At the end of the 1920's and the beginning of the 30's, the German gramophone company Polydor issued a number of much sought after Brailowsky recordings, and even today the technical quality of these recordings as regards to resonance and tonality is astonishing. These old Berlin recordings, the matrices of which were unfortunately destroyed during the 1940-45 bombardment, must surely be some of the most inspiring; here the commercial 78 rpm pressings are presented in brand new digital transfers preserving the art of the "Keyboard Giant" Alexander Brailowsky, a Chopin player of rare distinction renowned for his prodigious technique and beautiful tone. The noted Russian-born French pianist, Alexander Brailowsky, studied first with his father, a professional pianist; then continued his training at the Kiev Conservatory, graduating with a gold medal in 1911. Following advanced studies with Leschetizky in Vienna from 1911 to 1914, and Ferruccio Busoni in ZÃ¼rich, he completed his training with Francis PlantÃ© in Paris. To this day his Chopin Waltzes are considered authoritative and have seldom been outdone since he recorded them in the 1960s.

Tracklist:

Piano Concerto No. 1 In E Major, Op. 11: I. Allegro Maestoso
Piano Concerto No. 1 In E Major, Op. 11: II. Romance. Larghetto
Piano Concerto No. 1 In E Major, Op. 11: III. Rondo. Vivace
Sonata No. 2 In B-Flat Minor, Op. 35: I. Grave - Doppio Movimento
Sonata No. 2 In B-Flat Minor, Op. 35: II. Scherzo
Sonata No. 2 In B-Flat Minor, Op. 35: III. Marche Funébre - Lento
Barcarolle In F-Sharp Minor, Op. 60
Ballade No. 1 In G Minor, Op. 23
Mazurka In B-Flat Major, Op. 7 No. 1
Nocturne In E-Flat Major, Op. 9 No. 2
Prélude In B Minor, Op. 28 No. 6 - Prélude In G Major, Op. 28 No. 3
Prélude In D-Flat Major, Op. 28 No. 15 "Raindrop"
Waltz In A-Flat Major, Op. 34 No. 1
Waltz In C-Sharp Minor, Op. 64 No. 2
Waltz In A-Flat Major, Op. 69 No. 1
Waltz In E Minor, Op. Posth.
Impromptu No. 1 In A-Flat Major, Op. 29
Fantaisie-Impromptu In C-Sharp Minor, Op. 66
Étude In E Major, Op. 10 No. 3 "Tristesse"
Étude In C-Sharp Minor, Op. 10 No. 4 "Torrent"
Étude In G-Flat Major, Op. 10 No. 5 "Black Keys"
Étude In A-Flat Major, Op. 25 No. 1 "Aeolian Harp"
Étude In F Minor, Op. 25 No. 2 "The Bees"
Étude In F Major, Op. 25 No. 3 "The Horseman"
Étude In G-Flat Major, Op. 25 No. 9 "Butterfly"
Étude In A Minor, Op. 25 No. 11 "Winter Wind"
Étude In C Minor, Op. 25 No. 12 "Ocean"
Polonaise In A-Flat Major, Op. 53 "Héroique"
Piano Concerto No. 1 In E-Flat Major, S. 124 "Triangle": I. Allegro Maestoso
Piano Concerto No. 1 In E-Flat Major, S. 124 "Triangle": II. Quasi Adagio - III. Allegretto Vivace
Piano Concerto No. 1 In E-Flat Major, S. 124 "Triangle": IV. Allegro Marziale E Animato
Hungarian Rhapsody No. 2 In C-Sharp Minor, S. 244 No. 2
Hungarian Rhapsody No. 6 In D-Flat Major, S. 244 No. 6
Hungarian Rhapsody No. 12 In C-Sharp Minor, S. 244 No. 12
Valse-Impromptu, S. 213
2 Konzertetüden, S. 145: No. 2, Gnomenreigen
Liebestraum No. 3 In A-Flat Major, S. 541 No. 3
Ouvertüre Zu "Tannhäuser", S. 442 (After Wwv 70)
Ballade Aus Dem "Fliegenden Holländer", S. 441 (After Wwv 63)
12 Lieder Von Franz Schubert, S. 558: No. 9, Ständchen Von Shakespeare (After D. 889)
6 Moments Musicaux, Op. 94, D. 780: No. 3 In F Minor (Arr. T. Keschetizky For Solo Piano)
3 Marches Militaires, Op. 51, D. 733: No. 1 In D Major (Arr. C. Tausig For Solo Piano)
Keyboard Sonata In D Minor, Kk. 9 "Pastorale" (Arr. C. Tausig For Piano)
Lieder Ohne Worte, Op. 67: No. 4, Presto "La Fileuse"
3 Caprices, Op. 16: No. 2, Scherzo
Fantasiestücke, Op. 12: No. 7, Traumes Wirren
Faschingsschwank Aus Wien, Op. 26: No. 4, Intermezzo
Piano Sonata No. 1 In C Major, Op. 24, J. 138 "Perpetuum Mobile": IV. Rondo
Children's Corner, L. 113: III. Serenade For The Doll
Pour Le Piano, L. 95: III. Toccata
Prelude In C-Sharp Minor, Op. 11 No. 10
Etude In D-Sharp Minor, Op. 8 No. 12
El Amor Brujo: Danza Ritual Del Fuego (Arr. For Piano)

UPC: 5709499336397
Label: Danacord Records
Release Date: 5.17.19
Format: CD

Berlin Recordings 1928-1934 / Various 4pk - Berlin Recordings 1928-1934 (4 CD)