Chopin: The Complete Works [Box Set] [Box set, Import]

Frederic Chopin (Composer), Kazimierz Kord (Conductor), Warsaw Philharmonic Chamber Orchestra (Orchestra), Garrick Ohlsson (Performer) | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Performer: Garrick Ohlsson
• Orchestra: Warsaw Philharmonic Chamber Orchestra
• Conductor: Kazimierz Kord
• Composer: Frederic Chopin
• Audio CD (November 11, 2008)
• Number of Discs: 16
• Format: Box set, Import
• Note on Boxed Sets: During shipping, discs in boxed sets occasionally become dislodged without damage. Please examine and play these discs. If you are not completely satisfied, we'll refund or replace your purchase.
• Label: Hyperion UK
• ASIN: B001F4YGUA
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (9 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #12,821 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)
  • #9 in Music > Classical > Forms & Genres > Etudes
  • #11 in Music > Classical > Forms & Genres > Ballads
  • #17 in Music > Miscellaneous > Exercise

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

79 of 85 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Was There Ever a One Complete Box Set to Have--THIS IS IT!, November 11, 2008

By 

C. Pontus T. (SE/Asia) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Chopin: The Complete Works [Box Set] (Audio CD)

Being a proud owner of the complete original Arabesque Recordings incarnations, I don't really have any intention of buying this box--other than as a safe copy for my safe deposit box--or a possible freeze down. The reasons?: (1) Chopin is the greatest piano composer the world has seen; (2) Garrick Ohlsson is the greatest Chopin interpreter in the stereo era; (3) this is one of the most valuable complete composer cycles ever, notwithstanding the fact that the closest competition is limited--Biret being about as complete (save the chamber works and songs) but still uncompetitive on all accounts, the DG and Brilliant Classics complete cycles being spread over various good and less good pianists, Ashkenazy and Magaloff including the solo piano works only, and Rubinstein, Francois and Arrau being collections rather than complete surveys.

To make a rather long story short, Chopin's piano music has been my great musical love since 12 years of age. I did play a fair proportion of it during my teenage years; I've been listening to it, thinking of it, humming it, studying it and in every single aspect of the word cherishing it ever since.

I must try to be moderate, considering the scope and guidelines of this review format, though awfully difficult it is: I have never heard Chopin's piano music played with such beauty, naturalness, command and total perfection! Mr Ohlsson is obviously born with some kind of unique sense of how Chopin's music is to be realised. Superficially considering some of his tempos, rubatos and dynamics, they may appear a trifle self-confident or exaggerated; however, hearing them in their context, they always sound perfectly natural, motivated and infinitely beautiful--or, in short, perfect if there ever was any such thing in music interpretation.

Furthermore, the recorded piano sound is one of the most beautiful ever attained. Those lovely Bösendorfer Grands often sound metallic and harsh on record--e.g. in Biret's Chopin and Brahms series on Naxos or Kocsis's Bartok series on Philips (even if considerably better than the former); in Arabesque's reproduction, however, the instrument's inherent beauty is a true source of wonder. (Indeed, the concertante works were recorded on a Steinway, whereas the Mazurkas, Songs and Chamber Works were recorded on a Mason & Hamlin, especially rebuilt in 1994 by William Schneider for Mr Ohlsson.)

Is it possible to capture the boundless beauty of Chopin's music in squared box of less than a square foot? Sounds not very likely, does it? Take my word for it, whatever it may be worth--there is no conceivable way of coming closer than this little box set.

This comparatively brief overall review is supplemented by detailed reviews of each individual volume of the series, juxtaposed with interesting rival versions, respectively. Next up are the Ballades, last two Rondos, Scherzos and Variations of the 3rd and 4th volumes. We're all first and foremost heavily indebted to Arabesque Recordings for realising this epoch-making record project, but also to Hyperion Records for making it available again to a greater audience and at bargain price (do check out amazon.co.uk, or some dedicated British mail order dealers!).

Here is the complete list, indicating that the Preludes, Polonaises & Impromptus, Masterpieces & Miniatures and Etudes are five-star instalments, whereas the Nocturnes and Mazurkas extend beyond any conventional measures--dessert island stuff, very much so indeed:
1st Volume (Garrick Ohlsson - The Complete Chopin Piano Works Vol. 1 ~ Sonatas) ****(+)
2nd Volume (Garrick Ohlsson: The Complete Chopin Piano Works Vol. 2 - Preludes) *****(-)
3rd Volume (Garrick Ohlsson - The Complete Chopin Piano Works Vol. 3 - Ballades) ****(+)
4th Volume (Garrick Ohlsson - The Complete Chopin Piano Works Vol. 4 ~ Scherzi & Variations) ****(-)
5th Volume (Garrick Ohlsson - The Complete Chopin Piano Works Vol. 5 ~ Polonaises & Impromptus) *****(-)
6th Volume (Garrick Ohlsson - The Complete Chopin Piano Works Vol. 6 ~ Nocturnes) *****(+)
7th Volume (Garrick Ohlsson - The Complete Chopin Piano Works Vol. 7 ~ Waltzes) ****
8th Volume (Garrick Ohlsson - The Complete Chopin Piano Works Vol. 8 ~ Masterpieces & Miniatures) *****
9th Volume (Garrick Ohlsson - The Complete Chopin Piano Works Vol. 9 ~ The Orchestral Works) ***(+)
10th Volume (Garrick Ohlsson: The Complete Chopin Piano Works Vol. 10 - Etudes) *****
11th Volume (Garrick Ohlsson: The Complete Chopin Piano Works Vol. 11 - Mazurkas) *****(+)
12th Volume (Garrick Ohlsson: The Complete Chopin Piano Works, Vol. 12 - Songs) ****
13th Volume (Chopin: Complete Piano Works Vol 13 - Chamber Works) ****(+)

NB: In case of emergency--save your family, dogs, wallet...and this box!

30 of 32 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Masterful performances, even if the cerebral-styled Chopin not quite your cup of tea, December 28, 2009

By 

Abel "AMY" (Hong Kong) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Chopin: The Complete Works [Box Set] (Audio CD)

In the wake of the coming of the 'Chopin year', one is always tempted to hunt for Chopin recordings.
As the Chinese saying goes, Garrick Ohlsson's comnplete Chopin Works box set is a 'single statement' (yi jia zhi yan) on the composer's output, and should by no means be ignored.
after listening to most of the 16 discs in the set by now, I would add that this set could not be ignored by (1) piano music lovers; and (2) Chopin followers.
Ohlsson's Chopin isn't everybody's cup of tea. His approach to Chopin is what I'd term 'cerebral'. That is not to say that he is 'cold' or 'mechancial'; rather, his approach is never flowery or melodramatic, nor 'soft' or 'willowy'. For the Parisians, Ohlsson's Chopoin may be a trifle too 'basic'. For 'salon Chopin' lovers, Ohlsson's can be too 'rural'. However,Ohlsson's interpretations are nonetheless convincing - he goes right back to the compositions' basics - the harmonics, the rhythms, and not just the melodic lines.
One is awe-stricken by his Mazurkas, with the lilt of the rural dances so vividly brought out as NO other pianist ever did.
His two concerti prove beyond a doubt that Ohlsson is rightly called 'the contemproary king of piano concerti', with over 70 concerti in his performance repertoire. The No. 2 concerto is the best ever, probably even so if compared with another great interpretor of this piece Dang Thai Son.
Another highly impressive reading lies in the 3 sonatas. Ohlsson has absolutely no problem with the technical aspects. That leaves one totally free to enjoy his interpretation. He is never wilful in these works. One would almost say that his playing is exactly what the composer would want of those works.
As a pianist of great technical prowess, Ohlsson's scherzi, ballades and Polonaises leave no room for technical reservations. Even if the Polonaises are not as rhytmically brilliant as his Mazurkas, they are totally sterling performances, approached with with much novelty.
Ohlsson's Chopin 'dances' show that he is not a 'Parisian' like DANG, nor 'Latin' like Pollini and Argerich, but he is very much near to the Polish soul - the direct, spontaneous and crisp approach, shorn of any flowery flipperies (like LI) or any wilful fancies (like Pogorelich).
The set was played on different Pianofortes. The choice must have been deliberate, but I for one would prefer a uniform choice of instrument.
Even so, if you wish to explore Chopin in more depth and from a more scriptural perspective, Ohlsson's set has plenty to offer.
Strongly recommended (those in my city who has purchased this set would not disagree).

38 of 43 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars CAN IT GET ANY BETTER THAN THIS!!, November 24, 2008

By 

Ryan Kouroukis "In 1882 Richard Wagner said: ... - See all my reviews

This review is from: Chopin: The Complete Works [Box Set] (Audio CD)

I am immediately enthralled and mezmerized by Mr. Ohlsson playing and interpretations. He ranks up there with the greats, Cortot, Rubinstein, Pollini, Ashkenazy, Moravec and Arrau. Even surpassing some of them! Plus the sound the engineers gave his piano is bloomingly warm, full, spacious, and detailed!

The thing about this set is it contains absolutely everything Chopin wrote, complete on 16 full cd's in slip cases in a hard glossy cardboard box.

All of the styles of music, and each type of piano style are given their own category on the discs which keeps them organized and the liner notes are excellent...they review each of Chopin's composition and has a 2 page writeup by Mr. Ohlsson on playing Chopin and on the making of these recordings.

I would have never imagnined a Chopin cycle so commanding and authoritative, not to mention consistent in playing and sound quality!

**GARRICK OHLSSON'S NOW BECOMES THE NEW GOLD STANDARD IN CHOPIN PLAYING AND IN CHOPIN RECORDED OUVRE!**