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Frederic Chopin, one of the great composers of the Romantic period, lived a brief but immensely successful and productive life. To put him into historical perspective, he was 17 years old when Beethoven died in 1827. He was a contemporary of Liszt, Schumann, Mendelssohn, Wagner, Berlioz and Rossini.
Unlike other masters, Chopin created music almost exclusively for his favorite instrument, the piano. From the moment he arrived in Paris from his native Poland, at the age of 2 1, he was an unqualified success. He performed in very few public concert halls in his lifetime, feeling more at ease in intimate surroundings of the salon. His brief career of composing, teaching and playing at soirees was an uninterrupted success, notwithstanding his fragile health, until his death in 1849 at the tender age of 39. From then until now, his work is possibly the most widely performed of the piano literature. In the twentieth century many of his melodies have been transformed into popular songs.
On this album you may recognize 'I'm Always Chasing Rainbows' from Fantasie Impromptu, 'No Other Love' from the Etude in E, 'Till the End of Time' from the Polonaise in A flat and 'To Love Again' from the Nocturne in E flat.
To a pianist, Chopin is a dream come true. From the most expressive song-like melodies to the most exciting virtuosic passage the compositions offer challenges and opportunities that are unlike any others. For me, this total immersion in the music of Chopin has truly been the most intense work I've ever loved! Here's to him!
1. Nocturne #2 in Eb Op9 #2 
2. Fantasie Impromptu Op66
3. Waltz in C#m Op64 #2
4. Prelude in Em Op28 #4
5. Nocturne #5 in F# Op15 #2
6. Polonaise in Ab Op53 (The Heroic)
7. Etude in E Op10 #3
8. Prelude in C Op28 #1
9. Nocturne #4 in F Op15 #1
10. Berceuse Op57
11. Prelude in Cm Op28 #20
12. Etude in Cm Op10 #12 (The Revolutionary)
13. Ballade in Gm Op23
Price $15.98
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