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	Great Pianists of the 20th Century: The Complete Edition Great Pianists of the Twentieth Century Polygram Records, 1999 average customer review:based on 6 reviews view larger image
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highly recommended

It is a large ambitious contribution to the art of great piano playing. It is a labor of love and represents a tremendous amount of research and cooperation between many record companies. Rather then representing insanity, it is a resource to treasure.

Yes experts can quibble over who was left out, and what performances were inserted. I do not think such a massive undertaking could have been accomplished without someone being able to find faults. Overall however, unless you already have a monumental collection, (it would have to be almost legendary), this incredible set will give you a rewarding look into 74 of the greatest pianist of all time. You will come away with a honed sense of appreciation for your likes and dislikes. You will undoubtedly become someone who will search out recordings and be able to enjoy them for the rest of your life with a refined ear.

The only negative is this price. I would shop around, as it is daunting to spend 2 thousand dollars on such a collection. Of course you do get 200 CD's. However, the used collections might be good to consider.

Enjoy these masterpieces. I am not ashamed of owning this music as `insane' implies. I am proud to have enriched my life.

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For the real music lover

This series attempts to present important and representative performances by most of the major pianists of the 20th century. One might quibble a bit with the choices, but the works presented are of consistently high quality, and often do represent what may be the best works of a performer. Since this covers most of the time that recorded music existed, some of the recordings are technically challenged, as there is only so much one can do to enhance an old recording. Still, these appear to have been treated with love and respect in their restorations. Since this series is so large (and expensive!) one is tempted to "cherry pick" through the series, yet by doing so one can easily overlook gems by artists one is less familiar with. This large a set must inevitably have many versions of the same pieces, and takes many hours to listen to. The true enthusiast will appreciate the differences in interpretation, whereas the less experienced listener may find the set repetitive and overwhelming. If one has the time to really dig into this set, it can provide years of exploration and discovery. It would make a wonderful gift for some special music lover in your life ... or for yourself!

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Wonderful set

This set is for serious piano fans, not for the ones who just start building up a CD library. I sort of agree with one of the reviewers, that there are many repetitions. But if you love piano, you wish to hear the same piece in different interpretations. Indeed, I really like this feature of this set: I can compare the style of various performers.
If you are into piano music, I encourage you to grab this set, if you can find it used (not available anymore at Amazon). I also hope, that there will be a continuation, in which other great pianists, who were left out because of the space limitation, will be included (Prokofiev, Bartok, Dohnanyi, etc).

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reviews: page 1, 2



Tracks
Evocación | El Puerto | Fête-Dieu à Seville | Book I | Book II | Maestoso | Adagio | Rondo | Allegro | Adagio un poco moto | Rondo, Allegro | No. 1 in F minor | No. 2 in A flat major | No. 3 in D flat major | Nos 1-3, 5, 8, 10, 11 | Nos 1-3, 5, 8, 10, 11 | Nos 1-3, 5, 8, 10, 11 | Nos 1-3, 5, 8, 10, 11 | Nos 1-3, 5, 8, 10, 11 | Nos 1-3, 5, 8, 10, 11 | Nos 1-3, 5, 8, 10, 11 | No.10: Romeo and Juliet before parting | Arietta, Adagio molto semplice e cantabile | Maestoso / Allegro con brio ed appassionato | No.2, Allegro molto moderato | No.3, Warum? | No.3: Intermezzo in C | No. 1 in C major, "Reunion" | No. 2 in A minor, "Presentiment of Death" | No. 3 in G major, "Thou art so like a flower" | No. 4 in E minor, "Suffocation" | No. 5 in D major, "Uncertainly" | No. 6 in B minor, "Tolling Bells" | No. 7 in A major, "The Polish Dance" | No. 8 in F sharp minor, "Desparation" | No. 9 in E major, "Vision" | No. 10 in C sharp minor, "The Night Moth" | No. 11 in B major, "Dragon Fly" | No. 12 in G sharp minor, "Duel" | No. 13 in F sharp major, "Loss" | No. 14 in E flat minor, "Fear" | No. 15 in D flat major, "Raindrop" | No. 16 in B flat minor "Hades" | No. 17 in A flat major, "A Scene on the Place de Notre Dame de Paris" | No. 18 in F minor, "Suicide" | No. 19 in E flat major, "Heartfelt Happiness" | No. 20 in C minor, "Funeral March' | No. 21 in B flat major, "Sunday" | No. 22 in G minor, "Impatience" | No. 23 in F major, "A Pleasure Boat" | No. 24 in D minor, "The Storm" | La jongleuse | Prelude | No. 1, Gondoliera | No. 2, Canzone | No. 3, Tarantelle | Funérailles | La campanella | Sonetto 104 del Petrarca | Harmonies du soir | Gnomenreigen | Presto | Adagio | Finale. Molto vivace | Allegretto innocente | Presto | Andante con espressione | Vivace assai | Allegro (moderato) | Adagio | Finale. Presto | Impromptu No. 1, Allegro molto moderato | Impromptu No. 2, Allegro | Impromptu No. 3, Andante | Impromptu No. 4, Allegretto | Impromptu No. 1, Allegro moderato | Impromptu No. 2, Allegretto | Impromptu No. 3, Theme, Andante | Impromptu No. 4, Allegro scherzando | Des Abends | Warum? | In der Nacht | Ende vom Lied | Barcarole | And Night And Love | Tears | Russian Easter | Le savant | La coquette | Polichinelle | Le reveur | La danseuse | Romance | Valse | Polonaise | Prelude | Valse | Romance | Tarantella | Allegro ma non troppo | Larghetto | Finale | Vif | Modere | Brazileira | Prologue | Allegro molto | Andante lirico | Epiloque | Allegro | Andante | Rondo Allegro | Allemande | Courante | Sarabande | Gavotte | Polonaise | Menuet | Bouree | Gigue | Allegro vivace | Largo appassionato | Scherzo. Allegretto | Rondo. Grazioso | Avec emportement | Lent Sombre | Scherzando | Berceuse | Mi-a-ou | Le jardin de Dolly | Kitty-Valse | Tendresse | Le pas espagnol | Prelude in D flat | Prelude in G minor | Prelude in D minor | Allegro non troppo e molto maestoso - Allegro con spirito | Andantino simplice - Prestissimo | Allegro con fuoco | Allegro brillante e molto vivace | Andante non troppo | Allegro con fuoco | Scherzo | Theme: Andante | Variation 1: Un poco piu vivo | Variation 2: Marcato il canto | Etude 1: Vivace | Etude 2 | Etude 3 | Etude 4: Agitato | Etude 5: Allegro molto | Variation 3 | Etude 6: Presto possibile | Variation 4 | Variation 5: Con espressionne | Finale: Allegro brillante | Äusserst bewegt | Sehr innig und nicht zu rasch | Intermezzo I. Sehr lebhaft | Intermezzo II. Etwas bewegter | Sehr aufgeregt | Sehr langsam | Sehr lebhaft | Sehr langsam | Sehr rasch | Schnell und spielend | No. 1, Allegro ma non tanto | No. 2, Intermezzo: Adagio - attaca subito | No. 3, Finale: Alla breve | I. Allegro Agitato | II. Non Allegro - Lento | III. Allegro Molto | Allegro non troppo e molto maestoso - Allegro con spirito | Andantino simplice - Prestissimo | Allegro con fuoco | No.4 in D major | No.5 in G minor | No.6 in E flat major | No.7 in C minor | No.5 in E flat minor | No.5 in G major | No.12 in G sharp minor | June: Barcarolle | Mars: Chante de l'alouette | Prélude | Choral | Fugue | Prélude. Allegro moderato e maestoso | Aria. Lento | Final. Allegro molto ed agitato | Prelude for piano No. 1 in C major, Op. 28/1 | Prelude for piano No. 2 in A minor, Op. 28/2 | Prelude for piano No. 3 in G major, Op. 28/3 | Prelude for piano No. 4 in E minor, Op. 28/4 | Prelude for piano No. 5 in D major, Op. 28/5 | Prelude for piano No. 6 in B minor, Op. 28/6 | Prelude for piano No. 7 in A major, Op. 28/7 | Prelude for piano No. 8 in F sharp minor, Op. 28/8 | Prelude for piano No. 9 in E major, Op. 28/9 | Prelude for piano No. 10 in C sharp minor, Op. 28/10 | Prelude for piano No. 11 in B major, Op. 28/11 | Prelude for piano No. 12 in G sharp minor, Op. 28/12 | Prelude for piano No. 13 in F sharp major, Op. 28/13 | Prelude for piano No. 14 in E flat minor, Op. 28/14 | Prelude for piano No. 15 in D flat major ("Raindrop"), Op. 28/15 | Prelude for piano No. 16 in B flat minor, Op. 28/16 | Prelude for piano No. 17 in A flat major, Op. 28/17 | Prelude for piano No. 18 in F minor, Op. 28/18 | Prelude for piano No. 19 in E flat major, Op. 28/19 | Prelude for piano No. 20 in C minor, Op. 28/20 | Prelude for piano No. 21 in B flat major, Op. 28/21 | Prelude for piano No. 22 in G minor, Op. 28/22 | Prelude for piano No. 23 in F major, Op. 28/23 | Prelude for piano No. 24 in D minor, Op. 28/24 | No. 1, Modere | No. 2, Mouvement de Menuet | No. 3, Anime | No. 1, "Danseuses de Delphes" | No. 2, "Voiles" | No. 3, "Le vent dans la plaine" | No. 4, "Les sons et les parfums tournent dans l'air du soir" (Baudelaire) | No. 5, "Les collines d'Anacapri" | No. 6, "Des pas sur la neige" | No. 7, "Ce qu'a vu le vent d'ouest" | No. 8, "La fille aux cheveux de lin" (Girl With the Flaxen Hair) | No. 9, "La serenade interrompue" | No. 10, "La cathedrale engloutie" (The Sunken Cathedral) | No. 11, "La danse de Puck" | No. 12, "Minstrels" | Impromptu No. 1, Allegro moderato | Impromptu No. 2, Allegretto | Impromptu No. 3, Theme, Andante | Impromptu No. 4, Allegro scherzando | Impromptu No. 1, Allegro molto moderato | Impromptu No. 2, Allegro | Impromptu No. 3, Andante | Impromptu No. 4, Allegretto | Allegro | Larghetto | Allegretto | Allegro | Larghetto | Allegro | Sonetto 123 del Petrarca | Etude for piano in C, Op.10/1 | Etude for piano in A minor, Op.10/2 | Etude for piano in E, Tristesse, Op.10/3 | Etude for piano in C sharp minor, Op.10/4 | Etude for piano in G flat, Black Keys, Op.10/5 | Etude for piano in E flat minor, Op.10/6 | Etude for piano in C, Op.10/7 | Etude for piano in F, Op.10/8 | Etude for piano in F minor, Op.10/9 | Etude for piano in A flat, Op.10/10 | Etude for piano in E flat, Op.10/11 | Etude for piano in C minor, Revolutionary, Op.10/12 | Etude for piano in A flat, Aeolian Harp, Op.25/1 | Etude for piano in F minor, Op.25/2 | Etude for piano in F, Op.25/3 | Etude for piano in A minor, Op.25/4 | Etude for piano in E minor, Op.25/5 | Etude for piano in G sharp minor, Op.25/6 | Etude for piano in C sharp minor, Op.25/7 | Etude for piano in D flat, Op.25/8 | Etude for piano in G flat, Butterfly, Op.25/9 | Etude for piano in B minor, Op.25/10 | Etude for piano in A minor, Winter Wind, Op.25/11 | Etude for piano in C minor, Op.25/12 | Intermezzo in A major, Allegro quasi maestoso | Intermezzo in E minor, Presto a capriccio | Intermezzo in A minor, Allegro marcato | Intermezzo in C major, Allegretto semplice | Intermezzo in D minor, Allegro moderato | Intermezzo in B minor, Allegro | Allegro | Andantino | Scherzo & Trio, Allegro vivace... Un poco piu lento | Rondo, Allegretto | Presto | Adagio | Finale. Molto vivace | Allegro con brio | Largo e sostenuto | Finale. Presto ma non troppo | Allegro | Adagio | Allegro assai | Allegro con brio | Largo | Rondo, Allegro scherzando | Prelude | Fugue | Prelude | Fugue | Prelude | Fugue | Prelude | Fugue | Prelude | Fugue | Prelude | Fugue | Chromatic Fantasia | Fugue | Fantasia | Fugue | Allegro | Adagio | Allegro | Allegro | Larghetto | Allegro ma non tanto | Allegro moderato | Largo | Presto | Allegro | Romance | Rondo (Allegro assai) | Allegro | Adagio un poco moto | Rondo, Allegro | Impromptu No. 1, Allegro molto moderato | Impromptu No. 2, Allegro | Impromptu No. 3, Andante | Impromptu No. 4, Allegretto | Allegro assai | Andante con moto | Allegro ma non troppo | Moderato cantabile molto espressivo | Allegro molto | Adagio ma non troppo | Fuga, Allegro ma non troppo | Allegro moderato | Andante cantabile | Allegretto | I. Lento Assai - Allegro | II. Andante Sostenuto | III. Allegro Energico | I. Graceful | II. Tender | III. Lento (freely)/Lively | I. Molto Moderato | II. Vivace | III. Andante Sostenuto | moderato | Menuetto | Andante Quasi allegretto | Finale Prestissimo | Modere | Mouvement de menuet | Anime | No.4: Alborada del gracioso | Lento | Allegro - Tempo I | Intro & Variation I | Intro & Variation II | Intro & Variation III | Intro & Variation IV | Intro & Variation V | Intro & Variation VI | Intro & Variation VII | Intro & Variation VIII | Intro & Variation IX | Intro & Variation X | Intro & Variation XI | Intro & Variation XII | Intro & Variation XIII | Intro & Variation IXV | Intro & Variation XV | Intro & Variation XVI | Intro & Variation XVII | Intro & Variation XVIII | Intro & Variation IXX | Intro & Variation XX | Intro & Variation XXI | Intro & Variation XXII | Intro & Variation XXIII | Intro & Variation IXXV | Grave - Doppio movimento | Scherzo | Marche funebre | Finale: Presto | Toccata | Adagio | Fugue | Prélude | Sarabande | Toccata | Scarbo | 1. Durchaus phantastisch und | 2. Mässig | 3. Langsam getragen | 1. Allegro maestoso | 2. Scherzo. Molto vivace | 3. Largo | 4. Finale. Presto no tanto | 1. Allegro | 2. Adagio | 3. Allegro assai | 1. Allegro maestoso | 2. Andante espressivo | 3. Scherzo. Allegro energico | 4. Intermezzo. andante molto | 5. Finale. Allegro moderato ma rubato | Adagio sostenuto | Allegretto | Presto agitato | Allemande | Courante | Sarabande | Gavotte | Bourree | Loure | Gigue | Allemande | Courante | Sarabande | Gigue | Introduction in D major, Moderato | Waltz in D major | Waltz in E flat major, Prestissimo | Waltz in F sharp minor | Waltz in F sharp minor | Polonaise in E flat major | Waltz in D minor | Waltz in F minor, Semplice | Waltz in C sharp mior | Waltz in B flat major, Prestissimo | Waltz in C major, Vivo | Polonaise in D major | Finale in D major | I. Allegro brioso | II. Andante assai | III. Allegro scherzando | No. 1, National Dance | No. 2, The Street Wakens (Scena) | No. 3, The Arrival of the Guests, minuet | No. 4, Juliet as a Young Girl | No. 5, Masks | No. 6, Montagues and Capulets | No. 7, Friar Lawrence | No. 8, Mercutio | No. 9, Dance of the Girls with the Ladies | No. 10, Romeo and Juliet Before Parting | Andante | Prestissimo volando | Allegro | Adagio | Allegro assai | Allegro | Larghetto | Allegretto | Allegro moderato | Andante con moto | Rondo, Vivace | Allegro | Adagio un poco moto | Rondo, Allegro | Schlummerlied | No. 1, "Danseuses de Delphes" | No. 2, "Voiles" | No. 3, "Le vent dans la plaine" | No. 4, "Les sons et les parfums tournent dans l'air du soir" (Baudelaire) | No. 5, "Les collines d'Anacapri" | No. 6, "Des pas sur la neige" | No. 7, "Ce qu'a vu le vent d'ouest" | No. 8, "La fille aux cheveux de lin" (Girl With the Flaxen Hair) | No. 9, "La serenade interrompue" | No. 10, "La cathedrale engloutie" (The Sunken Cathedral) | No. 11, "La danse de Puck" | No. 12, "Minstrels" | No. 1, "Brouillards" | No. 2, "Feuilles mortes" | No. 3, "La Puerta del Vino" | No. 4, "Les fees sont d'exquises danseuses" | No. 5, "Bruyeres" | No. 6, "General Lavine - eccentric" | No. 7, "La terrasse des audiences du clair de lune" | No. 8, "Ondine" | No. 9, "Hommage a S. Pickwick Esq. P.P.M.P.C" (inspired by Dickens: The Posthumous Papers of the Pi | No. 10, "Canope" | No. 11, "Les tierces alternees" | No. 12, "Feux d'artifice" | No. 1, "Pagodes" | No. 2, "La soiree dans Grenade" | No. 3, "Jardins sous la pluie" | Allegro | Adagio | Molto allegro | Allegro con brio | Introduction, Adagio molto | Rondo, Allegretto moderato | Allegro assai | Andante con moto | Allegro ma non troppo | No. 1, Ondine | No. 2, Le gibet | No. 3, Scarbo | 1 Allegro | 2 Larghetto

recommendations

Philips: Great Pianists of the 20th Century (Vol.80-100)
BOX SEAT: Non-jazz Must Have Box Sets
"Oh, the stuff and the things!"
Expensive box sets
Insane Box Sets

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