GREAT RECORDINGS phase 13

CHOPIN: SONATA No.3 & FANTASY
MENDELSSOHN: ANDANTE & RONDO
CAPRICCIOSO *WEBER: KONZERTSTÜCK
Claudio Arrau
*Philharmonia Orchestra/
Alceo Galliera

5 62884 2
(Angel: 5 62885 2)

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'Arrau's performance of the Sonata is of a quality to make all comparisons out of place; its power and authority are immense and not easily measured by reference to any other pianist's efforts. The Fantasy could not be more nobly played and the Weber shows Arrau at his most dazzling.' (Gramophone)

Award: Diapason d'Or, France

The Chilean pianist Claudio Arrau (1903-1991) is remembered particularly for his interpretations of Brahms, Schumann, Schubert, Chopin and, above all, Beethoven. His reputation in this repertoire is secured by a large discography, including some fine recordings made for EMI.

Though he did not record exclusively for the company, his EMI recordings include the complete Beethoven Concertos and eleven of the sonatas, the Brahms Concertos (with Giulini), Schumann's Concerto and Carnaval, Schubert's 'Wanderer' Fantasy and Moments musicaux, and the complete Chopin Études.

Additionally, in London in 1960, Arrau made these superb recordings of two further substantial works by Chopin: the B minor Piano Sonata and the F minor Fantasy. The programme is completed by two Romantic piano pieces by Chopin's contemporaries: Weber's large-scale Konzertstück for piano and orchestra (1821) and a work indebted to it: Mendelssohn's Andante & Rondo capriccioso of 1830.