Chopin: Piano Concertos Nos. 1 & 2 – Ballades, Barcarolle & Fantaisie (Jorge Bolet / Dutoit, Newton Classics 2CD)

UPC: 8718247710089 

MPN: 8802000 

Brand Name: Newton Classics 

Product Type: 2 Compact Discs – Piano Concertos and Solo Works

Overview

This Newton Classics 2-CD collection unites Jorge Bolet’s majestic performances of Frédéric Chopin’s Piano Concertos Nos. 1 & 2 with his poetic interpretations of the Four Ballades, Barcarolle, and Fantaisie in F minor. Accompanied by the Orchestre Symphonique de Montréal under Charles Dutoit, Bolet’s artistry blends classical restraint with romantic lyricism, showcasing his reputation as one of the 20th century’s most elegant Chopin interpreters.

The recordings, originally produced by Decca in the 1980s under Ray Minshull and Peter Wadland, were made at London’s Walthamstow Assembly Hall and Montreal’s Église de St. Eustache, combining Decca’s lush acoustics with Bolet’s refined pianism.

Digitally remastered in DDD stereo, this release delivers over two hours of deeply expressive, technically flawless Chopin, reaffirming Bolet’s legacy as “the last romantic virtuoso.”

Product Features

• Format: 2 × Compact Discs (Audio CD)
• Sound: DDD Stereo (Digital Recording)
• Total Duration: 136 minutes 50 seconds
• Recording Dates: May 1989 (Montreal), September 1986 (London)

• Recording Locations:

  Label: Newton Classics BV
  • L’Église de St. Eustache, Montréal
  • Walthamstow Assembly Hall, London
• Original Label: Decca Music Group Ltd.
• Country of Manufacture: EU
• Producers: Ray Minshull, Peter Wadland
• Balance Engineers: James Lock, John Dunkerley
• Art Direction & Design: Jan Martin Wilschut, BNO Amsterdam Hotsprings
• Cover Image: Decca / Lebrecht / HH
• Genre: Romantic Piano / Concerto / Solo

Disc Contents

CD 1 – Piano Concerto No. 1 in E minor, Op.11 & Four Ballades – 75′56″

Piano Concerto No.1 in E minor, Op.11

1. I. Allegro maestoso – 21′43″
2. II. Romance: Larghetto – 10′04″
3. III. Rondo: Vivace – 11′02″

Four Ballades

1. No.1 in G minor, Op.23 – 10′01″
2. No.2 in F major, Op.38 – 9′12″
3. No.3 in A-flat major, Op.47 – 9′26″
4. No.4 in F minor, Op.52 – 11′49″

CD 2 – Piano Concerto No. 2 in F minor, Op.21 / Barcarolle & Fantaisie – 60′54″

Piano Concerto No.2 in F minor, Op.21

1. I. Maestoso – 14′27″
2. II. Larghetto – 9′09″
3. III. Allegro vivace – 9′34″

Barcarolle in F-sharp major, Op.60 – 9′49″ Fantaisie in F minor, Op.49 – 12′39″

Performers

• Piano: Jorge Bolet
• Orchestra: Orchestre Symphonique de Montréal
• Conductor: Charles Dutoit

Interesting Facts

• Master of Romantic Elegance: Jorge Bolet’s Chopin is distinguished by grandeur, warmth, and structural clarity, balancing emotion and discipline.
• Decca Sound Legacy: Produced by Ray Minshull and Peter Wadland, these are among the best-engineered Chopin concerto recordings of the late analog-to-digital era.
• Dual Settings, Unified Vision: Recorded in both London and Montréal, the sessions highlight Bolet’s versatility in both concerto and solo repertoire.
• Critically Acclaimed: Often cited as one of the most lyrical interpretations of the Ballades and Barcarolle, Bolet’s reading avoids sentimentality while preserving Chopin’s poetic spirit.

Publishers

© 2010 Newton Classics BV. Originally © 1988, 1990 Decca Music Group Limited. Manufactured and printed in the EU. All rights reserved. Unauthorized copying, hiring, lending, or broadcasting prohibited. Website: www.newtonclassics.com

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#Chopin #JorgeBolet #CharlesDutoit #OrchestreSymphoniqueDeMontreal #NewtonClassics #DeccaRecordings #RomanticPiano #ChopinConcertos #ChopinBallades #Barcarolle #Fantaisie #ClassicalPiano #PianoVirtuoso