Ten of the world’s greatest pianists of the 20th century – Sviatoslav Richter, Maurizio Pollini, Artur Rubinstein, Vladimir Horowitz, Van Cliburn, Geza Anda, Clara Haskil, Leon Fleisher, Julius Katchen and Byron Janis – are featured in this special 10-CD box set of some of their best albums.
Collectively the hands of these outstanding artists brought to life, often in exceptional ways, the major works of the piano literature, both concertos and solo piano music. Tchaikovsky, Rachmaninov, Liszt and Chopin are represented as are Mozart, Beethoven, Brahms, Schubert and Schumann, Scriabin and Prokofiev. The result is a portrait of an epoch unique in its pianistic versatility.
The original artwork, both European and American, is printed on the sleeves of these 12 exemplary albums recorded by ten giants of the keyboard.
Sviatoslav Richter (piano), Maurizio Pollini (piano), Artur Rubinstein (piano), Vladimir Horowitz (piano), Van Cliburn (piano), Geza Anda (piano), Clara Haskil (piano), Leon Fleisher (piano), Julius Katchen (piano), Byron Janis (piano)
Beethoven:
Piano Sonata No. 12 in A flat major, Op. 26 ‘March Funebre’ – Sviatoslav Richter
Piano Sonata No. 23 in F minor, Op. 57 ‘Appassionata’ – Sviatislav Richter
Brahms:
Variations and Fugue on a Theme by Handel, Op. 24 – Leon Fleisher
Waltz, Op. 39 No. 1 in B major – Leon Fleisher
Waltz, Op. 39 No. 2 in E major
Waltz, Op. 39 No. 3 in G sharp minor
Waltz, Op. 39 No. 4 in E minor
Waltz, Op. 39 No. 5 in E major
Waltz, Op. 39 No. 6 in C sharp major
Chopin:
Piano Concerto No. 1 in E minor, Op. 11 – Maurizio Pollini
Piano Concerto No. 2 in F minor, Op. 21 – Arthur Rubinstein
Polonaise No. 6 in A flat major, Op. 53 ‘Héroïque’ –
Preludes (24), Op. 28 – Maurizio Pollini
Liszt:
Au bord d’une source (Années de pèlerinage I, S. 160 No. 4)
Sonetto 104 del Petrarca (Années de pèlerinage II, S. 161 No. 5)
Funérailles (Harmonies poétiques et religieuses, S. 173 No. 7)
Hungarian Rhapsody, S244 No. 2 in C sharp minor
Hungarian Rhapsody, S244 No. 6 in D flat major
Rakoczi March, S242a/1 (first version, 1839/40)
Totentanz, S126 for piano & orchestra – Byron Janis
Valse oubliée No. 1, S.215/1
Vladimir Horowitz, piano
Mozart:
Piano Concerto No. 23 in A major, K488 – Geza Anda
Piano Sonata No. 10 in C major, K330 – Clara Haskil
Prokofiev:
Piano Sonata No. 7 in B flat major, Op. 83 – Sviatislav Richter
Rachmaninov:
Piano Concerto No. 1 in F sharp minor, Op. 1 – Byron Janis
Piano Concerto No. 2 in C minor, Op. 18 – Geza Anda
Piano Concerto No. 3 in D minor, Op. 30 – Van Cliburn
Prelude Op. 23 No. 5 in G minor – Geza Anda
Prelude Op. 32 No. 5 in G major- Geza Anda
Schubert:
Fantasie in C major, D760 ‘Wanderer’
Piano Sonata No. 21 in B flat major, D960 – Clara Haskil
Schumann:
Carnaval, Op. 9 – Julius Katchen
Scriabin:
Prelude, Op. 11 No. 5 in D major – Vladimir Horowitz
Prelude, Op. 22 No. 1 in G sharp minor – Vladimir Horowitz
Tchaikovsky:
Piano Concerto No. 1 in B flat minor, Op. 23 – Van Cliburn