A five-part biography to celebrate the life of Chopin, whose invention and innovation had an indelible effect on the world of Romantic music and the piano. Chopin (1810-49) embraces the most serene of nocturnes to a breakneck waltz lasting but a minute. “As a seven-year-old,” Bill says, “Chopin could not only play the piano beautifully, he composed very well,” and offers a polonaise to confirm. Bill drops in a recording of Rachmaninoff playing a waltz Chopin wrote at just 19. Bill takes to the piano to illustrate not only the beauty but also the ingenious techniques that, he says, “make the entire piano sing.”
Chopin, Frédéric (1810-1849)
Black and White picture of an old piano
Playlist
Episode 1
Chopin, Frédéric: Etude No. 12 in C minor, Op. 10 “Revolutionary”
Maurizio Pollini, piano
Chopin: Études, Préludes, Polonaises
DG 413794
:46 (excerpt)
Chopin, Frédéric: Contredanse in G-flat Major
Garrick Ohlsson, piano
Chopin The Complete Works
Arabesque 6686
:25 (excerpt)
Chopin, Frédéric: Mazurka No. 47 in A Major, Op. 68
Garrick Ohlsson, piano
Complete Mazurkas Vol.1
Arabesque 6730
00:20; 00:34 (excerpts)
Chopin, Frédéric: Etude No. 2 in A minor, Op. 10
Garrick Ohlsson, piano
The Complete Works
Hyperion 44351
:37 (excerpt)
Chopin, Frédéric: Polonaise In G Minor, Op. Posth.
Garrick Ohlsson, piano
Chopin: The Complete Piano Works, Vol. 5 – Polonaises & Impromptus
Arabesque 6642
3:34
Bach: Suite No. 2 in B Minor, BWV 1067 “Polonaise “
Academy of St. Martin in the Fields/Marriner; Bennett, flute
Trio – Bach: Brandenburg Concertos
Philips 470934
:22 (excerpt)
Chopin, Frédéric: Polonaise In G Sharp Minor, Op. Posth.
Garrick Ohlsson, piano
Chopin: The Complete Piano Works, Vol. 5 – Polonaises & Impromptus
Arabesque 6642
6:50; :32 (excerpt)
Chopin, Frédéric: Introduction and Variations On A German Air
“Der Schweizer Bub” In E Major, Op. Posth.
Garrick Ohlsson, piano
The Complete Works
Hyperon 44351
2:11 (excerpt)
Chopin, Frédéric: Rondo in C Minor, Op. 1
Frederic Chiu, piano
Chopin: Études (12), Op. 10
Harmonia Mundi 907201
2:09
Szymanowska, Maria: Prelude No. 1 in F Major, Vivace
Anna Ciborowska, piano
Piano Works
Dux 450
:36 (excerpt)
Szymanowska, Maria: Mazurka No.12 in B Flat Major
Anna Ciborowska, piano
Piano Works
Dux 450
1:01 (excerpt)
Chopin, Frédéric: Mazurka No. 47 in A Minor, Op. 68/2
Arthur Rubinstein, piano
The Five Beethoven Piano Concertos
RCA 5614
2:49
Chopin, Frédéric: Variations on “Là ci darem la mano” from Mozart’s Don Giovanni
Slovak State Philharmonic/Stankovsky; Biret, piano
Chopin: Complete Piano Music
Naxos 8501501
18:15
Chopin, Frédéric: Polonaise No. 8 in D minor, Op. 71/1, “Adieu”
Garrick Ohlsson, piano
Chopin: The Complete Piano Works, Vol. 5 – Polonaises & Impromptus
Arabesque 6642
5:58
Chopin, Frédéric: Introduction and Variations On A German Air
“Der Schweizer Bub” In E Major, Op. Posth (excerpts)
Garrick Ohlsson, piano
The Complete Works
Hyperon 44351
1:20
Chopin, Frédéric: Rondo in C minor, Op. 1
Frederic Chiu, piano
Chopin: Études (12), Op. 10
Harmonia Mundi 907201
0:57 (excerpt)
Episode 2
Chopin, Frédéric: Waltz No. 10 in B minor, Op. 69/2
Sergei Rachmaninoff, piano
Sergei Rachmaninoff: The Complete Recordings
RCA 61265
3:01
Chopin, Frédéric: Piano Trio in G Minor, Op. 8, I. IV.
Ax, piano; Frank, violin; Ma, violoncello
Chopin: Piano Trio
Sony 53112
14:36
Chopin, Frédéric: “The Wish” Op. 74, No. 1, “The Spring” Op. 74, No. 2
Elisabeth Söderström, soprano; Vladimir Ashkenazy, piano
Chopin Songs-Melodies-Lieder Op. 74
London 414 204
1:28; 2:21
Chopin, Frédéric: Piano Concerto No. 2 in F minor, Op. 21, II.
Philadelphia Orchestra/Ormandy; Rubinstein, piano
Piano Concerto No.2, Fantasia On Polish Airs, Andante Spianato et Grande Polonaise
RCA 60404
9:14
Chopin, Frédéric: Piano Concerto No. 2 in F minor, Op. 21, III.
Orchestra of The Age of Enlightenment/Mackerras; Ax, piano
Chopin: Concerto For Piano No 2
Sony 63371
8:10; 0:22 (excerpt)
Chopin, Frédéric: Fantasia on Polish Airs, Op. 13
Philadelphia Orchestra/Ormandy; Rubinstein, piano
Piano Concerto No.2, Fantasia On Polish Airs, Andante Spianato et Grande Polonaise
RCA 60404
12:41
Chopin, Frédéric: Etude No. 2 in A minor, Op. 10/2
Frederic Chiu, piano
Chopin: Études (12), Op. 10
Harmonia Mundi 907201
1:03 (excerpt)
Episode 3
Chopin, Frédéric: Prelude No.10 in C-sharp minor, Op. 28/10
Martha Argerich, piano
Début Recital / Martha Argerich
Phillips 456703
:25
Chopin, Frédéric: Piano Concerto No. 1 in E minor, Op. 11, II.
Philharmonia Orchestra/Kletzki; Maurizio Pollini, piano
Chopin: Piano Concerto No 1
EMI 67549
10:13
Chopin, Frédéric: Piano Concerto No. 1 in E minor, Op. 11, III.
LSO/Abbado; Martha Argerich, piano
Piano Concerto No.1 / Piano Concerto No.1
DG 449719
0:39; 2:30 (excerpts)
Chopin, Frédéric: Krakowiak, Op. 14 (excerpt)
Polish Radio National Symphony Orchestra/Kord; Garrick Ohlsson, piano
The Complete Works
Hyperion 44351
1:38
Chopin, Frédéric: Scherzo No.1 in B minor, Op. 20
Ivan Moravec, piano
Fryderyk Chopin: Scherzi, Etudes, Mazurkas
Dorian 90140
10:12; :24 (excerpts)
Chopin, Frédéric: “The Warrior” – Op. 74, No. 10
Skaluba, tenor; Malicki, piano
Polish Songs – Moniuszko, Chopin
Dux 527
2:00
Chopin, Frédéric: Variations for Piano in A Major, B. 37 “Souvenir De Paganini”
Daniel Barenboim, piano
Chopin: Preludes
EMI 85453
4:26
Bellini: La Sonnambula, “Ah, non credea mirarti”
Orchestra La Scintilla/Adam Fischer; Bartoli, mezzo soprano
Maria
London/ Decca 4759077
1:20 (excerpt)
Field, John: Nocturne No. 4 in A
John O’Conor, piano
15 Nocturnes
Telarc 80199
:36 (excerpt)
Chopin, Frédéric: Nocturne No. 19 in E minor, Op. 72/1
Garrick Ohlsson, piano
Chopin The Complete Works
Arabesque 6653
4:44; :32 (excerpts)
Chopin, Frédéric: Ballade No. 1 in G Minor, Op. 23
Alfred Cortot, piano
Alfred Cortot – The Master Classes
Sony 89698
8:37
Chopin, Frédéric: Prelude No. 11 in B Major, Op. 28/11
Martha Argerich, piano
The Originals Vol. II
DG 463663
:33
Chopin, Frédéric: Etude No. 9 in G-flat Major, Op. 25/9 “Butterfly”
Nelson Freire, piano
Chopin: Piano Sonata No 3, Études Op 25
Decca 470288
1:20
Episode 4
Chopin, Frédéric: Nocturne in D-flat Major, Op. 27/2
Charles Rosen, piano
Collected Piano Music Of Chopin
Musicmasters 67154
5:05
Chopin, Frédéric: Nocturne in D-flat Major, Op. 27/2
Charles Rosen, piano
Collected Piano Music Of Chopin
Musicmasters 67154
:34
Chopin, Frédéric: Etudes, Op. 10: Nos. 2, 3, and 4
Frederic Chiu, piano
Chopin: Études (12), Op. 10
Harmonia Mundi 907201
8:00
Chopin, Frédéric: Polish Songs, Op. 74
“Śliczny chłopiec” (Handsome Lad)
Elly Ameling, soprano; Jansen, piano
On The Wings Of Song / Elly Ameling, Rudolf Jansen
Philips 422333
2:44
Chopin, Frédéric: Nocturne No. 9 in B Major, Op. 32/1
Arthur Rubinstein, piano
The Chopin Collection: The Nocturnes
RCA 5613
4:41
Chopin, Frédéric: Etude No. 12 in C minor, Op. 10/12 “Revolutionary”
Pollini, piano
The Originals
DG 413794
2:38
Chopin, Frédéric: Op. 74, No. 3
“The Sad River” (excerpt)
Söderstrom, mezzo soprano; Ashkenazy, piano
Chopin Songs-Melodies-Lieder Op. 74
Lon 414204
2:07
Chopin, Frédéric: Impromptu No. 4 in C-sharp minor, Op. 66
“Fantaisie-Impromptu”
Arthur Rubinstein, piano
The Chopin Collection: Impromptus, Barcarolle, Nouvelles Etudes,
Bolero, Berceuse, Tarentelle, Andante Spianato And Grande Polonaise
RCA 5617
5:15
Chopin, Frédéric: Preludes Op. 28
Prelude No. 14 in E-flat minor
Prelude No. 15 in D-flat Major, “Raindrop”
Prelude No.16 in B-flat minor
Martha Argerich, piano
Chopin: 24 Preludes Op 28, Prelude Op 45
DG 415836
6:20
Chopin, Frédéric: Barcarolle in F-sharp, Op. 60
Krystian Zimerman, piano
Chopin: 4 Balladen
DG 423090
8:54
Chopin, Frédéric: Prelude No. 3 in G Major, Op. 23
Martha Argerich, piano
Chopin: 24 Preludes Op 28, Prelude Op 45
DG 415836
1:30
Episode 5
Chopin, Frédéric: Piano Sonata No. 3 in B Minor, Op. 58, III.
Nelson Friere, piano
Chopin: Piano Sonata No 3, Études Op 25
Decca 470288
7:32
Chopin, Frédéric: Cello Sonata in G Minor, Op. 65, IV.
Yo-Yo Ma, violoncello; Emanuel Ax, piano
Chopin: Piano Trio
Sony 53112
6:13
Chopin, Frédéric: Polonaise No. 3 in A, Op. 40/1 “Military”
Vladimir Horowitz, piano
Horowitz Vol Vii – Early Romantics
Sony 53468
4:50
Chopin, Frédéric: Polonaise-Fantaisie in A-flat Major, Op. 61
Maria Joao Pires, piano
Maria João Pires – The Voice of Late Chopin
DG 4777483
13:58
Chopin, Frédéric: Berceuse in D-flat, Op. 57
Evgeny Kissin, piano
Four Ballads, Berceuse, Barcarolle, Scherzo
RCA 63259
4:34
Chopin, Frédéric: Waltz No. 12 in F minor, Op. 70/2
Waltz No. 14 in E minor, CT 222
Waltz No. 9 in A-flat Major, Op. 69/1 “L’Adieu”
Dinu Lipatti, piano
Complete Chopin Edition
EMI 62820
6:43
Chopin, Frédéric: Piano Sonata No. 2, II.
Sergei Rachmaninoff, piano
Rachmaninoff Plays Chopin
RCA 62533
1:22 (excerpt)
Chopin, Frédéric: Mazurka No. 13 in A minor, Op. 17/4
William Kapell, piano
Mazurkas
RCA 68990
4:20
Chopin, Frédéric: Prelude No. 7 in A, Op. 28/7
Arthur Rubinstein, piano
Arthur Rubinstein: The Complete Album Collection
RCA 6514
:52
