Of all the great 19th century composers, none devoted their creativity exclusively on just one instrument, except Frederic Chopin. Every work of his is for the piano and, aside from the concertante works, only a handful is for piano and a second instrument, or piano and voice.

Chopin’s idol was Mozart, and the refined, romantic style he developed was as a result of both a thorough knowledge of Mozart and his pupil Hummel, whose concertos and sonatas had a great influence on the young Chopin. The Irishman John Field who invented the Nocturne, and the showman of the piano Friedrich Kalkbrenner, also played a part in the creation of Chopin’s unique musical personality.

The Nocturnes, Etudes, Preludes, Waltzes, Mazurkas, Polonaises, Ballades, Scherzos, the Fantasy and the Sonatas 2 & 3, the cello sonata and the two concertos rank among the very pinnacle of 19th century compositions for the piano.

The popular image of Chopin as a slightly effeminate and sickly individual could not be further from the truth. The music on these discs is not the product of a gentle, retiring creature. It is passionate, turbulent, dramatic and at times violent as well as elegant and polished. Chopin, like his music, is complex, highly individual and a mass of contradictions.

Some of the most famous piano music in the world is to be found on these CDs. From the ‘Minute Waltz’ to the Raindrop Prelude and the Revolutionary Etude – many of these works are instantly recognisable.

Recordings include those made by Chandos (Lortie) and Decca (Kocsis, Harasiewicz), with Gilels recorded in 1949 (Sonata No.2).

Contents:
CD 1 [58’25]
Ballades · Impromptus

CD 2 [67’21]
Études

CD 3 [42’39]
Nocturnes Vol.1

CD 4 [61’45]
Nocturnes Vol.2

CD 5 [63’11]
Scherzos · Fantasy Op.49 · Berceuse Op.57 · Barcarolle Op.60

CD 6 [51’55]
Waltzes

CD 7 [58’46]
Mazurkas Vol.1

CD 8 [73’38]
Mazurkas Vol.2 · Variations on ‘Là ci darem la mano’ from Mozart’s Don Giovanni

CD 9 [77’14]
Polonaises Vol.1

CD 10 [65’32]
Polonaises Vol.2

CD 11 [74’49]
Piano Sonatas · 3 Écossaises Op.72

CD 12 [74’35]
Rondos · Variations

CD 13 [57’42]
Mazurkas · Valses · Marches funèbres · Cantabile · Prelude (1834)

CD 14 [68’27]
Preludes Op.28 · Fantasia on Polish Airs Op.13 · Krakowiak Op.14

CD 15 [63’05]
Piano Concertos