Chopin Album, The
Reviews
Larry
Reviewed 2012-11-30
Reviewed 2012-11-30
Lang Lang / The Chopin Album
Frederick Chopin (1810-1849), a child prodigy pianist and composer, composed many of the world’s best known and best loved pieces in the Romantic Period piano literature. His Etudes (Studies) revolutionized piano playing, and were recognized as artistic masterpieces. The Etudes Op. 25 are dedicated to Countess d’Agoult, the mother of Liszt’s children. The Nocturnes are considered among the finest short solo works for the piano and remain frequently performed. The Grande Valse Brillante appeared in Tom and Jerry cartoons. Lang Lang, the well-known Chinese virtuoso, first performed the Chopin Etudes in concert at age 13. Chopin has been a major part of his career. As he put it, Chopin “speaks with such a universal voice. I genuinely believe he’s a true ambassador for classical music among the great composers. He appeals to everyone.”
1. Etudes op. 25: No. 1 in A-flat Major (2:54). Aeolian harp, joyous.
2. Etudes op. 25: No. 2 in F Minor (1:42). Soft, dreamy.
3. Etudes op. 25: No. 3 in F Major (1:50). Spirited, charming.
4. Etudes op. 25: No. 4 in A Minor (1:33). Somber, nervous.
5. Etudes op. 25: No. 5 in E Minor (3:58). Rather perverse.
6. Etudes op. 25: No. 6 in G-sharp Minor (2:05). Beautiful study in 3rds.
7. Etudes op. 25: No. 7 in C-sharp Minor (5:55). An elegaic nocturne.
8. Etudes op. 25: No. 8 in D-flat Major (1:02). Euphonious study in 6ths.
9. Etudes op. 25: No. 9 in G-flat Major (1:08). “The Butterfly.”
10. Etudes op. 25: No. 10 in B Minor (4:46). Lush, sweet, sensuous.
11. Etudes op. 25: No. 11 in A Minor (3:49). “Winter Wind.”
12. Etudes op. 25: No. 12 in C Minor (2:29). Grandiose, tumultuous.
13. Nocturne op. 55, No. 2 in E-flat Major (6:06). Pensive sadness.
14. Nocturne op. 15, No. 1 in F Major (5:24). Gorgeous minor key melody. Then stormy anguish.
15. Grande Valse Brillante op. 18, No. 1 in E-flat Major (5:48). Nobility and elegance.
16. Andante Spianato (5:20). Serene. Lyric
17. Grande Polonaise (9:56). Nobility, delicacy. Middle: dramatic tale.
18. Nocturne op. post, KK IVa, No. 16 (20a), in C-sharp Minor (4:42). A sad tale told by a princess.
19. Waltz op. 64, No. 1 in D-flat Major (2:10). The “Minute” Waltz played musically.
20. Tristesse [Oh Land version] (2:13). Vocal version of an Etude melody.
Frederick Chopin (1810-1849), a child prodigy pianist and composer, composed many of the world’s best known and best loved pieces in the Romantic Period piano literature. His Etudes (Studies) revolutionized piano playing, and were recognized as artistic masterpieces. The Etudes Op. 25 are dedicated to Countess d’Agoult, the mother of Liszt’s children. The Nocturnes are considered among the finest short solo works for the piano and remain frequently performed. The Grande Valse Brillante appeared in Tom and Jerry cartoons. Lang Lang, the well-known Chinese virtuoso, first performed the Chopin Etudes in concert at age 13. Chopin has been a major part of his career. As he put it, Chopin “speaks with such a universal voice. I genuinely believe he’s a true ambassador for classical music among the great composers. He appeals to everyone.”
1. Etudes op. 25: No. 1 in A-flat Major (2:54). Aeolian harp, joyous.
2. Etudes op. 25: No. 2 in F Minor (1:42). Soft, dreamy.
3. Etudes op. 25: No. 3 in F Major (1:50). Spirited, charming.
4. Etudes op. 25: No. 4 in A Minor (1:33). Somber, nervous.
5. Etudes op. 25: No. 5 in E Minor (3:58). Rather perverse.
6. Etudes op. 25: No. 6 in G-sharp Minor (2:05). Beautiful study in 3rds.
7. Etudes op. 25: No. 7 in C-sharp Minor (5:55). An elegaic nocturne.
8. Etudes op. 25: No. 8 in D-flat Major (1:02). Euphonious study in 6ths.
9. Etudes op. 25: No. 9 in G-flat Major (1:08). “The Butterfly.”
10. Etudes op. 25: No. 10 in B Minor (4:46). Lush, sweet, sensuous.
11. Etudes op. 25: No. 11 in A Minor (3:49). “Winter Wind.”
12. Etudes op. 25: No. 12 in C Minor (2:29). Grandiose, tumultuous.
13. Nocturne op. 55, No. 2 in E-flat Major (6:06). Pensive sadness.
14. Nocturne op. 15, No. 1 in F Major (5:24). Gorgeous minor key melody. Then stormy anguish.
15. Grande Valse Brillante op. 18, No. 1 in E-flat Major (5:48). Nobility and elegance.
16. Andante Spianato (5:20). Serene. Lyric
17. Grande Polonaise (9:56). Nobility, delicacy. Middle: dramatic tale.
18. Nocturne op. post, KK IVa, No. 16 (20a), in C-sharp Minor (4:42). A sad tale told by a princess.
19. Waltz op. 64, No. 1 in D-flat Major (2:10). The “Minute” Waltz played musically.
20. Tristesse [Oh Land version] (2:13). Vocal version of an Etude melody.
Recent airplay
Etude op. 25 no. 4
Mixed Up Class — Jan 14, 2013
Andante Spianato (5:20).
Daydream Disaster — Jan 07, 2013
Charting
2012-12-15 — 2013-02-17
Classical/Experimental
| Week Ending | Airplays |
|---|---|
| Jan 20 | 1 |
| Jan 13 | 1 |
Track listing
| 1. | Etudes Op. 25: No. 1 In A-Flat Major (2:54). | ||
| 2. | Etudes Op. 25: No. 2 In F Minor (1:42). | ||
| 3. | Etudes Op. 25: No. 3 In F Major (1:50). | ||
| 4. | Etudes Op. 25: No. 4 In A Minor (1:33). | ||
| 5. | Etudes Op. 25: No. 5 In E Minor (3:58). | ||
| 6. | Etudes Op. 25: No. 6 In G-Sharp Minor (2:05). | ||
| 7. | Etudes Op. 25: No. 7 In C-Sharp Minor (5:55). | ||
| 8. | Etudes Op. 25: No. 8 In D-Flat Major (1:02). | ||
| 9. | Etudes Op. 25: No. 9 In G-Flat Major (1:08). | ||
| 10. | Etudes Op. 25: No. 10 In B Minor (4:46). | ||
| 11. | Etudes Op. 25: No. 11 In A Minor (3:49). | ||
| 12. | Etudes Op. 25: No. 12 In C Minor (2:29). | ||
| 13. | Nocturne Op. 55, No. 2 In E-Flat Major (6:06). | ||
| 14. | Nocturne Op. 15, No. 1 In F Major (5:24). | ||
| 15. | Grande Valse Brillante Op. 18, No. 1 In E-Flat Major (5:48). | ||
| 16. | Andante Spianato (5:20). | ||
| 17. | Grande Polonaise (9:56). | ||
| 18. | Nocturne Op. Post, Kk Iva, No. 16 (20a), In C-Sharp Minor (4:42). | ||
| 19. | Waltz Op. 64, No. 1 In D-Flat Major (2:10). | ||
| 20. | Tristesse [Oh Land Version] (2:13). |