-
Subscribe to our weekly newsletter to learn about free downloads, special deals, and new releases.
|
MP3 Songs
Previous
Play all
Next
Play all samples
MP3
Paused
Loading......
Unavailable
Loading......
Volume slider
Mute/Unmute
To view this content, download Flash player (version 9.0.0 or higher)
Sold by Amazon Digital Services, Inc.. Additional taxes may apply. By placing your order, you agree to our Terms of Use.
Special Offers and Product Promotions
Product Details
|
Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
69 of 69 people found the following review helpful
Format:MP3 Download
This collection is a nice sampler of Chopin works at a bargain price. Chopin's distinction among classical composers is his laser-like focus on the piano. As a result, the overwhelming majority of the tracks -- 92 out of 99 -- are for solo piano.
As with most of these collections on the X5 label produced for Amazon, the players are very good, but not the most famous names. Abbey Simon is a well-recognized piano virtuoso and offers great performances here. Peter Schmalfuss was a German pianist who never caught on with major labels, but whose Chopin recordings get great reviews. Dubravka Tomsic is a respected piano professor in Slovenia. Ketevan Badridze made her name as a Georgian pianist, and now is faculty member at Indiana University. The mazurkas here are performed by Charles Lilamand, who I am not familiar with, but the performances are enjoyable. The playing here seems solid all around.
I am particularly happy that both of Chopin's piano concertos are offered in their entirety. Most of Chopin's solo piano works are single-movement, so "chopping them up" isn't an issue as with some of the other "99 Most Essential" collections. But even the two piano sonatas included here are left intact, in fine performances by Abbey Simon.
If there is anything missing, I would say it is chamber works. Chopin didn't write many, but it would have been nice to have one or two of his pieces for piano and cello, for example.
Overall, this collection gets a "Bravo!" It is a fine sampler, far from complete but a good start indeed for anyone who likes solo piano and wants to explore Chopin.
As with most of these collections on the X5 label produced for Amazon, the players are very good, but not the most famous names. Abbey Simon is a well-recognized piano virtuoso and offers great performances here. Peter Schmalfuss was a German pianist who never caught on with major labels, but whose Chopin recordings get great reviews. Dubravka Tomsic is a respected piano professor in Slovenia. Ketevan Badridze made her name as a Georgian pianist, and now is faculty member at Indiana University. The mazurkas here are performed by Charles Lilamand, who I am not familiar with, but the performances are enjoyable. The playing here seems solid all around.
I am particularly happy that both of Chopin's piano concertos are offered in their entirety. Most of Chopin's solo piano works are single-movement, so "chopping them up" isn't an issue as with some of the other "99 Most Essential" collections. But even the two piano sonatas included here are left intact, in fine performances by Abbey Simon.
If there is anything missing, I would say it is chamber works. Chopin didn't write many, but it would have been nice to have one or two of his pieces for piano and cello, for example.
Overall, this collection gets a "Bravo!" It is a fine sampler, far from complete but a good start indeed for anyone who likes solo piano and wants to explore Chopin.
17 of 17 people found the following review helpful
Format:MP3 Download|Amazon Verified Purchase
CONTENTS
Nocturnes Opp. 9, 15, 27, 32, 37, 48, 55 No. 1, 72 No. 1, Op. Post in C minor
(Omits Op. 55 No. 2, Op. 62, & Op. Post in C-sharp minor)
Piano Concertos Nos. 1 & 2 (complete)
Preludes Nos. 3, 4, 7, 14, 15, & 18
Fantasie in F Minor, Op. 49
Waltzes Opp. 18, 34 Nos. 1 & 2, 42, 64 Nos. 1 & 2, 69, 70, Op Post in E major
(Omits Op. 34 No. 3, Op. 64 No. 3, Op. Post in A-flat; in E minor; in A minor; in E-flat; in E-flat)
Etudes Op. 10 Nos. 3 & 12, Op. 25 No. 12
Impromptus Nos. 1-3; Fantasie-Impromptu (complete)
Mazurkas Opp. 6 No. 2, 7, 17, 33, 41, 56 No. 2, 59, 63, 68
(Omits Op. 6 Nos. 1, 3 & 4, 24, 30, 56 Nos. 1 & 3, 67, Op. Post in B flat; in G; (in D;) in D; in B-flat; in C; in A-flat)
Polonaises Op. 26 No. 1, Op. 40 No. 1, Op. 53 "Heroic"
Scherzos Nos. 1-4 (complete)
Piano Sonatas Nos. 2 & 3
Berceuse in D-flat major, Op. 57
Barcarolle in F-sharp minor, Op. 60
Ballades Nos. 1-3 (Omits No. 4)
Andante Spianato et Grand Polonaise Brillante in E-flat major
REVIEW
The performances of the waltzes are full of life and very enjoyable.
Mazurkas tend to be *very* bouncy, which is a matter of taste. (Op. 68 No. 2 in A minor is taken slower than I have ever heard it; it has a bizarre appeal to it.)
The sound is never less than adequate, though there is a slight edge on the piano sound at times. (Many of these recordings come from the Vox Catalogue, unless I'm much deceived, which explains such a sound -- a bit too bright.) This is an enjoyable collection of Chopin recordings which I shall enjoy greatly. The entire collection burns cleanly onto 7 CDs, most of them very well-filled.
CD 1 - 15 Nocturnes
CD 2 - 2 Nocturnes; Berceuse, Barcarolle, Ballades, Andante Spianato et Grand Polonaise Brillante
CD 3 - Preludes, Waltzes, & Etudes
CD 4 - Mazurkas
CD 5 - Impromptus, Polonaises, Scherzos
CD 6 - Piano Sonatas Nos. 2 & 3
CD 7 - Piano Concertos Nos. 1 & 2
Nocturnes Opp. 9, 15, 27, 32, 37, 48, 55 No. 1, 72 No. 1, Op. Post in C minor
(Omits Op. 55 No. 2, Op. 62, & Op. Post in C-sharp minor)
Piano Concertos Nos. 1 & 2 (complete)
Preludes Nos. 3, 4, 7, 14, 15, & 18
Fantasie in F Minor, Op. 49
Waltzes Opp. 18, 34 Nos. 1 & 2, 42, 64 Nos. 1 & 2, 69, 70, Op Post in E major
(Omits Op. 34 No. 3, Op. 64 No. 3, Op. Post in A-flat; in E minor; in A minor; in E-flat; in E-flat)
Etudes Op. 10 Nos. 3 & 12, Op. 25 No. 12
Impromptus Nos. 1-3; Fantasie-Impromptu (complete)
Mazurkas Opp. 6 No. 2, 7, 17, 33, 41, 56 No. 2, 59, 63, 68
(Omits Op. 6 Nos. 1, 3 & 4, 24, 30, 56 Nos. 1 & 3, 67, Op. Post in B flat; in G; (in D;) in D; in B-flat; in C; in A-flat)
Polonaises Op. 26 No. 1, Op. 40 No. 1, Op. 53 "Heroic"
Scherzos Nos. 1-4 (complete)
Piano Sonatas Nos. 2 & 3
Berceuse in D-flat major, Op. 57
Barcarolle in F-sharp minor, Op. 60
Ballades Nos. 1-3 (Omits No. 4)
Andante Spianato et Grand Polonaise Brillante in E-flat major
REVIEW
The performances of the waltzes are full of life and very enjoyable.
Mazurkas tend to be *very* bouncy, which is a matter of taste. (Op. 68 No. 2 in A minor is taken slower than I have ever heard it; it has a bizarre appeal to it.)
The sound is never less than adequate, though there is a slight edge on the piano sound at times. (Many of these recordings come from the Vox Catalogue, unless I'm much deceived, which explains such a sound -- a bit too bright.) This is an enjoyable collection of Chopin recordings which I shall enjoy greatly. The entire collection burns cleanly onto 7 CDs, most of them very well-filled.
CD 1 - 15 Nocturnes
CD 2 - 2 Nocturnes; Berceuse, Barcarolle, Ballades, Andante Spianato et Grand Polonaise Brillante
CD 3 - Preludes, Waltzes, & Etudes
CD 4 - Mazurkas
CD 5 - Impromptus, Polonaises, Scherzos
CD 6 - Piano Sonatas Nos. 2 & 3
CD 7 - Piano Concertos Nos. 1 & 2
10 of 10 people found the following review helpful
Format:MP3 Download|Amazon Verified Purchase
I have been listening to Chopin's music, on and off, for 50 years; and I have some idea how certain compositions should sound like. In academic world, a 90% grade average is considered excellent. However, in music, if you hear a sour note once in a while, which is the case here, it kind of makes you wince. The volume level is frequently inconsistent, and the quality of recording is not well balanced. It is still a good value for the money, for the purpose of getting acquainted with Chopin's music.
If you want to hear the Chopin's music played right, consider the following performers: Adam Harasiewicz, Vladimir Ashkenazy, Stanislav Bunin, Ivo Pogorelich, Martha Agerich, Maurizio Pollini, Halina Czerny-Stefanska, Krzysztof Jablonski. They are all former winners of the Chopin Music Contest, which is held in Poland every 5 years.
You may have to pay a little more for their recordings, but at least you won't have to wince.
If you want to hear the Chopin's music played right, consider the following performers: Adam Harasiewicz, Vladimir Ashkenazy, Stanislav Bunin, Ivo Pogorelich, Martha Agerich, Maurizio Pollini, Halina Czerny-Stefanska, Krzysztof Jablonski. They are all former winners of the Chopin Music Contest, which is held in Poland every 5 years.
You may have to pay a little more for their recordings, but at least you won't have to wince.
Most Recent Customer Reviews
Inexpensive and Expansive.
This is a good deal especially for 99 tracks, and it does include some of my favorite pieces by Chopin. Read more
Published 14 months ago by Hammew
Chopin's Solo Piano Reminds Me of Romance
While traveling, I caught a concert in a church. Chopin's delicate "Nocturnes" highlighted the evening, drawing not only me, but Nancy. She sat near the front, on the right. Read more
Published 15 months ago by Brockeim
My playlist for the next year
I love these "99-greatest" collections. My biggest peeve with them is they don't list the composers (when they are a sampling of eras of music or styles or instruments) but not a... Read more
Published 16 months ago by PamA
You can hear background noise
Maybe I'm just a stickler but there's some sort of repeated noise in the background that I find very distracting. Read more
Published 19 months ago by Richard Bates
A Superb Offering
This is a great offering for those who want to get familiar with Chopin's music. But even for "seasoned" listeners such as myself, this will offer hours of very enjoyable music... Read more
Published 20 months ago by Scirel
Very relaxing & a great value
If you're looking at this you likely know who Chopin is & whether or not you like his works; so I won't get too deep into the music itself. Read more
Published 20 months ago by VortextuaL
Great value, good quality
Of course any time you can get 99 songs by one of the greatest composers ever for just $5 it's a great deal! Read more
Published 22 months ago by Paul Andrews
Great addition to my 'The 99 Most...' collection
This is a great compilation of Chopin. I am collecting Amazon's "The 99 Most something" and I was glad I could get Chopin especially at such a great price.
Published on April 28, 2010 by APF
Lots and lots of Chopin!
Nearly 8 hours of music, for a bargain price. What's not to like? The performances are solid, the recordings are good. Read more
Published on April 12, 2010 by Sonoma's Davey
Beautiful
Beautiful music, beautifully performed at a wonderful price.
What a magnificent opportunity to experience classical music you may not have heard before. Read more
What a magnificent opportunity to experience classical music you may not have heard before. Read more
Published on March 31, 2010 by Happy Pappy
Customer Discussions
|
This product's forum
Active discussions in related forums
Search Customer Discussions
|
Related forums
|
What Other Items Do Customers Buy After Viewing This Item?
Look for Similar Items by Category
