Chopin: Polonaise brilliante; Cello Sonata; Piano Trio

Frederic Chopin (Composer), Emanuel Ax (Performer), Ewa Osinska (Performer) | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Performer: Emanuel Ax, Ewa Osinska
• Composer: Frederic Chopin
• Audio CD (September 20, 1994)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Sony
• ASIN: B0000028U6
• In-Print Editions: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #30,247 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)
  • #9 in Music > Classical > Ballets & Dances > Polonaises
  • #95 in Music > Classical > Instruments > Strings > Cello

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

18 of 18 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Chamber music from Chopin?, January 17, 2007

By 

Alan Lekan (Boulder, CO) - See all my reviews
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Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Chopin: Polonaise brilliante; Cello Sonata; Piano Trio (Audio CD)

Most composers of the 19th century wrote music for the many genres: symphony, concerto, chamber, songs, opera, church and solo piano. Yet, Chopin is known almost exclusively for solo piano as the vast majority of his compostions were for the piano exclusively. Maybe one shouldn't be critical of this fact as the dozens of compositions he crafted are among the most timeless, faultless and deeply satisfying musical utterances we have.

The pieces on this CD are just about all the chamber output of Chopin. Given his preference for the salon versus large concert hall, you would think Chopin would have written more. But, as in nearly every composition he wrote, these pieces are equisitely crafted and are well worth any Chopin or chamber music lover.

Also hard to critique are the three superlative musicians here performing. Yo Yo Ma's cello is always a delight to behold and finds the right romantic flavors in these pieces. He is well teamed with Emaunel Ax - a pianist not known for great pyro-technics or List-like flair but just good-old, solid, satisfying, poised Chopin pianism. Last, violinist Pamela Frank is a master of her craft and always turns in lovely, thoughtful and deeply wrought performances. The balance of the three is ideal and blend harmoniously to illuminate these marvelous pieces - which are not very widely know but should be more. The final Polonaise Brilliante for piano by Eva Osinska is an extra treat to behold with an interesting history explained in the liner notes.

The Sony sound quality is quite good with nothing to fault. A great disc to listen to often. Compositions - 4 stars; Performance - 5 stars; Sound - 5 stars.

28 of 31 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Wow., November 10, 2002

By A Customer

This review is from: Chopin: Polonaise brilliante; Cello Sonata; Piano Trio (Audio CD)

It would be difficult to imagine having to live without ever hearing this piece. It's really too bad that the Chopin trio does not receive the recognition it deserves. It is an original, whimsical...truly magical piece. Each movement is unique and profoundly beautiful - as one would expect from Chopin.

Buy this CD! Or at least find some other way to hear this masterpiece! Don't let it go unappreciated any longer!

7 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars a b s o l u t e l y a MUST have, November 20, 2008

By 

P. van Brederode "sumrivs" (Europe Netherlands) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Chopin: Polonaise brilliante; Cello Sonata; Piano Trio (Audio CD)

I've been searching the web (ptp) and stores for this and it is really the absolute most beautifull performance one can find, the balance in play, volume between these instruments is more then perfect, you can clearly hear every single detail Chopin wrote. The cd also contains the piano solo version of the Polonaise brillante in C Major op. 3 performed by Eva Osinka and that one is breathtaking too. Its an hommage to this genius composer Chopin he deserves.