Chopin at 200
03/01/10 3:00PM By Joe Goetz
The classical music world rejoices today, as we celebrate the 200th birthday of Poland's Frederic Chopin (1810-1849). This afternoon, we'll have four distinct hours of Chopin's music, each covering a different aspect of his magnificent output.
In the 3 pm hour, we'll listen to his two finest piano sonatas: Nos. 2 and 3, performed by Helene Grimaud and Murray Perahia.
At 4, we explore Chopin's Polish roots through some of his early works for piano and orchestra.
From 5 to 6, we hear homage to Chopin given by other composers, highlighted by Rachmaninoff's set of variations on Chopin's C Minor Prelude.
Finally, at 6, we explore Chopin's love of the cello, the only solo instrument other than the human voice that he ever paired with the piano.
Playlist
3:02pm
Piano Sonata #2 "Funeral March" in b-f, Op. 35, B 128
| Composer | Frederic Chopin |
|---|---|
| Soloists | Helene Grimaud, piano |
| CD/Album | Rachmaninoff, Chopin: Piano Sonatas, etc. |
| Record co./Cat # | Deutsche Grammophon 4048 |
3:29pm
Piano Sonata #3 in b, Op. 58, B 155
| Composer | Frederic Chopin |
|---|---|
| Soloists | Murray Perahia, piano |
| CD/Album | Chopin: Sonatas Nos. 2 & 3 - Perahia |
| Record co./Cat # | Sony 32780 |
3:58pm
Trois Nouvelles Etudes: #3 in Db
| Composer | Frederic Chopin |
|---|---|
| Soloists | Louis Lortie, piano |
| CD/Album | Chopin: The Complete Etudes |
| Record co./Cat # | Chandos 8482 |
4:07pm
Fantasia on Polish Airs in A, Op. 13, B 28
| Composer | Frederic Chopin |
|---|---|
| Ensemble | Warsaw Philharmonic |
| Conductor | Kazimierz Kord |
| Soloists | Garrick Ohlsson, piano |
| CD/Album | Chopin: The Complete Piano Works, Vol. 9 |
| Record co./Cat # | Arabesque 6702 |
4:23pm
Concert Rondo "Krakowiak" in F, Op. 14, B 29
| Composer | Frederic Chopin |
|---|---|
| Ensemble | Warsaw Philharmonic |
| Conductor | Kazimierz Kord |
| Soloists | Garrick Ohlsson, piano |
| CD/Album | Chopin: The Complete Piano Works, Vol. 9 |
| Record co./Cat # | Arabesque 6702 |
4:39pm
Andante Spianato & Grand Polonaise in Eb, Op. 22, B 58 & B 88
| Composer | Frederic Chopin |
|---|---|
| Ensemble | Warsaw Philharmonic |
| Conductor | Kazimierz Kord |
| Soloists | Garrick Ohlsson, piano |
| CD/Album | Chopin: The Complete Piano Works, Vol. 9 |
| Record co./Cat # | Arabesque 6702 |
4:55pm
Mazurka in C, Op. 24/2, B 89/2
| Composer | Frederic Chopin |
|---|---|
| Soloists | Vassily Primakov, piano |
| CD/Album | Chopin: Mazurkas |
| Record co./Cat # | Bridge 9289 |
4:57pm
Mazurka in f, Op. 63/2
| Composer | Frederic Chopin |
|---|---|
| Soloists | Vassily Primakov, piano |
| CD/Album | Chopin: Mazurkas |
| Record co./Cat # | Bridge 9289 |
5:07pm
Chopiniana: Polonaise and Mazurka, Op. 46
| Composer | Alexander Glazunov |
|---|---|
| Ensemble | Moscow Symphony Orchestra |
| Conductor | Vladimir Ziva |
| CD/Album | Glazunov: Orchestral Works Volume 17 |
| Record co./Cat # | Naxos 8.555048 |
| Note | (Polonaise Op. 40/1 in A, Mazurka Op. 50/3 in c#) |
5:20pm
Variations on a Theme of Chopin
| Composer | Sergei Rachmaninoff |
|---|---|
| Soloists | Jorge Bolet, piano |
| CD/Album | Rachmaninov: Chopin Variations/Preludes |
| Record co./Cat # | London 421061 |
5:51pm
Les Sylphides: Grand Valse Brilliante in Eb, Op. 18, B 62
| Composer | Frederic Chopin |
|---|---|
| Ensemble | National Philharmonic Orchestra |
| Conductor | Richard Bonynge |
| CD/Album | Essential Ballet |
| Record co./Cat # | London 436658 |
6:07pm
Introduction & Polonaise Brillante (piano solo version) in C, Op. 3, B 41 & B 52
| Composer | Frederic Chopin |
|---|---|
| Soloists | Eva Osinska, piano |
| CD/Album | Chopin: Trio - Polonaise Brilliante - Cello Sonata |
| Record co./Cat # | Sony 53112 |
6:18pm
Etude in c#, Op. 25/7, B 98
| Composer | Frederic Chopin |
|---|---|
| Soloists | Louis Lortie, piano |
| CD/Album | Chopin: the Complete Etudes |
| Record co./Cat # | Chandos 8482 |
6:26pm
Cello Sonata in g, Op. 65, B 160
| Composer | Frederic Chopin |
|---|---|
| Soloists | David Finckel, cello ; Wu Han, piano |
| CD/Album | Grieg, Schumann, and Chopin: Works for Cello and PIano |
| Record co./Cat # | BBC 55 |