devoted to Chopin: a solo recital recorded in Warsaw, with deeply-felt Waltzes, a Polonaise, a Fantasia, a Nocturne and the B flat minor Sonata, as well as Chopin’s two piano concertos, accompanied by the Staatskapelle Berlin under Andris Nelsons, captured live at the Ruhr Piano Festival in July 2010.

YUNDI - Live In Beijing, a spectacular concert in the extraordinary new venue of the National Centre of the Performing Arts in Beijing. Here he gives a live recital, recorded for EMI Classics, of works by Chopin, including his great Sonata no.2. His encores are Chinese works which have been incredibly popular in his recitals around the world.

Yundi is famed throughout his homeland since his win in the Chopin Competition in Warsaw in 2000, where he was the first Chinese pianist to win the competition, as well as the youngest ever winner.

The first live performance available commercially globally from Beijing’s latest performing arts venue

A unique live recording of one of the great young Chopin pianists, performed in his homeland where he is a superstar. This recording will capture the energy and thrill of a very special live performance in a sensational new venue.

Since the competition that catapulted Yundi onto the international stage, his recitals and appearances with orchestras in Europe, Asia and the United States have been hailed by critics extolling his precise, crystalline technique, keyboard fluidity and boundless enthusiasm. His personality and artistry appeal to audiences of all ages and he is an icon in his native China, where he has inspired millions of young people, who refer to him as the "Prince of the Piano."

Hélène Tysman has the ability to take the listener’s hand, at the outset of a Prélude or of a Sonata movement, and to lead and hold your attention until the very last bar, due to the outstanding range of colours she conjures up. She studied at the Paris Conservatory and has performed with many orchestras including the BBC National Orchestra of Wales.

Canada’s “First Lady of Chopin” has embarked on an incredible year of recitals, orchestral concerts and master-classes and will be performing at the Cadogan Hall and Fairfield Hall in May. Her previous Chopin recital CD on ATMA (ACD22597) has received excellent reviews.

Idealised by romantic myth, Frédéric Chopin is one of the most celebrated composers in history. This virtuoso pianist devoted his whole output to his instrument and developed a unique style which made him “an extraordinary artist” (Berlioz). Here the musicians of harmonia mundi present some of his most famous pieces, a glimpse of the inner world of this genius who “made use of art solely to fulfil his own tragic destiny” (Liszt).