CD-Charts Position 1
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Norton Recorded Anthology of Western Music, Fifth Edition, Volume 1: Ancient to Baroque (6 CDs)

CD-Charts > Music > Ballads
from: W. W. Norton

Release Date January 01, 2006
The CDs in this set are not packaged in standard jewelboxes nor even in cheap sleeves, but are mounted directly atop a printed surface. As a result, when I purchased the set from my school bookstore, I found that several of the CDs had dried flecks of ink on the data side that made it impossible to play or rip certain tracks. Beware.

CD-Charts Position 2
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Chopin: Favorite Piano Works

CD-Charts > Music > Ballads
from: Decca

Release Date February 13, 1996
This is a masterful performance by the great Vladimir Ashkenazy of Chopin's favourite piano works. If you love Chopin's music and Ashkenazy's magic touch, this 2-disc CD is a must. Apart from all the all-time favourites such as grande valse brillante, op 18, nocturne in E flat major, op 9 no 2, Minute, Black Key, Military, Raindrop, Tristesse etc etc, it's interesting to note Ashkenazy's interpretation of Ballade in G minor, op 23 vis-a-vis Janusz Olejniczak playing it in the poignant scene of the award-winning Polanski's film "The Pianist" ie the piece played by Adrien Brody in his role as Szpilman, the Jewish pianist in hiding, to the German officer Hosenfeld. Enjoy!!

CD-Charts Position 3
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The Chopin Collection

CD-Charts > Music > Ballads
from: RCA Victor Europe

Release Date October 07, 1991
This is a bargain for the price, with GREAT sound quality! Warm, but also clear. The perfomances are great, specially the mazurkas and waltzes and sonatas. I thought the noctures where played a bit to "straight", but it depends what one compares it to. I prefer Cortot for about all the Chopin I've heard of him before 1934 (Although I like Rubinsteins sonata better) and brazilian G. Novaes for the nocturnes.

CD-Charts Position 4
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The Chopin Ballades & Scherzos [Hybrid SACD]

CD-Charts > Music > Ballads
from: RCA

Release Date September 14, 2004
I recently bought an SACD player and thought this CD would be great to try it out. Because the recordig is old, 1959, it is improved via SACD to a 3 channel output (left, eight, center speakers). No surround. I guess I was expecting to be enveloped by sound. This did not happen because all the sound comes from teh front and being used to suround, it is noticeable. As a fan of Chopin, the music is naturally superb. Rubensteins rendition is classic. The clarity of the clarity of teh sound is noticeable and very refined. NO background hissing, feedback, or anyting else. It is completely pure piano.

CD-Charts Position 5
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Story Of Chopin In Words And Music

CD-Charts > Music > Ballads
from: Vox (Classical)

Release Date April 16, 1995
Chopin is the most famous composer for the piano. Did you know that Chopin is Polish and that he created the modern piano style! He also change the nature of the piano, making the piano what it is today. Mr. Chopin wrote over 200 pieces for the piano. Chopin is the true classical pioneer of the piano. As the CD says, Chopin kept the spirit of the Polish people alive through all the wars and invasions from Russia and Germany and others. Chopin was a gentle intellectual musician, and would help his beloved Poland with his music, as it has done to this day.

The story is mixed with his story and music. As you listen, you'll say, "I didn't know Chopin wrote that!" At the end of the story, some of Chopin's greatest pieces are played by Ingid ... Read More:

CD-Charts Position 6
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Norton Recorded Anthology of Western Music, Concise Version (6 Compact Discs)

CD-Charts > Music > Ballads
from: W. W. Norton

Release Date January 01, 2006
Chopin is the most famous composer for the piano. Did you know that Chopin is Polish and that he created the modern piano style! He also change the nature of the piano, making the piano what it is today. Mr. Chopin wrote over 200 pieces for the piano. Chopin is the true classical pioneer of the piano. As the CD says, Chopin kept the spirit of the Polish people alive through all the wars and invasions from Russia and Germany and others. Chopin was a gentle intellectual musician, and would help his beloved Poland with his music, as it has done to this day.

The story is mixed with his story and music. As you listen, you'll say, "I didn't know Chopin wrote that!" At the end of the story, some of Chopin's greatest pieces are played by Ingid ... Read More:

CD-Charts Position 7
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Codex Faenza: Instrumental Music of the Early 15th Century

CD-Charts > Music > Ballads
from: Naxos

Release Date July 28, 1998
Upon first listen, you might think that "Codex Faenza: Instrumental Music of the Early 15th Century" is wrongly named. These works were composed by 14th Century composers, such as Machaut and Landini, and several songs appear as vocal arrangements without instrumentation.

That's where the "Codex Faenza" comes in. This tome was an early 15th century book of instrumental arrangements of 14th century music. The Unicorn Ensemble performs several works from the Codex Faenza, sometimes preceding the instrumental version with the original vocal arrangement for comparison. The last two tracks, the anonymous compositions "Kyrie" and "Ave maris stella," feature alternating sections of plainchant and organ music.

In many cases, the ... Read More:

CD-Charts Position 8
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Brahms: Works for Solo Piano

CD-Charts > Music > Ballads
from: Decca

Release Date November 11, 1997
While there may be recordings of individual works in this set that equal these by Katchen (by the likes of Richter, Michelangeli, Gilels and Arrau), you would be hard pressed to find any that clearly surpass them. In other words, Katchen plays Brahms like Rubinstein played Chopin - that is, better than everyone else. That, of course, doesn't mean these should be the only versions of these works you need, but it is the perfect place to start. Katchen does take the sonatas at a slightly faster tempo than Richter, but each line is still clearly articulated. Most box sets have their peaks and valleys, but this one is fairly even throughout. Also highly recommendable for Brahms fans are Katchen's violin sonatas with Josef Suk and piano trios with Suk and Janos ... Read More:

CD-Charts Position 9
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Horowitz Live and Unedited [includes Bonus DVD]

CD-Charts > Music > Ballads
from: Sony

Release Date September 30, 2003
This is a MUST for all Horowitz fans. The Horowitz technique is unparalleled, and you must hear him play in front of an audience after 12 years.

I think it is one of his best performances -- maybe because I like the way he played things I've heard at other Horowitz performances.

But, I like all of his music, and a new performance of the same piece is a little different than others -- but all very interesting.

CD-Charts Position 10
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BRAHMS: Edition - Complete Works

CD-Charts > Music > Ballads
from: Brilliant Classics

Release Date May 13, 2008
A wonderful CD collection indeed! I have bought all of the Brilliant Classics Complete Collections and have not been upset with any set. The only thing I didn't like about this set (and only because I can compare with my others), the information was on the outside instead of the inside. Meaning that all of the works were located on the outside box instead of on the flap like Mozart, Beethoven and Bach.

The set is much more colorful than the last couple also. You can see how much time they spend on making it look "brilliant". Definitely a wonderful deal for the price... and you should not even give it a second thought.