Track Listing

Disc 1:

1. Nocturnes (3) for piano, Op. 9, CT. 108-110: No. 1 in B flat minor
2. Nocturnes (3) for piano, Op. 9, CT. 108-110: No. 2 in E flat
3. Nocturnes (3) for piano, Op. 9, CT. 108-110: No. 3 in B
4. Nocturnes (3) for piano, Op. 15, CT. 111-113: No. 1 in F
5. Nocturnes (3) for piano, Op. 15, CT. 111-113: No. 2 in F sharp
6. Nocturnes (3) for piano, Op. 15, CT. 111-113: No. 3 in G minor
7. Nocturnes (2) for piano, Op. 27, CT. 114-115: No. 1 in C sharp minor
8. Nocturnes (2) for piano, Op. 27, CT. 114-115: No. 2 in D flat
9. Nocturnes (2) for piano, Op. 32, CT. 116-117: No. 1 in B
10. Nocturnes (2) for piano, Op. 32, CT. 116-117: No. 2 in A flat

Disc 2:

1. Nocturnes (2) for piano, Op. 37, CT. 118-119: No. 1 in G minor
2. Nocturnes (2) for piano, Op. 37, CT. 118-119: No. 2 in G
3. Nocturnes (2) for piano, Op. 48, CT. 120-121: No. 1 in C minor
4. Nocturnes (2) for piano, Op. 48, CT. 120-121: No. 2 in F sharp minor
5. Nocturnes (2) for piano, Op. 55, CT. 122-123: No. 1 in F minor
6. Nocturnes (2) for piano, Op. 55, CT. 122-123: No. 2 in E flat
7. Nocturnes (2) for piano, Op. 62, CT. 124-125: No. 1 in B
8. Nocturnes (2) for piano, Op. 62, CT. 124-125: No. 2 in E
9. Nocturne for piano No. 19 in E minor, Op. 72/1, CT. 126

Disc 3:

1. Mazurkas (4) for piano, Op. 6, CT. 51-54: No. 1 in F sharp minor
2. Mazurkas (4) for piano, Op. 6, CT. 51-54: No. 2 in C sharp minor
3. Mazurkas (4) for piano, Op. 6, CT. 51-54: No. 3 in E
4. Mazurkas (4) for piano, Op. 6, CT. 51-54: No. 4 in E flat minor
5. Mazurkas (5) for piano, Op. 7, CT. 56-59: No. 1 in B flat
6. Mazurkas (5) for piano, Op. 7, CT. 56-59: No. 2 in A minor
7. Mazurkas (5) for piano, Op. 7, CT. 56-59: No. 3 in F minor
8. Mazurkas (5) for piano, Op. 7, CT. 56-59: No. 4 in A flat
9. Mazurkas (5) for piano, Op. 7, CT. 56-59: No. 5 in C
10. Mazurkas (4) for piano, Op. 17, CT. 60-63: No. 1 in B flat
11. Mazurkas (4) for piano, Op. 17, CT. 60-63: No. 2 in E minor
12. Mazurkas (4) for piano, Op. 17, CT. 60-63: No. 3 in A flat
13. Mazurkas (4) for piano, Op. 17, CT. 60-63: No. 4 in A minor
14. Mazurkas (4) for piano, Op. 24, CT. 64-67: No. 1 in G minor
15. Mazurkas (4) for piano, Op. 24, CT. 64-67: No. 2 in C
16. Mazurkas (4) for piano, Op. 24, CT. 64-67: No. 3 in A flat
17. Mazurkas (4) for piano, Op. 24, CT. 64-67: No. 4 in B flat minor
18. Mazurkas (4) for piano, Op. 30, CT. 68-71: No. 1 in C minor
19. Mazurkas (4) for piano, Op. 30, CT. 68-71: No. 2 in B minor
20. Mazurkas (4) for piano, Op. 30, CT. 68-71: No. 3 in D flat
21. Mazurkas (4) for piano, Op. 30, CT. 68-71: No. 4 in C sharp minor
22. Mazurkas (4) for piano, Op. 33, CT. 72-75: No. 1 in G sharp minor
23. Mazurkas (4) for piano, Op. 33, CT. 72-75: No. 2 in D
24. Mazurkas (4) for piano, Op. 33, CT. 72-75: No. 3 in C
25. Mazurkas (4) for piano, Op. 33, CT. 72-75: No. 4 in B minor
26. Mazurkas (4) for piano, Op. 41, CT. 76-79: No. 1 in C sharp minor

Disc 4:

1. Mazurkas (4) for piano, Op. 41, CT. 76-79: No. 2 in E minor
2. Mazurkas (4) for piano, Op. 41, CT. 76-79: No. 3 in B
3. Mazurkas (4) for piano, Op. 41, CT. 76-79: No. 4 in A flat
4. Mazurkas (3) for piano, Op. 50, CT. 80-82: No. 1 in G
5. Mazurkas (3) for piano, Op. 50, CT. 80-82: No. 2 in A flat
6. Mazurkas (3) for piano, Op. 50, CT. 80-82: No. 3 in C sharp minor
7. Mazurkas (3) for piano, Op. 56, CT. 83-85: No. 1 in B
8. Mazurkas (3) for piano, Op. 56, CT. 83-85: No. 2 in C
9. Mazurkas (3) for piano, Op. 56, CT. 83-85: No. 3 in C minor
10. Mazurkas (3) for piano, Op. 59, CT. 86-88: No. 1 in A minor
11. Mazurkas (3) for piano, Op. 59, CT. 86-88: No. 2 in A flat
12. Mazurkas (3) for piano, Op. 59, CT. 86-88: No. 3 in F sharp minor
13. Mazurkas (3) for piano, Op. 63, CT. 89-91: No. 1 in B
14. Mazurkas (3) for piano, Op. 63, CT. 89-91: No. 2 in F minor
15. Mazurkas (3) for piano, Op. 63, CT. 89-91: No. 3 in C sharp minor
16. Mazurka for piano in A minor ('à Émile Gaillard'), KK IIb/5, CT. 106 (B. 140)
17. Mazurka for piano in A minor ('Notre temps'), KK IIb/4, CT. 105 (B. 134)
18. Mazurkas (4) for piano, Op. 67, CT. 92-95: No. 1 in G
19. Mazurkas (4) for piano, Op. 67, CT. 92-95: No. 2 in G minor
20. Mazurkas (4) for piano, Op. 67, CT. 92-95: No. 3 in C
21. Mazurkas (4) for piano, Op. 67, CT. 92-95: No. 4 in A minor
22. Mazurkas (4) for piano, Op. 68, CT. 96-99: No. 1 in C
23. Mazurkas (4) for piano, Op. 68, CT. 96-99: No. 2 in A minor
24. Mazurkas (4) for piano, Op. 68, CT. 96-99: No. 3 in F
25. Mazurkas (4) for piano, Op. 68, CT. 96-99: No. 4 in F minor

Disc 5:

1. Ballade for piano No. 1 in G minor, Op. 23, CT. 2
2. Ballade for piano No. 2 in F major, Op. 38, CT. 3
3. Ballade for piano No. 3 in A flat major, Op. 47, CT. 4
4. Ballade for piano No. 4 in F minor, Op. 52, CT. 5
5. Scherzo for piano No. 1 in B minor, Op. 20, CT. 197
6. Scherzo for piano No. 2 in B flat minor, Op. 31, CT. 198
7. Scherzo for piano No. 3 in C sharp minor, Op. 39, CT. 199
8. Scherzo for piano No. 4 in E major, Op. 54, CT. 200

Disc 6:

1. Polonaises (2) for piano, Op. 26, CT. 150-151: No. 1 in C sharp minor
2. Polonaises (2) for piano, Op. 26, CT. 150-151: No. 2 in E flat minor
3. Polonaises (2) for piano, Op. 40, CT. 152-153: No. 1 in A "Military"
4. Polonaises (2) for piano, Op. 40, CT. 152-153: No. 2 in C minor
5. Polonaise for piano No. 5 in F sharp minor, Op. 44, CT. 154
6. Polonaise for piano No. 6 in A flat major ('Héroique'), Op. 53, CT. 155
7. Polonaise-fantasy for piano No. 7 in A flat major, Op. 61, CT. 156

Disc 7:

1. Piano Sonata No. 2 in B flat minor, Op. 35, CT. 202: Grave; Doppio movimento
2. Piano Sonata No. 2 in B flat minor, Op. 35, CT. 202: Scherzo
3. Piano Sonata No. 2 in B flat minor, Op. 35, CT. 202: Marche funèbre: Lento
4. Piano Sonata No. 2 in B flat minor, Op. 35, CT. 202: Finale: Presto
5. Piano Sonata No. 3 in B minor, Op. 58, CT. 203: Allegro maestoso
6. Piano Sonata No. 3 in B minor, Op. 58, CT. 203: Scherzo: Molto vivace
7. Piano Sonata No. 3 in B minor, Op. 58, CT. 203: Largo
8. Piano Sonata No. 3 in B minor, Op. 58, CT. 203: Finale: Presto, non tanto
9. Fantasy for piano in F minor/A flat major, Op. 49, C. 42

Disc 8:

1. Piano Concerto No. 1 in E minor, Op. 11, CT. 47: Allegro maestoso
2. Piano Concerto No. 1 in E minor, Op. 11, CT. 47: Romance: Larghetto
3. Piano Concerto No. 1 in E minor, Op. 11, CT. 47: Rondo: Vivace
4. Piano Concerto No. 2 in F minor, Op. 21, CT. 48: Maestoso
5. Piano Concerto No. 2 in F minor, Op. 21, CT. 48: Larghetto
6. Piano Concerto No. 2 in F minor, Op. 21, CT. 48: Allegro vivace

Disc 9:

1. Waltz for piano No. 1 in E flat major, Op. 18, CT. 207
2. Waltzes (3) for piano, Op. 34, CT. 208-210: No. 1 in A flat
3. Waltzes (3) for piano, Op. 34, CT. 208-210: No. 2 in A minor
4. Waltzes (3) for piano, Op. 34, CT. 208-210: No. 3 in F
5. Waltz for piano No. 5 in A flat major, Op. 42, CT. 211
6. Waltzes (3) for piano, Op. 64, CT. 212-214: No. 1 in D flat "Minute"
7. Waltzes (3) for piano, Op. 64, CT. 212-214: No. 2 in C sharp minor
8. Waltzes (3) for piano, Op. 64, CT. 212-214: No. 3 in A flat
9. Waltzes (2) for piano, Op. 69, CT. 215-216: No. 1 in A flat "L'Adieu"
10. Waltzes (2) for piano, Op. 69, CT. 215-216: No. 2 in B minor
11. Waltzes (3) for piano, Op. 70, CT. 217-219: No. 1 in G flat
12. Waltzes (3) for piano, Op. 70, CT. 217-219: No. 2 in F minor
13. Waltzes (3) for piano, Op. 70, CT. 217-219: No. 3 in D flat
14. Waltz for piano in E flat major (spurious), KK IVa/14 (B. 46)

Disc 10:

1. Impromptu for piano in A flat major, Op. 29, CT. 43
2. Impromptu for piano in F sharp major, Op. 36, CT. 44
3. Impromptu for piano in G flat major, Op. 51, CT. 45
4. Fantasy-Impromptu for piano in C sharp minor, Op. 66, CT. 46
5. Barcarolle for piano in F sharp major, Op. 60, CT. 6
6. Trois nouvelles études, for piano, KK IIb/3, CT. 38-40 (B. 130)
7. Bolero for piano in C major/A major, Op. 19, CT. 8
8. Berceuse for piano in D flat major, Op. 57, CT. 7
9. Tarantelle for piano in A flat major, Op. 43, CT. 205
10. Andante spianato and Grande Polonaise for piano & orchestra, Op. 22

Disc 11:

1. Preludes (24) for piano, Op. 28, CT. 166-189: in C
2. Preludes (24) for piano, Op. 28, CT. 166-189: in A minor
3. Preludes (24) for piano, Op. 28, CT. 166-189: in G
4. Preludes (24) for piano, Op. 28, CT. 166-189: in E minor
5. Preludes (24) for piano, Op. 28, CT. 166-189: in D
6. Preludes (24) for piano, Op. 28, CT. 166-189: in B minor
7. Preludes (24) for piano, Op. 28, CT. 166-189: in A
8. Preludes (24) for piano, Op. 28, CT. 166-189: in F sharp minor
9. Preludes (24) for piano, Op. 28, CT. 166-189: in E
10. Preludes (24) for piano, Op. 28, CT. 166-189: in C sharp minor
11. Preludes (24) for piano, Op. 28, CT. 166-189: in B
12. Preludes (24) for piano, Op. 28, CT. 166-189: in G sharp minor
13. Preludes (24) for piano, Op. 28, CT. 166-189: in F sharp
14. Preludes (24) for piano, Op. 28, CT. 166-189: in E flat minor
15. Preludes (24) for piano, Op. 28, CT. 166-189: in D flat "Raindrop"
16. Preludes (24) for piano, Op. 28, CT. 166-189: in B flat minor
17. Preludes (24) for piano, Op. 28, CT. 166-189: in A flat
18. Preludes (24) for piano, Op. 28, CT. 166-189: in F minor
19. Preludes (24) for piano, Op. 28, CT. 166-189: in E flat
20. Preludes (24) for piano, Op. 28, CT. 166-189: in C minor
21. Preludes (24) for piano, Op. 28, CT. 166-189: in B flat
22. Preludes (24) for piano, Op. 28, CT. 166-189: in G minor
23. Preludes (24) for piano, Op. 28, CT. 166-189: in F
24. Preludes (24) for piano, Op. 28, CT. 166-189: in D minor
25. Piano Sonata No. 2 in B flat minor, Op. 35, CT. 202: Grave; Doppio movimento
26. Piano Sonata No. 2 in B flat minor, Op. 35, CT. 202: Scherzo
27. Piano Sonata No. 2 in B flat minor, Op. 35, CT. 202: March funèbre: Lento
28. Piano Sonata No. 2 in B flat minor, Op. 35, CT. 202: Finale: Presto
29. Berceuse for piano in D flat major, Op. 57, CT. 7
30. Barcarolle for piano in F sharp major, Op. 60, CT. 6

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #2812 in Music
• Released on: 1991-10-07
• Number of discs: 11
• Formats: Box set, Import
• Dimensions: 1.43 pounds

Album Details
11cd Box Set with the Legendary Rubinsetin Recordings of Chopin Works.

Customer Reviews

The "Gold Standard" for Chopin
This 11 CD set is absolutely fabulous. Artur Rubinstein was a great pianist, and he was at his best with Chopin. You simply will not hear better performances of Chopin than these. That is not just *my* opinion; he is widely regarded as one of the greatest interpreters of Chopin of all time. Just do a quick online search if you doubt this, and look at reviews of his other CD releases of Chopin pieces here at Amazon.com.

This is all of the pieces of Chopin that Rubinstein recorded, though it is not all of the recordings he did of Chopin (he recorded some pieces more than once; many of his earlier mono recordings are not included), and it is not all of the pieces that Chopin wrote (because Rubinstein never recorded all of what Chopin wrote). If one wants all of the works of Chopin, one should still buy this set, but one would need to buy a few other CDs of other people performing the few pieces of Chopin that Rubinstein never recorded.

10 of the 11 discs were recorded in the late 1950's & 1960's in good quality stereo sound (though obviously not as high fidelity as is possible now). The last disc was recorded in the 1940's, so the sound is not great, and is mono. Nevertheless, it is still listenable, and the performances are still superb.

It comes with a nice, informative, multi-lingual booklet. English is one of the included languages.

You should buy this set before they raise the price; it is great. This set would be worth buying even if they charged normal retail prices for the CDs (which would be somewhere around $200 for this many discs). I bought an earlier release of this set for around $100 some years ago, and was very happy with the deal. (My brother bought a set of this release, so I know about this particular release, too, and that it includes a multi-lingual booklet, etc.) At the price Amazon is currently selling it, buy before they change their minds and charge what it is really worth!

If you like Chopin, the only way you could possibly be disappointed with this is if you must have current state of the art sound quality, or you have deviant taste in how Chopin should be performed. There simply is no other way you could be dissatisfied.

Can't Afford Not to Own This Set
There may be better (according to your taste) individual recordings of Chopin's works contained in this set, but not that much better, and certainly not at this price. Artists such as Arrau (Etudes, which aren't in this set & his darker Nocturnes), Moravec's Ballades, Michelangeli's Sonata No.2, Kapell's Mazurkas & Pollini's Preludes come to mind. That being said, Rubinstein's interpretations of all of these works are also outstanding, and nobody can touch him on the Waltzes (well, maybe Lipatti). The only minor disappointment of this set is the subpar recording quality of the Preludes, but the playing of them is still very nice and quite listenable. If you don't already own these works, this is definately the place to start (especially at less than $3 a CD), and if you don't know Rubinstein's sophisticated and aristrocratic readings of Chopin, you must see what you're missing. Highly recommended.

**At the time I printed this review the price was $27.99**

One for the ages
Perhaps no other pianist is so indelibly linked to one composer's music than Artur Rubinstein is to the works of Chopin. One might think of Glenn Gould & Bach, but even the renowned Canadian virtuoso's recordings of JSB are not held in such high esteem as Rubinstein's Chopin catalog. Rubinstein has such an affinity for this music,and performs the works with such a master's touch, that the listener immediately developes an especially affectionate bond with this marvellous 11-cd set from RCA Victor.These performances are some of the absolutely great treasures in the history of recorded music. They have such a wide appeal that they instantly become a must have for your cd library, made all the more tempting by the super-bargain price offered on this re-mastered box set.
Highly recommended & definitely not to be missed!