Description

It may be true, as one critic put it, that Backhaus could pin a Chopin Mazurka back by the ears, and belabor it unmercifully, but in music that engaged his truest feelings, and particularly in the great masterpieces of the German Classical and Romantic repertoire, he could create a unique nimbus and fullness of expression. And this, backed by a monumental mastery that knew no technical limitations, has always ensured Backhaus's place among the keyboard immortals.

BACKHAUS PLAYS BRAHMS The Celebrated HMV Piano Solo Recordings. All Ballades, Scherzos, Waltzes, Rhapsodies, Intermezzos and other works for solo piano recorded by Wilhelm Backhaus between 1929-1936. Notes by Bryce Morrison Restoration: Maggi Payne & Graham Newton. AAD

UPC # 17685-11322-2

Disc 1 Sound Clips (MP3):

1. 4 Ballades, Op- 10 No- 1 in D minor, Edward – Wilhelm Backhaus

2. 4 Ballades, Op- 10 No- 2 in D major – Wilhelm Backhaus

3. Scherzo in E flat major, Op- 4 – Wilhelm Backhaus

4. 16 Waltzes, Op- 39 No- 1 in B major – No- 2 in E major – No- 15 in A flat major – Wilhelm Backhaus

5. 21 Hungarian Dances, WoO 1 No- 6 in D flat major – No- 7 in A flat major – Wilhelm Backhaus

6. 6 Piano Pieces, Op- 118 No- 3- Ballade in G minor – Wilhelm Backhaus

7. 8 Piano Pieces, Op- 76 No- 7- Intermezzo in A minor – No- 8- Capriccio in C major – Wilhelm Backhaus

8. 6 Piano Pieces, Op- 118 No- 4- Intermezzo in F minor – No- 5- Romanze in F major – Wilhelm Backhaus

9. 6 Piano Pieces, Op- 118 No- 6- Intermezzo in E flat minor – Wilhelm Backhaus

10. 2 Rhapsodies, Op- 79 No- 1 in B minor – Wilhelm Backhaus

11. 2 Rhapsodies, Op- 79 No- 2 in G minor – Wilhelm Backhaus

12. 6 Piano Pieces, Op- 118 No- 1- Intermezzo in A minor – No- 2- Intermezzo in A major – Wilhelm Backhaus

Disc 2 Sound Clips (MP3):

1. 16 Waltzes, Op- 39 Nos- 1-5 – Wilhelm Backhaus

2. 16 Waltzes, Op- 39 Nos- 6-11 – Wilhelm Backhaus

3. 16 Waltzes, Op- 39 Nos- 12-16 – Wilhelm Backhaus

4. 7 Fantasies, Op- 116 No- 4- Intermezzo in E major – Wilhelm Backhaus

5. 3 Intermezzos, Op- 117 Intermezzo No- 1 in E flat major – Wilhelm Backhaus

6. 3 Intermezzos, Op- 117 Intermezzo No- 2 in B flat minor – Wilhelm Backhaus

7. 4 Piano Pieces, Op- 119 No- 1- Intermezzo in B minor – Wilhelm Backhaus

8. 4 Piano Pieces, Op- 119 No- 2- Intermezzo in E minor – Wilhelm Backhaus

9. 7 Fantasies, Op- 116 No- 5 Intermezzo in E minor – Wilhelm Backhaus

10. 11 Variations on an Original Theme in D major, Op- 21, No- 1 – Wilhelm Backhaus

11. 28 Variations on a Theme by Paganini, Op- 35 Book 1 Theme – Variations 1-8 – Wilhelm Backhaus

12. 28 Variations on a Theme by Paganini, Op- 35 Book 1 Variations 9-13 – Wilhelm Backhaus

13. 28 Variations on a Theme by Paganini, Op- 35 Book 1 Variation 14 – Book 2 Variations 1-8 – Wilhelm Backhaus

14. 28 Variations on a Theme by Paganini, Op- 35 Book 2 Variation 9 – Wilhelm Backhaus

15. 8 Piano Pieces, Op- 76 Capricco No- 2 in B minor – 4 Piano Pieces, Op- 119 No- 3- Intermezzo in C major – Wilhelm Backhaus

16. 7 Fantasies, Op- 116 No- 1- Capriccio in D minor – No- 2- Intermezzo in A minor – Wilhelm Backhaus