Chopin: The Complete Etudes

Frederic Chopin (Composer), Earl Wild (Performer) | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Performer: Earl Wild
• Composer: Frederic Chopin
• Audio CD (September 5, 1992)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Chesky Records
• ASIN: B000003GDP
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #263,241 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

1. Twelve Etudes, Op. 10: No. 1 In C Major, Op. 10, Allegro

2. Twelve Etudes, Op. 10: No. 2 In A Minor, Op. 10, Allegro

3. Twelve Etudes, Op. 10: No. 3 In E Major, Op. 10, Lento, ma non troppo

4. Twelve Etudes, Op. 10: No. 4 In C-Sharp Minor, Op. 10, Presto

5. Twelve Etudes, Op. 10: No. 5 In G-Flat Major, Op. 10, Vivace

6. Twelve Etudes, Op. 10: No. 6 In E-Flat Minor, Op. 10, Andante

7. Twelve Etudes, Op. 10: No. 7 In C Major, Op. 10, Vivace

8. Twelve Etudes, Op. 10: No. 8 In F Major, Op. 10, Allegro

9. Twelve Etudes, Op. 10: No. 9 In F Minor, Op. 10, Allegro, molto agitato

10. Twelve Etudes, Op. 10: No. 10 In A-Flat Major, Op. 10, Vivace assai

11. Twelve Etudes, Op. 10: No. 11 In E-Flat Major, Op. 10, Allegretto

12. Twelve Etudes, Op. 10: No. 12 In C Minor, Op. 10, Allegro con fuoco

13. Twelve Etudes, Op. 25: No. 1 In A-flat Major, Op. 25, Allegro sostenuto

14. Twelve Etudes, Op. 25: No. 2 In F Minor, Op. 25, Presto

15. Twelve Etudes, Op. 25: No. 3 In F Major, Op. 25, Allegro

16. Twelve Etudes, Op. 25: No. 4 In A Minor, Op. 25, Agitato

17. Twelve Etudes, Op. 25: No. 5 In E Minor, Op. 25, Vivace

18. Twelve Etudes, Op. 25: No. 6 In G-sharp Minor, Op. 25, Allegro

19. Twelve Etudes, Op. 25: No. 7 In C-Sharp Minor, Op. 25, Lento

20. Twelve Etudes, Op. 25: No. 8 In D-Flat Major, Op. 25, Vivace

See all 27 tracks on this disc

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

25 of 26 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars WILD ABOUT WILD (AGAIN!!!), January 23, 2003

By 

Melvyn M. Sobel "Melvyn M. Sobel" (Freeport, New York) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Chopin: The Complete Etudes (Audio CD)

When I first heard Mr. Wild's interpretation of the complete Chopin Etudes, I wasn't immediately reminded of any other pianist. Cornerstone artists of this repertoire--- Pollini, Ashkenazy, Arrau, and a multitude of new names, such as Ohlsson (whose own performance on Arabesque I reviewed here 12 December 2001), Gavrilov, Berezovsky and Lugansky, all of whom I've lent an ear--- never entered my mind.

Why? It's simple, I suppose. Rather than astound us by the strength of his virtuosity, by slapdash bravado incurred merely to impress, or by exerting the forefront of his persona, instead of allowing the music to reveal itself, Mr. Wild impresses completely by his lack of artifice, his utter sensitivity, and his uniquely distinctive approach. By no means is there a want of passion or fire; afterall, Earl Wild is still Earl Wild. However, and this is the key issue, the reason Mr. Wild's Chopin keeps us unfailingly mesmerized is the endless and absolute poetry of his glowing performance.

Every etude impresses; every etude leaves an emotional mark; every etude, in Mr. Wild's hands, sounds newly-written, whether dreamy or impulsive, steeped in the deepest musical understanding and conception, the most penetrating awareness and clarity.

Yes, certain liberties are taken by Wild, but never at the expense of the music; in fact, the idiosyncrasies make the etudes all the more intriguing, all the more compelling. One can only speculate on how all these "facets" of Chopin's marvelously inventive miniatures escaped our noticing.... until now. This is Mr. Wild's "magic." And, in his case, would that it were so for us all--- with age has come a great, wondrous wisdom, generously shared.

[Running time: 66:15]

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Sparkling Set of Chopin Etudes by Earl Wild!, August 26, 2008

By 

James Yelvington "Professor" (USA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Chopin: The Complete Etudes (Audio CD)

First let me make clear that I'm reviewing the 24-bit remastered issue of this CD, and not this original 1992 recording, which I have not heard. Still, I hope my comments will prove helpful to those considering this recording.

The venerable piano virtuoso Earl Wild continues to challenge commonsense notions about aging as he keeps on delivering excellent performances of major works, such as those embodied in this new remastering of the 1992 recording of all 27 of Chopin's études (Op. 10, Op. 25, and the three later études). Playing a favored Baldwin concert grand piano in Fernleaf Abbey located in his home town of Columbus, Ohio, he made the original 20-bit digital recordings over a period of just five days. The sound is lively, resonant, and spatially well-imaged, with clear details and sensuous tone quality. Since I've not had access to the original 1992 recording, I cannot say how this 24-bit remastered disk (Ivory Classics 76003) compares with it, but it seems likely--on technical grounds, at least--to be a significant improvement.

Mr. Wild was 77 when he made this recording, but his technique appears to have been more than adequate to the task. His articulation of rapid passages is neat, clean, and even, with enough pedal to yield smoothness, but not so much as to blur details. His greatest contribution here, though, is in the poetry and musicality of his interpretations. He captures the musical essence of these fine miniatures--the shortest is less than one minute and the longest hardly more than five--and conveys it delightfully. This is perhaps the most enjoyable recording of the études available!

Chopin's études remind me somewhat of Bach's Well-Tempered Clavier, with its 24 preludes and fugues touching all major and minor keys. Chopin, however, while working in the majority of keys, does not attempt to include every one. Notable omissions are D major and minor, G major and minor, B-flat major and minor, as well as F-sharp minor, A major, and B major. Perhaps his favorite keys for the études are A-flat major, F minor, and A minor, each of which gets three. (Note that this doesn't prove an overall key preference among Chopin's works, which include several important works in keys omitted from the études.)

As a sometime wannabe pianist, I've attempted three or four of these works, with results I'd rather not discuss. Still, that limited exposure to the scores has embued me with admiration for the works, as well as for those who successfully perform them. These études are treasured monuments of the piano literature!

The liner notes include an excellent discussion of the études by James E. Frazier, and a good summary of Mr. Wild's long and outstanding career to date.

Congratulations are due to Mr. Wild for this five-star contribution to the recorded piano literature!

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Extraordinary musician, July 27, 2007

By 

G. Sand - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Chopin: The Complete Etudes (Audio CD)

My husband is the Chopinophile so with some trepidation I selected this particular CD of the etudes, hoping that it would meet the mark. Well, my husband is thoroughly enjoying this great recording and Mr Wild's fantastic ability to showcase the etudes. We have no hesitation to buy whatever Earl Wild produces. He is wonderful!