Polonaises / Fantasie Impromptu

Chopin (Artist), Brailowsky (Artist) | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (August 19, 1991)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Sony
• ASIN: B0000027B5
• Also Available in: Audio Cassette
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #124,779 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)
  • #41 in Music > Classical > Ballets & Dances > Polonaises

Track Listings

1. Polonaises (2) for piano, Op. 26, CT. 150-151: Polonaise in C-sharp minor, Op. 26/1

2. Polonaises (2) for piano, Op. 26, CT. 150-151: Polonaise in E-flat minor, Op. 26/2

3. Polonaises (2) for piano, Op. 40, CT. 152-153: Polonaise in A major, Op. 40/1

4. Polonaises (2) for piano, Op. 40, CT. 152-153: Polonaise in C minor, Op. 40/2

5. Polonaise for piano No. 6 in A flat major ('Héroique'), Op. 53, CT. 155

6. Polonaise for piano No. 5 in F sharp minor, Op. 44, CT. 154

7. Polonaises (3) for piano, Op. 71, CT. 157-159: Polonaise in D minor, Op. 71/1

8. Polonaises (3) for piano, Op. 71, CT. 157-159: Polonaise in B-flat major, Op. 71/2

9. Polonaises (3) for piano, Op. 71, CT. 157-159: Polonaise in F minor, Op. 71/3

10. Polonaise for piano in G sharp minor, KK IVa/3, CT. 163 (B. 6)

11. Fantasy-Impromptu for piano in C sharp minor, Op. 66, CT. 46

12. Tarantelle for piano in A flat major, Op. 43, CT. 205

13. Berceuse for piano in D flat major, Op. 57, CT. 7

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

9 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Chopin Polonaises - Heroic Tone Poems, October 14, 2003

By 

Peter Dietrich (Boston, MA United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Polonaises / Fantasie Impromptu (Audio CD)

Chopin Polonaises - Heroic Tone Poems
By Peter Dietrich
President, Chopin Society of New England

The Polonaise originates from the sixteenth century, with the coronation of Henri of Valois as the King of Poland in 1574. From that time on, the polonaise became a regular feature of coronation festivities in Poland. In this monarchy, whose king was elected, as a president of a republic, it became an established custom to welcome a new ruler with a procession of nobles. It became a majestic display of beautiful costumes and precious jewels. Thus, the processional dance known as the Polonaise was born for such ceremonial occasions.
From Poland, the polonaise was "carried" to France and later to other European countries, where it attracted many great composers such as J.S. Bach, G.F. Handel, F. Couperin, W.A. Mozart, C.M. Weber, L. van Beethoven and many others. However, it was Fryderyk Chopin who elevated the polonaise to the highest form of art, which became a new form in composition - a heroic tone poem.
In Aleksander Brailowsky's performances, they become a monumental group of compositions, where irresistible dynamics and rich inventions are molded into perfect artistic expression, in spite of some of them being played a little bit too fast in sections where a slower tempo would be more suitable. In the Polonaise in C-minor, Op. 40, No. 2 for instance, in the middle section the tempo becomes extremely fast. Due to an excessive use of the sustaining pedal, the playing becomes unclear and loses the processional feeling and rhythm of the polonaise despite the great technical control.
The four juvenile polonaises are played with great feeling and musicianship, as well as the Fantasie Impromptu Op. 66, the Berceuse Op. 57 and the Tarantella Op. 43.
I am very puzzled by Sony Music and their action - from the Polonaise in D-minor, Op. 72 No. 1 more than one (1) minute of music is removed when compared to the same recording originally issued by Columbia on an LP in 1963. The omission of that much music spoils an excellent performance by Aleksander Brailowsky. This CD does not provide any information as to why this omission occurred.
Otherwise this CD is highly recommended, particularly at this low price.
Aleksander Brailowsky has also recorded the Chopin Preludes Op. 28 and the Concerto in E-minor, Op. 11 with the Philadelphia Orchestra under the direction of Eugene Ormandy in the early sixties for Columbia Masterworks. These are deeply felt performances and would be very profitable if Sony Music could be persuaded to release them and other recordings of Aleksander Brailowsky.
Other recordings of the polonaises of highest accord are that of Artur Rubinstein, (RCA/BMG), Witold Malcuzynski, (released on EMI/Angel) and Halina Czerny-Stefanska, (issued as part of the complete Chopin recording in 1960, Polish MUZA).

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Recorded 4 decades ago and still the best!, March 3, 2006

By 

Gloria Garrett "word geek" (Atlanta area, GA, USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Polonaises / Fantasie Impromptu (Audio CD)

This CD recording (in its original LP version) is one of the first records I ever owned as a teenager, alongside my Beatles and Peter, Paul, and Mary. I was thrilled to find it re-released and available at such a bargain price on Amazon.

Brailowsky's is still the definitive interpretation of these Chopin masterpieces. The spirit, emotionality, and technical excellence with which these polonnaises and other beloved Chopin piano works are rendered is irresistible. And at these prices, you can't possibly go wrong. Does he pound the piano? Oh, yes! I wouldn't have it any other way.

4 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Captures the Heart and Soul of the Polonaise, October 7, 1999

By A Customer

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Polonaises / Fantasie Impromptu (Audio CD)

This album was the first Chopin I heard over 35 years ago and I have loved it ever since. It brims with fire, poetry and zeal. There's a certain rightness about Brailowsky's performance that has always made these renditions of the Polonaise my personal favorites. I love the heart and soul he pours into each one.