| Featured Music - A Chopin Gallery |
Argerich Plays Chopin
Martha Agerich
EMI
Suggested Retail 18.98 WRTI Member Price 16.77
Martha Argerich playing Chopin has long been known as a thing of beauty and her recordings are acknowledged for their power and musicality. In celebration of the Chopin Year, Deutsche Grammophon is extremely excited to present an entire CD of previously unreleased radio recordings from 1959 and 1967 of Argerich performing Chopin.
Argerich triumphed at the International Chopin Competition in 1965 at the age of 24; therefore, the 1959 recording gives us a very early glimpse of Argerich and the explosive power that made her so irresistible. The majority of this CD is of recordings made in 1967 at the RIAS and WDR studios along with a live March 15, 1967 recording of the Third Sonata from the Hochschule für Musik, Berlin. These performances, all released for the first time, include works otherwise not recorded by her (Ballade no. 1, Mazurkas opp. 24/2, 33/2, 41/1&2, C# minor Etude). With over an hour of material, this is truly a gem that has been lovingly rescued from obscurity.
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Rubinstein: The Chopin Collection
Artur Rubinstein
RCA Europe 11 CD Set
Suggested Retail 28.98 WRTI Member Price 25.60
Including all his recordings for RCA; from 1946's Preludes through 1967's Nocturnes, this set presents what many regard as the finest collection of Chopin performances by a single pianist ever assembled. Recorded for the most part by ace producer Max Wilcox in sound that ranges from clean but distant monaural through clear and deep stereo, these performances are the rock upon which any basic Chopin collection should be built.
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Chopin: Complete Nocturnes And Impromptus
Claudio Arrau
Phillips 2 CD Set
Suggested Retail 17.98 WRTI Member Price 15.89
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Chopin: Préludes; Impromptus; Barcarolle; Berceuse
Alfred Cortot
EMI Classics
Suggested Retail 12.98 WRTI Member Price 11.47
For fans of Cortot, this album is likely to be quite enjoyable. His interpretations are extremely impassioned and singularly unique. They absolutely focus on the emotional qualities of the music over the technical aspects, which in live performances must have been something quite remarkable to behold.
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Chopin: Etudes
Murray Perahia
Sony
Suggested Retail 9.98 WRTI Member Price 8.82
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| Featured Classical |
Kronos Quartet: 25 Years
Kronos Qaurtet - 10 CD Set
Nonesuch
Suggested Retail 99.98 WRTI Member Price 88.33
Kronos has done more than simply triple the size of the string quartet repertoire; by focusing on living composers, by cultivating a somewhat rebellious image, and by playing with impeccable professionalism and skill, Kronos has brought a new and primarily young audience to classical music. This massive ten-disc retrospective includes performances of 31 major compositions, most previously released, but some in new recordings. The packaging is excellent as well, and includes a booklet packed with photos, essays, and notes on the individual composers and compositions.
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| Featured Jazz |
Very Best of Nat King Cole
Nancy Wilson
Capitol
Suggested Retail 12.98 WRTI Member Price $11.47
This generous anthology, with 28 tracks and close to 80 minutes of music, is one of the best single-disc sets on the market of Nat King Cole's pop side. Spanning over 20 years, from 1943 to 1964, The Very Best of Nat King Cole includes most of his biggest hits for Capitol Records, like 1946's "(Get Your Kicks On) Route 66," 1950s "Mona Lisa," 1951's "Walkin' My Baby Back Home" and "Unforgettable," and 1956's "When I Fall in Love" with its wonderful orchestration arranged and conducted by Gordon Jenkins.
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