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
Playlist
Episode 1
Frédéric Chopin: Etude No. 12 in C minor, Op. 10, “Revolutionary” (excerpt)
Maurizio Pollini, piano
Chopin: Etudes, Préludes, Polonaises
DG 413794; :46
Frédéric Chopin: Contradanse in G-flat Major (excerpt)
Garrick Ohlsson, piano
Chopin The Complete Works
Arabesque 6686; :25
Frédéric Chopin: Mazurka No. 47 in A Major, Op. 68 (excerpts)
Garrick Ohlsson, piano
Complete Mazurkas Vol. 1
Arabesque 6730; :20, :34
Frédéric Chopin: Etude No. 2 in A minor, Op. 10 (excerpt)
Garrick Ohlsson, piano
The Complete Works
Hyperion 44351; :37
Frédéric Chopin: Polonaise in G Minor, Op. posth.
Garrick Ohlsson, piano
Chopin: The Complete Piano Works, Vol. 5 – Polonaises & Impromptus
Arabesque 6642; 3:34
Johann Sebastian Bach: Polonaise from Suite No. 2 in B Minor, BWV 1067 (excerpt)
Academy of St. Martin in the Fields/Marriner; Bennett, flute
Trio – Bach: Brandenburg Concertos
Philips 470934; :22
Frédéric Chopin: Polonaise in G Sharp Minor, Op. posth.
Garrick Ohlsson, piano
Chopin: The Complete Piano Works, Vol. 5 – Polonaises & Impromptus
Arabesque 6642; 6:50, :32
Frédéric Chopin: Introduction and Variations an a German Air
“Der Schweizerbub” In E Major, Op. posth (excerpts)
Garrick Ohlsson, piano
The Complete Works
Hyperion 44351; 2:11, 1:20
Frédéric Chopin: Rondo in C Minor, Op. 1 (excerpts)
Frederic Chiu, piano
Chopin: Études (12), Op. 10
HM 907201; 2:09, :57
Maria Szymanowska: Prelude No. 1 in F Major, Vivace (excerpt)
Anna Ciborowska, piano
Piano Works
Dux 450; :36
Maria Szymanowska: Mazurka No. 12 in B Flat Major (excerpt)
Anna Ciborowska, piano
Piano Works
Dux 450; 1:01
Frédéric Chopin: Mazurka No. 47 in A Minor, Op. 68/2
Arthur Rubinstein, piano
The Five Beethoven Piano Concertos
RCA 5614; 2:49
Frédéric Chopin: Variations on “Là ci darem la mano” from Mozart’s Don Giovanni
Slovak State Philharmonic/Stankovsky; Idil Biret, piano
Chopin: Complete Piano Music
Naxos 8501501; 18:15
Frédéric Chopin: 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
Episode 2
Frédéric Chopin: Waltz No. 10 in B Minor, Op. 69/2
Sergei Rachmaninoff, piano
Sergei Rachmaninoff: The Complete Recordings
RCA 61265; 3:01
Frédéric Chopin: Piano Trio in G Minor, Op. 8, I & IV
Ax, piano; Frank, violin; Ma, violoncello
Chopin: Piano Trio
Sony 53112; 14:36
Frédéric Chopin: “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
Frédéric Chopin: Piano Concerto No. 2 in F Minor, Op. 21, II.
Philadelphia Orchestra/Ormandy; Arthur Rubinstein, piano
Piano Concerto No.2, Fantasia On Polish Airs, Andante Spianato & Grande Polonaise
RCA 60404; 9:14
Frédéric Chopin: 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
Frédéric Chopin: Fantasia On Polish Airs, Op. 13 (excerpts)
Philadelphia Orchestra/Ormandy; Arthur Rubinstein, piano
Piano Concerto No. 2, Fantasia On Polish Airs, Andante Spianato & Grande Polonaise
RCA 60404; 12:41
Frédéric Chopin: Etude No. 2 in A minor, Op. 10/2 (excerpt)
Frederic Chiu, piano
Chopin: Études (12), Op. 10; HM 907201; 1:03
Episode 3
Frédéric Chopin: Prelude No. 10 in c-sharp minor, Op. 28/10
Martha Argerich, piano
Début Recital / Martha Argerich
Philips 456703; :25
Frédéric Chopin: Piano Concerto No. 1 in E Minor, Op. 11, II
Philharmonia Orchestra/Kletzki; Pollini, piano
Chopin: Piano Concerto No. 1
EMI 67549; 10:13
Frédéric Chopin: Piano Concerto No. 1 in E Minor, Op. 11, III (excerpts)
London Symphony Orchestra/Abbado; Argerich, piano
Piano Concerto No.1 / Piano Concerto No. 1
DG 449719; :39, 2:30
Frédéric Chopin: Krakowiak, Op. 14 (excerpt)
Polish Radio National Symphony Orchestra/Kord; Ohlsson, piano
The Complete Works
Hyperion 44351; 1:38
Frédéric Chopin: Scherzo No. 1 in B minor, Op. 20
Ivan Moravec, piano
Fryderyk Chopin: Scherzi, Etudes, Mazurkas
Dorian 90140; 10:12, :24
Frédéric Chopin: “The Warrior” Op. 74, No. 10
Skaluba, tenor; Malicki, piano
Polish Songs – Moniuszko, Chopin
Dux 527; 2:00
Frédéric Chopin: Variations for Piano in A Major, B. 37 –
“Souvenir de Paganini”
Daniel Barenboim, piano
Chopin: Preludes
EMI 85453; 4:26
Vincenzo Bellini: La Sonnambula
“Ah, non credea mirarti” (excerpt)
Orchestra La Scintilla/Adam Fische Cecilia Bartoli, mezzo-soprano
London/Decca 4759077; 1:20
John Field: Nocturne No. 4 in A (excerpt)
John O’Conor, piano
15 Nocturnes
Telarc 80199; :36
Frédéric Chopin: Nocturne No. 19 in E Minor, Op. 72/1
Garrick Ohlsson, piano
Chopin The Complete Works
Arabesque 6653; 4:44, :32
Frédéric Chopin: Ballade No. 1 in G Minor, Op. 23
Alfred Cortot, piano
Alfred Cortot – The Master Classes
Sony 89698; 8:37
Frédéric Chopin: Prelude No. 11 in B Major, Op. 28/11
Martha Argerich, piano
The Originals Vol. II
DG 463663; :33
Frédéric Chopin: Etude No. 9 in G-flat Major, Op. 25/9, Butterfly
Nelson Freire, piano
Chopin: Piano Sonata No 3, Études Op. 25
Decca 470288; :54
Episode 4
Frédéric Chopin: Nocturne in D-flat Major, Op. 27/2
Charles Rosen, piano
Collected Piano Music of Chopin
Musicmasters 67154; 5:05, :34
Frédéric Chopin: Etudes, Op. 10: Nos. 2, 3 & 4
Frederic Chiu, piano
Chopin: Études (12), Op. 10
Harmonia Mundi 907201; 8:00
Frédéric Chopin: “Śliczny chłopiec (Handsome Lad)” from Polish Songs, Op. 74
Elly Ameling, soprano; Jansen, piano
On The Wings Of Song / Elly Ameling, Rudolf Jansen
Philips 422333; 2:44
Frédéric Chopin: Nocturne No. 9 in B Major, Op. 32/1
Arthur Rubinstein, piano
The Chopin Collection: The Nocturnes
RCA 5613; 4:41
Frédéric Chopin: Etude No. 12 in c minor, Op. 10/12, “Revolutionary”
Maurizio Pollini, piano
The Originals
DG 413794; 2:38
Frédéric Chopin: “The Sad River” from Op. 74, No. 3 (excerpt)
Söderstrom, mezzo-soprano; Ashkenazy, piano
Chopin Songs-Melodies-Lieder Op. 74
London 414204; 2:07
Frédéric Chopin: 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, :45
Frédéric Chopin: 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
Frédéric Chopin: Barcarolle in F Sharp, Op. 60
Krystian Zimerman, piano
Chopin: 4 Balladen
DG 423090; 8:54
Frédéric Chopin: 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
Frédéric Chopin: 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
Frédéric Chopin: Cello Sonata in G Minor, Op. 65, IV
Ma, violoncello; Ax, piano
Chopin: Piano Trio
Sony 53112; 6:13
Frédéric Chopin: Polonaise No. 3 in A, Op. 40/1, “Military”
Vladimir Horowitz, piano
Horowitz Vol. VII – Early Romantics
Sony 53468; 4:50
Frédéric Chopin: Polonaise-Fantaisie in A-flat Major, Op. 61
Maria João Pires, piano
Maria João Pires – The Voice of Late Chopin
DG 4777483; 13:58
Frédéric Chopin: Berceuse in D flat, Op. 57
Evgeny Kissin, piano
Four Ballads, Berceuse, Barcarolle, Scherzo
RCA 63259; 4:34
Frédéric Chopin: 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
Frédéric Chopin: Piano Sonata No. 2, II (excerpt)
Sergei Rachmaninoff, piano
Rachmaninoff Plays Chopin
RCA 62533; 1:22
Frédéric Chopin: Mazurka No. 13 in a minor, Op. 17/4
William Kapell, piano
Mazurkas
RCA 68990; 4:20
Frédéric Chopin: Prelude No. 7 in A, Op. 28/7
Arthur Rubinstein, piano
Arthur Rubinstein: The Complete Album Collection
RCA 6514; :52