Maurizio Pollini - Maurizio Pollini Edition (2001)

24 Apr, 16:07
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Artist: Maurizio Pollini
Title: Maurizio Pollini Edition
Year Of Release: 2001
Label: Deutsche Grammophon
Genre: Classical
Quality: FLAC (tracks)
Total Time: 14:55:47
Total Size: 3.3 Gb
WebSite: Album Preview

Tracklist:

CD 1
Piano Concerto No. 23 in A major, K. 488 (Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart)
1 1. Allegro - Cadenza: Mozart 11:19
2 2. Adagio 07:15
3 3. Allegro assai 08:05
Piano Concerto No.5 in E flat major Op.73 -"Emperor" (Ludwig van Beethoven)
4 1. Allegro 20:39
5 2. Adagio un poco mosso 08:01
6 3. Rondo (Allegro) 10:15

CD 2
Piano Concerto No. 3 in C minor, Op. 37 (Ludwig van Beethoven)
1 1. Allegro con brio - Cadenza: Beethoven (Live) 16:09
2 2. Largo (Live) 10:06
3 3. Rondo. Allegro - Presto (Live) 09:26
Piano Concerto No. 4 in G major, Op. 58 (Ludwig van Beethoven)
4 1. Allegro moderato - Cadenza: Ludwig van Beethoven (Live) 17:26
5 2. Andante con moto (Live) 05:15
6 3. Rondo. Vivace - Cadenza: Ludwig van Beethoven (Live) 09:59

CD 3
Piano Concerto in A minor, Op. 54 (Robert Schumann)
1 1. Allegro affettuoso 15:09
2 2. Intermezzo (Andantino grazioso) 05:30
3 3. Allegro vivace 10:26
Piano Concerto No. 1 in D minor, Op. 15 (Johannes Brahms)
4 1. Maestoso - Poco più moderato (Live) 21:10
5 2. Adagio (Live) 12:11
6 3. Rondo (Allegro non troppo) (Live) 11:44

CD 4
Piano Sonata No.13 in E flat, Op.27 No.1 (Ludwig van Beethoven)
1 1. Andante - Allegro - Tempo I 04:59
2 2. Allegro molto e vivace 01:54
3 3. Adagio con espressione 02:53
4 4. Allegro vivace - Tempo I - Presto 05:19
Piano Sonata No.14 in C sharp minor, Op.27 No.2 -"Moonlight" (Ludwig van Beethoven)
5 1. Adagio sostenuto 06:21
6 2. Allegretto 02:16
7 3. Presto agitato 07:13
Piano Sonata No.17 in D minor, Op.31 No.2 -"Tempest" (Ludwig van Beethoven)
8 1. Largo - Allegro 08:42
9 2. Adagio 07:54
10 3. Allegretto 06:05
Piano Sonata No.21 in C, Op.53 -"Waldstein" (Ludwig van Beethoven)
11 1. Allegro con brio (Live)\09:59
12 2. Introduzione (Adagio molto) (Live) 03:54
13 3. Rondo (Allegretto moderato - Prestissimo) (Live) 09:49

CD 5
Piano Sonata No. 29 in B-flat Major, Op. 106 "Hammerklavier" (Ludwig van Beethoven)
1 1. Allegro 10:48
2 2. Scherzo. Assai vivace - Presto - Prestissimo - Tempo I 02:42
3 3. Adagio sostenuto 17:12
4 4. Largo - Allegro risoluto 12:17
Piano Sonata No. 32 in C minor, Op. 111 (Ludwig van Beethoven)
5 1. Maestoso - Allegro con brio ed appassionato 08:53
6 2. Arietta - Adagio molto semplice e cantabile 17:22

CD 6
Piano Sonata No.20 in A, D.959 (Franz Schubert)
1 1. Allegro 14:44
2 2. Andantino 07:40
3 3. Scherzo (Allegro vivace) 04:48
4 4. Rondo (Allegretto) 11:50
Allegretto in C minor, D. 915 (Franz Schubert)
5 Schubert: Allegretto In C Minor, D.915 05:24
3 Klavierstücke, D.946 (Franz Schubert)
6 No.1 In E Flat Minor (Allegro assai) 08:57
7 No.2 In E Flat (Allegretto) 11:13
8 No.3 In C (Allegro) 05:12

CD 7
12 Etudes, Op.25 (Frédéric Chopin)
1 No.1 In A Flat "Harp Study" 02:13
2 No.2 In F Minor 01:23
3 No.3 In F 01:53
4 No.4 In A Minor 01:40
5 No.5 In E Minor 02:55
6 No.6 In G Sharp Minor 02:03
7 No.7 In C Sharp Minor 04:51
8 No.8 In D Flat 01:04
9 No.9 In G Flat "Butterfly Wings" 00:57
10 No.10 In B Minor 03:57
11 No.11 In A Minor "Winter Wind" 03:32
12 No.12 In C Minor 02:29
Piano Sonata No.2 in B flat minor, Op.35 (Frédéric Chopin)
13 1. Grave - Doppio movimento 07:16
14 2. Scherzo - Più lento - Tempo I 06:15
15 3. Marche funèbre (Lento) 08:24
16 4. Finale (Presto) 01:24
Berceuse in D flat, Op.57 (Frédéric Chopin)
17 Chopin: Berceuse In D Flat, Op.57 04:26

CD 8
Fantasie in C, Op.17 (Robert Schumann)
1 1. Durchaus fantastisch und leidenschaftlich vorzutragen - Im Legendenton - Erstes Tempo 12:09
2 2. Mäßig. Durchaus energisch - Etwas langsamer - Viel bewegter 07:55
3 3. Langsam getragen. Durchweg leise zu halten - Etwas bewegter 10:42
Arabeske in C, Op.18 (Robert Schumann)
4 Schumann: Arabeske in C, Op.18 06:32
Piano Sonata in B minor, S.178 (Franz Liszt)
5 Lento assai (I) 00:47
6 Allegro energico (I) 02:39
7 Grandioso 06:22
8 Recitativo- 01:51
9 Andante sostenuto - (I) 01:02
10 Quasi adagio 06:19
11 Allegro energico (II) 02:22
12 Più mosso 03:10
13 Stretta quasi Presto- 00:29
14 Presto - Prestissimo- 00:52
15 Andante sostenuto - (II) 01:03
16 Allegro moderato- 01:01
17 Lento assai (II) 01:10
La Lugubre Gondola, S.200 No.1 (Franz Liszt)
18 Liszt: La Lugubre Gondola, S.200 No.1 04:11

CD 9
12 Etudes, L.136 (Claude Debussy)
1 1. Pour les "cinq doigts" (d'après Monsieur Czerny) 02:58
2 2. Pour les Tierces 03:19
3 3. Pour les Quartes 04:16
4 4. Pour les Sixtes 03:26
5 5. Pour les Octaves 02:32
6 6. Pour les huit doigts 01:33
7 7. Pour les Degrés chromatiques 02:19
8 8. Pour les Agréments 04:48
9 9. Pour les Notes répétées 03:12
10 10. Pour les Sonorités opposées 04:21
11 11. Pour les Arpèges composés 03:35
12 12. Pour les Accords 05:02
Piano Sonata No. 2 (Pierre Boulez)
13 1. Extrèmement rapide 06:12
14 2. Lent 11:04
15 3. Modéré, presque vif 02:13
16 4. Vif 10:12

CD 10
Three movements 'Petruschka' (Igor Stravinsky)
1 Danse russe. Allegro giusto 02:34
2 Chez Pétrouchka 04:17
3 La semaine grasse. Con Moto - Allegretto - Tempo giusto - Agitato 08:27
Piano Concerto No.1, BB 91, Sz. 83 (Béla Bartók)
4 1. Allegro moderato - Allegro 09:13
5 2. Andante 07:53
6 3. Allegro molto 06:21
Piano Concerto No.2, BB 101, Sz. 95 (Béla Bartók)
7 1. Allegro 09:40
8 2. Adagio - Più adagio - Presto 11:48
9 3. Allegro molto 06:07

CD 11
Three Piano Pieces, Op.11 (1909) (Arnold Schönberg)
1 1. Mäßige Viertel 03:57
2 2. Mässige Achtel 07:13
3 3. Bewegte Achtel 02:30
Sechs kleine Klavierstücke, Op.19 (Arnold Schönberg)
4 No.1 - Leicht, zart 01:21
5 No.2 - Langsam 00:54
6 No.3 - Sehr langsame Viertel 01:01
7 No.4 - Rasch, aber leicht 00:26
8 No.5 - Etwas rasch 00:35
9 No.6 - Sehr langsam 01:06
Fünf Klavierstücke (Arnold Schönberg)
10 1. Sehr langsam 02:08
11 2. Sehr rasch 01:20
12 3. Langsam 02:48
13 4. Schwungvoll. Mässige (Viertel) 01:37
14 5. Walzer 02:27
Suite für Klavier, Op.25 (Arnold Schönberg)
15 1. Präludium, rasch 01:04
16 2a. Gavotte. Etwas langsam, nicht hastig (attaca:) Rascher. Rascher - Gavotte 01:04
17 2b. Musette: Rascher 01:10
18 2c. Gavotte (da capo) 01:10
19 3. Intermezzo 03:21
20 4. Minuett: Moderato - Trio 03:54
21 5. Gigue: Rasch 02:33
Piano Piece op.33a (Arnold Schönberg)
22 Mässig 02:12
Piano Piece op.33b (Arnold Schönberg)
23 Mässig langsam 03:38
Concerto for Piano and Orchestra, Op. 42 (Arnold Schönberg)
24 1. Andante 04:42
25 2. Molto allegro 02:30
26 3. Adagio 06:01
27 4. Giocoso (moderato) 06:01
Variations for Piano, Op. 27 (Anton Webern)
28 1. Sehr mäßig 01:59
29 2. Sehr schnell 00:39
30 3. Ruhig, fließend 03:27

CD 12
Como una ola de fuerza y luz (Luigi Nono)
1 Beginning 02:35
2 1. Interno dolce 01:47
3 2. Duro deciso 02:13
4 Piano entry 06:54
5 3. Dolcissimo sereno 02:11
6 Orchestra entry 10:01
7 Orchestra and piano entry 04:17
....Sofferte onde serene....for piano and magnetic tape (Luigi Nono)
8 Nono: ....Sofferte onde serene....for piano and magnetic tape 14:03
Masse: Omaggio a Edgar Varese (Giacomo Manzoni)
9 Manzoni: Masse: Omaggio a Edgar Varese 19:38

CD 13
Piano Concerto No.1 in E minor, Op.11 (Frédéric Chopin)
1 1. Allegro maestoso 16:10
2 2. Romance (Larghetto) 09:43
3 3. Rondo (Vivace) 09:31
Piano Concerto in A minor, Op.54 (Robert Schumann)
4 1. Allegro affettuoso 14:53
5 2. Intermezzo (Andantino grazioso) 05:14
6 3. Allegro vivace 10:44

Performers:
Maurizio Pollini (piano)
Wiener Philharmoniker, Karl Böhm
Berliner Philharmoniker, Claudio Abbado
Chicago Symphony Orchestra, Claudio Abbado
Symphonie-Orchester des Bayerischen Rundfunks, Claudio Abbado
Berliner Philharmoniker, Giuseppe Sinopoli
Warsaw Philharmonic Orchestra, Jerzy Katlewicz
Wiener Philharmoniker, Herbert von Karajan

Maurizo Pollini, the great concert pianist from Milan, is shown in fine form throughout this 13 CD box set "edition" of his previously released recordings on the Deutsche Gramophone label ( celebrating his 30th year with DG ). The performances were selected by the artist himself and so retain a merit absent in some other types of repackaging "schemes".
Hardcore classical music enthusiasts are rarely short of opinions, positive or negative, about this phenomenal musician. Like his friend Pierre Boulez, he is treated in some circles in almost idolatrous fashion, in others his playing is heard as cold, aloof, and mechanistic. However, even his detractors agree that his prodigious technique is married to an equally formidable grasp of form; "rambling" pieces are framed in a convincing way. His "architectural" approach ( he is the son of an architect ) is built up through careful study and sculpting of interpretations ( background research, various editions of scores, historical contexts ), some of which take decades to reach their recorded form. For better or worse, Pollini is simply not a "lover" of the piano in the way that others are. Yet it would simplistic to dismiss him as (merely) "Apollonian", for he has reserves of passion and feeling in his playing ( especially noticeable in concert ) that other pianists of a more celebrated effusiveness lack. Nevertheless, he is justly regarded as an "intellectual" musician and his brand of seriousness can at times put a damper on the lighter elements of, for example, the earlier period Beethoven sonatas.
Pollini's concert repetoire, stretching from Bach to Stockhausen ( neither of whom he has put to wax ), is weighted toward composers of the justly esteemed Austro-Germanic legacy and those ( noticeably ) outside its direct influence are rarely heard. In fact, Pollini's well-known commitment to contemporary music is an interest firmly linked to the very core of Austro-Germanic tradition ( Luigi Nono was certainly an adventurous composer but attached in his own way to the same "musical humanism" that Pollini reveres ).
This box set "edition" features a goodly portion of Beethoven; two of Pollini's famous 1977 recordings of the "late" piano sonatas ( including his highly touted "Hammerklavier" ) as well as versions of Concertos 3, 4 & 5. Regarding the mid period Beethoven, I'm not sure Pollini always takes the right approach ( the typically vacuum-packed dryness of DG's recordings doesn't help here ).
The lovely Mozart Concerto ( #23 ) done with Karl Bohm and the Vienna Philharmonic is included as is Pollini's ( second ) recording of the titanic Brahms Concerto #1 (Claudio Abbado and the Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra ).
While the celebrated performance of the late Schubert sonata in A Major is included I was sorry to see that its "companion" in C Minor ( D 958 ) was omitted in favor of shorter pieces. Any late piece by Schubert bears some admiration, but this choice was an oversight, whether by artist or record company ( time constraints are not an excuse as the identical pairing was used by DG some years ago ).
It's a well-known fact that Pollini came to prominence in 1960 by winning the Chopin competition in Warsaw. He has recorded a lot of Chopin's oeuvre but only one disc is devoted to the Polish composer in this box set; the Etudes ( op.25 ) are nice choice coupled with a fiery performance ( c 1985 ) of the 2nd Sonata.
His early ( 1973 ) recording of Schumann's greatest piano piece ( "Fantasy" ) is coupled with a 1989 recording of the Liszt Sonata (a natural choice considering each composer dedicated his work to the other ). Both are astounding performances; Pollini has Schumann's "measure" and his rendition of the Liszt gives lie to the notion that he is cold and mechanistic.
Moving into the 20th century repertoire, I find the Debussy Etudes ( Books I & II ) admirable but overly "careful" in places. His interpretation of the same works in concert has a depth that didn't quite make it to this recording. The coupling with Boulez' 2nd Piano Sonata ( 1948 ) demonstrates a link between the two composers that is actually more evident in the recent work of the celebrated French composer/conductor. This early piece in Boulez' output, ferocious and influential as it was, is not a favorite of mine ( I much prefer the roughly contemporaneous Sonata of the lesser known Jean Barraque ) but Pollini's rendition is absolutely astonishing in its virtuosity.
The Bartok Concertos 1&2 with Abbado and the Chicago Symphony Orchestra ( the only time Pollini has recorded with an American orchestra ) are simply dynamite; the CSO is uniformly excellent and Pollini tears through the fearsome passages with volcanic energy. The Stravinsky piano version of "Petrouchka" is included on this disc.
The edition has a disc dedicated to the "Second Viennese School", featuring all of Schoenberg's solo output ( 1974 recordings ) along with a tightly controlled version ( Abbado/BPO ) of the Austrian composer's masterful "Piano Concerto" ( 1942 ). Anton Webern's "Piano Variations" round out the disc ( unfortunately, no Berg Sonata ).
Finally, a disc devoted to the pianist's late friend Luigi Nono (1924-1990). The 13 minute "Sofferte onde serene" ( 1976 ), dedicated to Pollini, is a fascinating piece for piano ( "live" and pre-recorded ) with tape. It would be an understatement to say that I am unconvinced by the "manifesto" nature of the other work on this disc; I admire Nono's music in spite of my disagreements with his political beliefs.
An addendum to the set are two previously unreleased ( on DG ) performances: a 1960 recording of Chopin's "Concerto #1" ( Warsaw Philharmonic ) and a 1974 recording of the Schumann Concerto with von Karajan and the BPO.

⭑ ALL MY RELEASES ⭑