Chopin & Mendelssohn: Piano Works by Newton Classics - Gary Graffman CD

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• UPC: 818247710836
• Product Type: Music CD (2-CD Set)
• Brand Name: Newton Classics
• MPN: 8802083
• Genre: Classical
• Style: Romantic / Piano Virtuoso
• Primary Artist: Gary Graffman (Piano)
• Orchestra: Boston Symphony Orchestra
• Conductor: Charles Munch
• Composer(s): Frédéric Chopin, Felix Mendelssohn
• Release Year: 2011 (Original recordings 1959, 1961)

Product Features

• Format: 2 Audio CDs, Jewel Case
• Total Timing: 91'06
• Recording Type: ADD Stereo
• Labels: Sony Music Entertainment Germany GmbH / Newton Classics

Overview

Indulge in the golden era of American pianism with this 2-CD set featuring the legendary Gary Graffman. This collection brings together Graffman’s definitive interpretations of Frédéric Chopin and Felix Mendelssohn, backed by the powerhouse pairing of the Boston Symphony Orchestra and conductor Charles Munch. The set includes Chopin's complete Ballades and the formidable Piano Concerto No. 1, alongside Mendelssohn’s dazzling Capriccio brillant.

Graffman’s playing is celebrated for its technical brilliance, structural clarity, and aristocratic poise. These recordings, originally captured by RCA Victor in the late 1950s and early 1960s, have been carefully preserved to showcase the "Living Stereo" quality that audiophiles adore. Whether you are listening to the brooding narrative of the Ballades or the sparkling energy of the concerto, this set remains a cornerstone for any classical piano library.

Interesting Facts

• The Artist's Legacy: Gary Graffman is one of the most influential American pianists of the 20th century. After a hand injury altered his career in 1979, he became a renowned teacher and served as the President of the Curtis Institute of Music, mentoring stars like Lang Lang and Yuja Wang.
• The Munch-Boston Era: Charles Munch led the Boston Symphony Orchestra from 1949 to 1962. This recording of Chopin's Piano Concerto No. 1 captures the orchestra at the peak of its "French" sound—elegant, transparent, and vibrant.
• Technical Excellence: This 2-CD set features ADD (Analog-to-Digital) remastering, preserving the warmth of the original analog tapes from the 1959 and 1961 sessions at Boston’s Symphony Hall.
• The Ballades: Chopin’s four Ballades are considered some of the most challenging works in the romantic repertoire, requiring both extreme technical facility and deep poetic sensitivity, both of which Graffman delivers with ease.

Track Listing

CD 1 (43'56)

1. Chopin: Ballade No. 1 in G minor Op. 23 (8'17)
2. Chopin: Ballade No. 2 in F Op. 38 (6'32)
3. Chopin: Ballade No. 3 in A flat Op. 47 (6'37)
4. Chopin: Ballade No. 4 in F minor Op. 52 (10'07)
5. Chopin: Andante spianato and Grande Polonaise brillante in E flat Op. 22 (12'23)

CD 2 (47'10)

• Chopin: Piano Concerto No. 1 in E minor Op. 11
• I. Allegro maestoso (17'00)
• II. Romance (10'17)
• III. Rondo (9'25)

• Mendelssohn:
• Capriccio brillant Op. 22 (10'28)

Publishers

• Label: Newton Classics B.V.
• Original Copyright: ℗ 1959 (CD1), 1961 Sony Music Entertainment Germany GmbH
• Release Copyright: © 2011 Newton Classics B.V.
• Manufactured in: The Netherlands

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