Vladimir Ashkenazy - Chopin: Complete Piano Works (2022)

Pianist and conductor with an immense repertoire, Vladimir Ashkenazy celebrated his 80th birthday in 2017, which DECCA, his record company, has not forgotten by publishing a choice made by the artist himself to salute this event. A child prodigy, the young Vladimir aroused admiration for his prodigious gifts. At 8, he entered the Moscow Conservatory, at 18, he won second prize at the Frédéric Chopin Competition. The following year he won first prize in succession at the Queen Elisabeth Competition in Belgium and the Tchaikovsky Competition in Moscow. Here he is launched, but slowed down by the Soviet Union and especially by the KGB which harasses him so that he becomes an “informant” of the regime. He holds on and ends up being able to emigrate with his young Icelandic wife whom he met at the Moscow Conservatory. The couple then moved to London, then to Iceland, where Vladimir participated in the founding of the Reykjavic Arts Festival, of which he remains honorary president. In 1978, the family, they now have 4 children, moved to Switzerland in the canton of Lucerne.

This is where the overflowing activity of Vladimir Ashkenazy radiates. His early career as a pianist showcases both virtuoso and refined playing that excels in the repertoire with orchestra, as well as in recitals and chamber music concerts. He multiplies concerts and recordings, the complete Sonatas and Concertos of Beethoven, those of Mozart which he engraves magnificently while conducting the keyboard of the Philharmonia Orchestra. Over time, he recorded and re-recorded the entire piano repertoire before abandoning his instrument, at least in public concerts, to devote himself entirely to conducting.

This is because the pianist has become an excellent conductor with a firm and precise direction, with a passion and great romantic panache. Very quickly his interpretations of Sibelius and the symphonic works of Rachmaninov are noticed. He became the musical director of the Royal Philharmonic in London, then of the Berlin Symphony Orchestra, the Czech Philharmonic Orchestra, that of the NHK in Tokyo and the Sydney Symphony. Having at heart to train new generations, he is also the musical director of the European Community Youth Orchestra.

Among Vladimir Ashkenazy's plethora of discography, some records have become legendary, such as the magnificent duet he formed with the Swedish singer Elisabeth Söderström. Together they recorded superb albums devoted to the melodies of Tchaikovsky, Chopin, Rachmaninoff and Sibelius. From the latter, they leave us a bewitching vision of Luonnotar, a true mystical-pantheistic masterpiece.

Faithful in friendship, Vladimir Ashkenazy has often worked in trios with Itzhak Perlman and Lynn Harrell (Beethoven's Sonatas and Trios), with Pinchas Zukerman (Schubert's Trios) and with the conductor and composer André Prévin, whose Concerto he recorded for piano. Among his latest discs, note the one devoted to the French Suites of Johann Sebastian Bach, recorded in 2016 and 2017. We hear a refined and simple art expressed with clarity and naturalness. Magnificent way to close the loop by returning to the sources of keyboard music.

01. Chopin: Nocturne No. 2 in E-Flat Major, Op. 9 No. 2
02. Mazurka No.36 In A Minor Op.59 No.1
03. Chopin: Waltz No.1 in E Flat, Op.18 -"Grande valse brillante"
04. Nocturne No. 7 in C-Sharp Minor, Op. 27 No. 1
05. Chopin: Galop Marquis
06. Chopin: Nocturne No. 9 in B Major, Op. 32 No. 1
07. Waltz No. 19 in A Minor, Op. Posth.
08. Mazurka No.19 In B Minor, Op.30 No.2
09. Chopin: Wiosna, B117 (arr. from Op. 74/2)
10. Mazurka In B Flat (1832)
11. Mazurka No.44 In G Op.67 No.1
12. Chopin: Mazurka in D Major, Op. posth.
13. Mazurka No.28 In B, Op.41 No.3
14. Mazurka No. 52 In B Flat (1826)
15. Chopin: Mazurka No.5 in B Flat, Op.7 No.1
16. Mazurka No. 50 in F Major, Op. 68 No. 3
17. Chopin: Mazurka No. 58 in A flat
18. No. 3 in E Major "Tristesse"
19. Mazurka In D (1832)
20. Mazurka No.3 In E Op.6 No.3
21. Mazurka No.27 In E minor, Op.41 No.2
22. Mazurka in G Minor, Op. 67 No. 2
23. Chopin: Waltz No. 7 in C-Sharp Minor, Op. 64 No. 2
24. Chopin: Contredanse in G flat, B.17
25. No. 15 in D-Flat Major: Sostenuto "Raindrop"
26. Mazurka No. 48 in C Major, Op. 68 No. 1
27. Chopin: Mazurka No.2 In C Sharp Minor Op.6 No.2
28. Waltz No.11 in G Flat, Op.70 No.1
29. Etude in D flat, Op. posth. " Méthode des méthodes "
30. Mazurka No.10 In B Flat Op.17 No.1
31. Waltz No. 2 in A flat major, Op. 34 No. 1 "Valse brillante"
32. Mazurka No.16 In A Flat Op.24 No.3
33. Chopin: Variations in E, "Hexameron"
34. Chopin: Mazurka No.1 In F Sharp Minor Op.6 No.1
35. 3. Marche funèbre (Lento)
36. Mazurka No.30 In G Op.50 No.1
37. Mazurka No.11 In E Minor Op.17 No.2
38. Waltz No. 15 in E Major, Op. posth.
39. Chopin: Mazurka No.13 In A Minor Op.17 No.4
40. Mazurka No.6 In A Minor Op.7 No.2
41. No. 5 in D Major: Molto allegro
42. Chopin: Waltz No.9 in A Flat, Op.69 No.1 -"Farewell"
43. Chopin: Mazurka No.23 in D Major, Op.33 No.2
44. No. 4 in E Minor: Largo
45. Chopin: Nocturne No. 1 in B-Flat Minor, Op. 9 No. 1
46. Chopin: Impromptu No.4 in C Sharp Minor, Op.66 "Fantaisie-Impromptu"
47. Mazurka No.18 In C Minor Op.30 No.1
48. No. 1 in A-Flat Major "Harp Study"
49. Mazurka No.4 In E Flat Minor Op.6 No.4
50. Waltz No. 8 in A-Flat Major, Op. 64 No. 3
51. No. 9 in G-Flat Major "Butterfly Wings"
52. Chopin: Mazurka No.14 In G Minor Op.24 No.1
53. Mazurka No.8 In A Flat Op.7 No.4
54. Waltz No. 10 in B Minor, Op. 69 No. 2
55. Chopin: Fugue in A minor
56. No. 1 in C Major "Waterfall"
57. Mazurka No.15 In C Op.24 No.2
58. Chopin: Waltz No. 6 in D-Flat, Op. 64, No. 1 "Minute"
59. Polonaise in G minor, Op. posth.
60. Ballade No. 1 in G Minor, Op. 23
61. Chopin: Mazurka No.7 In F Minor Op.7 No.3
62. Mazurka No.22 In G Sharp Minor Op.33 No.1
63. Mazurka No.24 In C Op.33 No.3
64. Mazurka No.9 In C Op.7 No.5
65. Chopin: Nocturne No. 8 in D flat major, Op. 27 No.2
66. No. 2 in A Minor "Chromatique"
67. Mazurka in C Major, Op.67, No.3
68. Mazurka No.25 In B Minor Op.33 No.4
69. Mazurka No.49 In A minor Op.68 No.2
70. Mazurka No. 47 in A Minor, Op. 67 No. 4
71. Mazurka No.12 In A Flat Op.17 No.3
72. Chopin: Mazurka No.17 In B Flat Minor Op.24 No.4
73. Chopin: Nocturne No. 20 in C sharp minor, Op. posth.
74. Mazurka No. 53 In G
75. Chopin: Three Ecossaises, Op.72, No.3 (in D, G & D flat)
76. Chopin: Nocturne No. 15 in F Minor, Op. 55 No. 1
77. Mazurka No.21 In C Sharp Minor Op.30 No.4
78. Waltz No.3 in A Minor, Op.34 No.2
79. Chopin: Nocturne No. 5 in F-Sharp Major, Op. 15 No. 2
80. Waltz No.5 in A flat, Op.42 - "Grande valse"
81. Mazurka No.26 In C sharp minor, Op.41 No.1
82. No. 12 in C Minor "Revolutionary"
83. Chopin: Ballade No. 4 in F minor, Op. 52
84. Mazurka No.29 in A flat major, Op.41 No.4
85. Chopin: Feuille d'album in E, Op. posth.
86. No. 11 in A Minor "Winter Wind"
87. Chopin: Polonaise No.6 in A flat, Op.53 -"Heroic"
88. Chopin: Mazurka No. 51 in F Minor, Op. 68 No. 4 (Reconstructed Ekier)
89. Mazurka No.20 In D Flat Op.30 No.3
90. Mazurka No. 41 in C-Sharp Minor, Op. 63 No. 3
91. Polonaise in B flat, Op. posth.
92. Mazurka No.34 In C Op.56 No.2
93. Chopin: Largo in E flat
94. Chopin: Cantabile in B Flat, B.84
95. No. 23 in F Major: Moderato
96. Chopin: Tarantelle In A Flat, Op. 43
97. No. 7 in A Major: Andantino
98. Mazurka No. 42 In A Minor (à Emile Gaillard)
99. Chopin: Scherzo No.2 in B Flat Minor, Op.31
100. Mazurka No.32 In C sharp minor, Op.50 No.3
101. No. 4 in C-Sharp Minor
102. Chopin: Nocturne in C Minor, B. 108
103. Mazurka No.33 In B Op.56 No.1
104. Chopin: Mazurka In A minor Kk918 - "Notre Temps"
105. Mazurka No.38 In F Sharp Minor Op.59 No.3
106. Chopin: Mazurka No. 57 In C
107. 2. Larghetto
108. Mazurka No.31 In A flat, Op.50 No.2
109. Chopin: Mazurka No.51 In F minor, Op.68 No.4 - Revised version
110. Chopin: Variations in A Major, B. 37 "Souvenir de Paganini"
111. Mazurka No.35 In C minor Op.56 No.3
112. Mazurka No. 40 in F Minor, Op. 63 No. 2
113. Chopin: Mazurka No.37 In A Flat Op.59 No.2
114. Chopin: Berceuse in D flat, Op. 57
115. Waltz No. 14 in E Minor, Op. posth.
116. No. 2 in A Minor: Lento
117. Mazurka No. 39 in B Major, Op. 63 No. 1
118. No. 5 in G-Flat Major "Black Keys"
119. Prélude No.25 in C sharp minor, Op.45
120. No. 9 in F Minor
121. Chopin: Nocturne No. 4 in F Major, Op. 15 No. 1
122. Waltz No.12 in F minor/A flat, Op.70 No.2
123. Waltz No. 13 in D-Flat Major, Op. 70 No. 3
124. No. 10 in A-Flat Major
125. Ballade No. 2 in F Major, Op. 38
126. No. 11 in E-Flat Major
127. Chopin: Nocturne No.13 in C minor, Op. 48 No. 1
128. No. 21 in B-Flat Major: Cantabile
129. No. 12 in C Minor
130. Nocturne No. 11 in G minor, Op. 37 No. 1
131. 1. Allegro maestoso
132. No. 20 in C Minor: Largo
133. Chopin: Berceuse in D flat, Op. 57
134. Chopin: Polonaise No.3 in A, Op.40 No.1 - "Military"
135. No. 8 in F Major
136. 1. Grave - Doppio movimento
137. Chopin: Nocturne No. 3 in B Major, Op. 9 No.3
138. Chopin: Waltz No.7 in C sharp minor, Op.64 No.2
139. No. 6 in E-Flat Minor
140. Etude in A flat, Op. posth. " Méthode des méthodes "
141. Chopin: Nocturne No.19 in E minor, Op.72, No 1
142. No. 6 in B Minor: Lento assai
143. Chopin: Waltz No. 6 in D-Flat, Op. 64, No. 1 "Minute"
144. Waltz No.4 in F, Op.34 No.3
145. 1. Allegro maestoso
146. Chopin: Nocturne No. 6 in G Minor, Op. 15 No. 3
147. No. 7 in C Major
148. Chopin: Nocturne No. 10 in A-Flat Major, Op. 32 No. 2
149. No. 2 in F Minor
150. 2. Scherzo - Più lento - Tempo I
151. Ballade No. 3 in A flat major, Op. 47
152. Nocturne No. 17 in B Major, Op. 62 No. 1
153. Nocturne No.14 in F sharp minor, Op. 48 No. 2
154. No. 13 in F-Sharp Major: Lento
155. Chopin: Nocturne No. 12 in G major, Op. 37 No. 2
156. Polonaise No.8 in D minor, Op.71 No.1
157. Chopin: Nocturne No. 16 in E-Flat Major, Op. 55 No. 2
158. 4. Finale (Presto non tanto)
159. Waltz No.17 in E flat, Op.posth.
160. 3. Larghetto
161. No. 17 in A-Flat Major: Allegretto
162. Waltz No.16 in A flat, Op.posth.
163. 4. Finale (Presto)
164. Nocturne No. 18 in E Major, Op. 62 No. 2
165. No. 10 in B Minor
166. Polonaise in G sharp minor, Op. posth.
167. 1. Allegro maestoso
168. Waltz No.18 in E flat, Op.posth.
169. No. 3 in F Major
170. Polonaise No.1 in C sharp minor, Op.26 No.1
171. Chopin: Polonaise in B flat minor, "Adieu" Op. posth.
172. 3. Largo
173. 2. Minuetto (Allegretto)
174. 4. Finale (Presto)
175. No. 6 in G-Sharp Minor
176. 2. Scherzo (Molto vivace)
177. No. 1 in C Major: Agitato
178. Polonaise No. 7 in A-Flat Major, Op. 61 "Polonaise-Fantaisie"
179. Chopin: Waltz No.7 in C sharp minor, Op.64 No.2
180. No. 13 in F-Sharp Major: Lento
181. Polonaise No.5 in F sharp minor, Op.44
182. Polonaise No.9 in B flat, Op.71 No.2
183. 2. Romance (Larghetto)
184. Chopin: Scherzo No.1 In B Minor, Op.20
185. Polonaise in A flat, Op. posth.
186. Scherzo No.3 in C sharp minor, Op.39
187. Polonaise No. 10 in F Minor, Op. 71 No. 3
188. No. 4 in F Minor: Andantino
189. Chopin: Barcarolle in F-Sharp Major, Op. 60
190. Polonaise in G-Flat Major, Op. posth.
191. Polonaise No.2 in E flat minor, Op.26 No.2
192. Polonaise No.4 in C minor, Op.40 No.2
193. No. 16 in B-Flat Minor: Presto con fuoco
194. No. 12 in G-Sharp Minor: Presto
195. No. 8 in F-Sharp Minor: Molto agitato
196. No. 3 in G Major: Vivace
197. Theme
198. No. 11 in B Major: Vivace
199. Chopin: Variations brillantes, Op. 12
200. Scherzo No.4 in E, Op.54
201. Chopin: Rondeau à la Mazurka in F, Op. 5
202. No. 9 in E Major: Largo
203. No. 19 in E-Flat Major: Vivace
204. No. 18 in F Minor: Molto allegro
205. 1. Maestoso
206. 3. Rondo (Vivace)
207. Chopin: Ballade No.4 in F minor, Op.52
208. Chopin: Ballade No.1 in G minor, Op.23
209. Prélude No.26 in A Flat, Op.posth.
210. Chopin: Impromptu No.1 in A Flat, Op.29
211. No. 14 in E-Flat Minor: Allegro
212. Chopin: Bolero In A Minor, Op. 19
213. Chopin: Etude in F minor, Op. posth. " Méthode des méthodes "
214. Chopin: Variations sur un air national de Moore, B. 12a
215. Chopin: Nocturne No.17 in B, Op.62 No.1
216. No. 4 in E Minor: Largo
217. 3. Allegro vivace
218. No. 15 in D-Flat Major "Raindrop": Sostenuto
219. Etude in F minor, Op. posth. " Méthode des méthodes "
220. Chopin: Variations sur un air national allemand - "Der Schweizerbub"
221. Chopin: Barcarolle in F sharp, Op. 60
222. Chopin: Rondeau in C minor, Op. 1
223. No. 2 in A Minor: Lento
224. Chopin: Variations in B flat "La ci darem la mano" from Mozart's "Don Giovanni"
225. Impromptu No.2 in F sharp, Op.36
226. No. 5 in D Major: Molto allegro
227. No. 7 in A Major: Andantino
228. No. 11 in B Major: Vivace
229. No. 16 in B-Flat Minor: Presto con fuoco
230. Chopin: Fantaisie in F minor, Op. 49
231. No. 1 in C Major: Agitato
232. Chopin: Ballade No.4 in F minor, Op.52
233. Chopin: Ballade No.3 in A flat, Op.47
234. No. 6 in B Minor: Lento assai
235. No. 17 in A-Flat Major: Allegretto
236. Impromptu No.3 in G flat, Op.51
237. Chopin: Polonaise No.7 in A flat, Op.61 Polonaise-Fantaisie
238. No. 3 in G Major: Vivace
239. No. 8 in F-Sharp Minor: Molto agitato
240. No. 12 in G-Sharp Minor: Presto
241. No. 9 in E Major: Largo
242. Chopin: Ballade No.2 in F, Op.38
243. Chopin: Prélude No.25 in C sharp minor, Op.45
244. No. 20 in C Minor: Largo
245. Chopin: Nocturne No.18 in E, Op.62 No.2
246. No. 21 in B-Flat Major: Cantabile
247. Chopin: Etude in A flat, Op. posth. " Méthode des méthodes "
248. No. 18 in F Minor: Molto allegro
249. Chopin: Scherzo No.2 in B flat minor, Op.31
250. No. 22 in G Minor: Molto agitato
251. Chopin: Barcarolle in F sharp, Op. 60
252. Chopin: Nocturne No.17 in B, Op.62 No.1
253. No. 19 in E-Flat Major: Vivace
254. Chopin: Etude in D flat, Op. posth. " Méthode des méthodes "
255. Chopin: Scherzo No.1 in B minor, Op.20
256. Chopin: Scherzo No.4 in E, Op.54
257. Chopin: Andante spianato et Grande Polonaise brillante in E flat, Op. 22
258. Chopin: Scherzo No.3 in C sharp minor, Op.39
259. I. Allegro maestoso
260. III. Largo
261. Chopin: Mazurka No.38 in F sharp minor Op.59 No.3
262. Chopin: Marche funèbre In C Minor, Op. 72,2
263. Chopin: Rondeau for 2 Pianos in C, Op. 73 - Version for solo piano (Solo Piano Version)
264. Chopin: Mazurka No.37 in A flat Op.59 No.2
265. Chopin: Waltz No.6 in D flat, Op.64 No.1 -"Minute"
266. 1. Allegro maestoso
267. Chopin: Waltz No.8 in A flat, Op.64 No.3
268. Chopin: Mazurka No.36 in A minor Op.59 No.1
269. II. Scherzo. Molto vivace
270. IV. Finale. Presto non tanto
271. 3. Marche funèbre (Lento)
272. Chopin: Scherzo No.4 in E, Op.54
273. 3. Rondo (Vivace)
274. 2. Romance (Larghetto)
275. Chopin: Rondeau in E flat, Op. 16
276. Chopin: Mazurka No.37 in A flat Op.59 No.2
277. Chopin: Mazurkas Nos. 1-4