Claudio Arrau was born on 6th February 1903. Such was his prodigious talent that he gave his first public recital in Santiago at the age of five.

When he was nine he was sent, with the support of the Chilean Government, to study in Berlin where he was a pupil of Martin Krause at Stern’s Conservatory for six years. He never went to another teacher.

He received many awards during his student days, so his name was already in circulation when he gave extensive tours in Germany and Scandinavia following his first recital in Berlin in 1914. He embarked on a tour of Europe after WW1. Conductors of the highest calibre – Nikisch, Mengelberg and Furtwängler amongst them – accompanied him.

After a successful return visit to his homeland in 1921, he visited London the following year where he appeared in a concert with Dame Nellie Melba and Bronislaw Huberman, the violinist who, at the age of 14, had won Brahms' admiration for his performance of his concerto. In 1923 he toured the USA.

He joined the staff of Stern’s Conservatory in 1924 and taught there until 1940. In Berlin he played the complete works of Bach over 12 concerts but decided that the piano was not the instrument for these works and never played them in public again.

Leaving Berlin in 1940 he returned to Chile, where in its capital, Santiago, he founded a piano school. It was whilst on a highly successful tour of the USA during the following year that he decided to settle his family in New York.

Arrau’s reputation is built on his special affinity for the music of Brahms, Schumann, Liszt, Chopin and, above all, Beethoven, whose complete sonatas he played in many major cities. His performances had all the virtuoso technique required but it was accomplished without the least ostentation - for him the music was what should remain in the audience’s ear and should not be disturbed by the flamboyance of the pianist in the audience’s eye.

Twenty years have passed since he died, but these recordings will bring back happy memories for all those lucky enough ever to have attended his concerts.

Contents:
CD 1
- Piano Concerto No.1 in C, Op.15
- Piano Concerto No.2 in B Flat, Op.19
- 32 Variations on an Original Theme in C minor, WoO80
 
CD 2
- Piano Concerto No.3 in C Minor, Op.37
- Piano Concerto No.5 in E Flat, Op.73 'Emperor'
 
CD 3
- Piano Concerto No.4 in G, Op.58
- Piano Sonata No.21 in C Major, Op.53 'Waldstein'
- Piano Sonata No.26 in E Flat Major, Op.81a 'Les adieux'
 
CD 4
- Piano Sonata No.23 in F Minor, Op.57 'Appassionata'
- Piano Sonata No.22 in F Major, Op.54
- Piano Sonata No.7 in D, Op.10 No.3
- Piano Sonata No.24 in F Sharp, Op.78
 
CD 5
- Piano Sonata No.28 in A Major, Op.101
- Piano Sonata No.31 in A Flat, Op.110
- Piano Sonata No.32 in C Minor, Op.111
 
CD 6
- Piano Concerto No.1 in D Minor, Op.15
 
CD 7
- Konzertstück in F Minor, Op.79
- Piano Concerto No.2 in B Flat, Op.83
 
CD 8
- Piano Concerto No.1 in B Flat Minor, Op.23
- Piano Concerto in A Minor, Op.16

CD 9
- 3 Klavierstücke, D.946
- Fantasia in C Major, D.760 'Wandererfantasie'
- Allegretto in C Minor, D.915
- March in E, D.606
 
CD 10
- 6 Moments musicaux, D780
- Piano Sonata No.3 in B Minor, Op.58
- Fantasie in F Minor, Op.49
 
CD 11
- 12 Études, Op.10
- 12 Études, Op.25
- 3 Nouvelles Etudes, Op. posth (pur la 'Méthode des Méthodes' de Moscheles)
- Allegro de concert in A. Op.46
 
CD 12
- Piano Concerto in A Minor, Op.54
- Carnaval, Op.9
- Coquette
- Réplique: Sphinxes
- Papillons
- A.S.C.H._S.C.H.A (Lettres dansantes)
- Chiarina
- Chopin
- Estrella
- Reconnaissance
- Pantalon et Colombine
- Valse allemande
- Intermezzo (Paganini)
- Aveu
- Promenade
- Pause
- Marche des 'Davidsbündler' contre les Philistines
- Tarantelle in A Flat Major, Op.43
- Danse (Tarantelle styrienne)
- Estampes - No.3 Jardins sous la pluie