Chopin: Polonaises (selection), Andante spianato & Grande polonaise brilliante

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Here, in all their glory, are Rubinstein's 1934-5 recordings of Chopin's six mature Polonaises framed by examples of his early and late genius (Opp 22 and 61 respectively). Together with his... — Gramophone Classical Music Guide, 2010 More…

Catalogue No: 8110661
Label: Naxos
Series: Historical, Great Pianists
Length: 64 minutes

Usually despatched in 3 - 4 working days

Chopin: Andante spianato - (Tranquillo)

Work length4:35

$1.00

$1.30

Arthur Rubinstein
Recorded: 7-8 February 1935
Recording Venue: HMV Studio No. 3, Abbey Road, London

Chopin: Andante spianato & Grande Polonaise, Op. 22

Work length9:13

$2.00

$2.60

Arthur Rubinstein
Recorded: 7-8 February 1935
Recording Venue: HMV Studio No. 3, Abbey Road, London

Grande polonaise brillante in E-Flat Major - (Allegro molto - Meno mosso)

Track length9:13

$2.00

$2.60

Excerpt, Chopin: Polonaises (2), Op. 26

Work length6:58

$1.00

$1.30

Arthur Rubinstein
Recorded: 6 February 1935
Recording Venue: HMV Studio No. 3, Abbey Road, London

Polonaise No. 1 in C-Sharp Minor, Op. 26, No. 1

Track length6:58

$1.00

$1.30

Chopin: Polonaise No. 2 in E flat minor, Op. 26 No. 2

Work length7:08

$2.00

$2.60

Arthur Rubinstein
Recorded: 6 February 1935
Recording Venue: HMV Studio No. 3, Abbey Road, London

Excerpt, Chopin: Polonaises (2), Op. 40

Work length3:39

$1.00

$1.30

Arthur Rubinstein
Recorded: 5 December 1934
Recording Venue: HMV Studio No. 3, Abbey Road, London

Polonaise No. 3 in A Major, Op. 40, No. 1, "Military"

Track length3:39

$1.00

$1.30

Chopin: Polonaise No. 4 in C minor, Op. 40, No. 2

Work length4:53

$1.00

$1.30

Arthur Rubinstein
Recorded: 6 December 1934
Recording Venue: HMV Studio No. 3, Abbey Road, London

Chopin: Polonaise No. 5 in F sharp minor, Op. 44

Work length9:29

$2.00

$2.60

Arthur Rubinstein
Recorded: 29 January 1935
Recording Venue: HMV Studio No. 3, Abbey Road, London

Polonaise No. 5 in F-Sharp Major, Op. 44

Track length9:29

$2.00

$2.60

Chopin: Polonaise No. 6 in A flat major, Op. 53 'Héroïque'

Work length6:19

$1.00

$1.30

Arthur Rubinstein
Recorded: 2 February 1935
Recording Venue: HMV Studio No. 3, Abbey Road, London

Chopin: Polonaise No. 7 in A flat major, Op. 61 'Polonaise-fantaisie'

Work length11:55

$3.00

$3.85

Arthur Rubinstein
Recorded: 5 December 1934
Recording Venue: HMV Studio No. 3, Abbey Road, London

Polonaise No. 7 in A-Flat Major, Op. 61, "Polonaise-Fantaisie" (Live)

Track length11:55

$3.00

$3.85

Reviews
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Reviews

2010

Here, in all their glory, are Rubinstein's 1934-5 recordings of Chopin's six mature Polonaises framed by examples of his early and late genius (Opp 22 and 61 respectively). Together with his early discs of the Mazurkas, Scherzos and Nocturnes, these performances remain classics of an unassailable calibre, their richness and character increased rather than diminished by the passage of time.
For Schumann, the Polonaises were 'canons buried in flowers' and whether epic or confiding, stark or florid their national and personal fervour is realised to perfection by Rubinstein. Listen to the Andante spianato from Op 22 and you'll hear a matchless cantabile, a tribute to a bel canto so often at the heart of Chopin's elusive and heroic genius.
Try the central meno mosso from the First Polonaise and witness an imaginative freedom that can make all possible rivals sound stiff and ungainly by comparison. The colours of the A major Polonaise are unfurled with a rare sense of its ceremonial nature, and the darker, indeed tragic, character of its sombre C minor companion is no less surely caught. The two 'big' Polonaises, Opp 44 and 53, are offered with a fearless bravura (you can almost hear the audience's uproar after Rubinstein's thunderous conclusion to the latter), rhythmic impetus and idiomatic command beyond criticism.
The simple truth is that Rubinstein played the piano as a fish swims in water, free to phrase and inflect with a magic peculiarly his own, to make, in Liszt's words, 'emotion speak, weep and sing and sigh'. The sound may seem dated but Naxos's transfers are excellent, and to think that all this is offered at a bargain price…

Chopin: Polonaises (selection), Andante spianato & Grande polonaise brilliante

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