Samson Francois Chopin Debussy - Great Pianists 28 (30 tracks) +Album Reviews

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Samson Francois, Chopin, Debussy
Great Pianists 28
Genres: Dance & Electronic, Classical

Track Listings (16) - Disc #1
1. Impromptus: No.1 In A Flat, Op.29
2. Impromptus: No.2 In F Sharp, Op.36
3. Impromptus: No.3 In G Flat, Op.51
4. Impromptus: No.4 in C Sharp Minor, Op.66 'Fantaisie-Impromptu'
5. Piano Sonata No.2 In B Flat Minor, Op.35: Grave - Doppio movimento
6. Piano Sonata No.2 In B Flat Minor, Op.35: Scherzo - Piu lento - Tempo I
7. Piano Sonata No.2 In B Flat Minor, Op.35: Marche funubre. Lento
8. Piano Sonata No.2 In B Flat Minor, Op.35: Finale. Presto
9. Waltzes: In G Flat, Op.70 No.1
10. Waltzes: In E Flat, Op.18 'Grande Valse brillante'
11. Waltzes: in D Flat, Op.70 No.3
12. Waltzes: In C Sharp Minor, Op.64 No.2
13. Ballades: No.1 In G Minor, Op.23
14. Ballades: No.2 In F, Op.38
15. Ballades: No.3 In A FLat, Op.47
16. Ballades: No.4 In F Minor, Op.52
Track Listings (14) - Disc #2
1. Toccata, Adagio And Fugue In C, BWV 564: Toccata
2. Toccata, Adagio And Fugue In C, BWV 564: Adagio
3. Toccata, Adagio And Fugue In C, BWV 564: Fuga
4. Twelve Variations In C, KV 265 On 'Ah, vous dirai-je, Maman'
5. Toccata In C, Op.7
6. Impromptu No.2 In F Minor, Op.31
7. Nocturne No.2 In B, Op.33 No.2
8. Suite bargamasque: Clair de lune
9. L'isle joyeuse
10. Pour le piano. Suite: Prelude
11. Pour le piano. Suite: Sarabande
12. Pour le piano. Suite: Toccata
13. Toccata, Op.11
14. Gaspard de la nuit: Scarbo

CD Details

All Artists: Samson Francois, Chopin, Debussy, Ravel
Title: Great Pianists 28
Members Wishing: 2
Total Copies: 0
Label: Philips
Release Date: 5/11/1999
Genres: Dance & Electronic, Classical
Styles: Chamber Music, Forms & Genres, Ballads, Fantasies, Short Forms, Sonatas, Suites, Historical Periods, Baroque (c.1600-1750), Classical (c.1770-1830)
Number of Discs: 2
SwapaCD Credits: 2
UPC: 028945677828

CD Reviews

Samson Francois deserves to be known better

Niya | USA | 01/13/2000

(5 out of 5 stars)

"While recordings of Francois are very popular in some countries (e.g. France and Japan), most of them are not available in the United States and only appeare occasionally in megastores as "imports." This is very sad because he's one of the absolutely greatest pianists in the 20th century. His Chopin recordings are classics, needless to say, but so are his Ravel, Debussy, Prokofiev, Schumann, Faure, Mozart, Scriabin, Liszt, Bach... Indeed, his playing is always special. Few pianists have more originality, imagination, or personality.

It's a shame that he didn't record any Scarlatti. With his playfulness, virtuosity, clarity of style, and his trademark "jeu perle," he could have been a great Scarlatti interpreter on the piano! (Fortunately we still have Horowitz!)"

Scary good

C. Stern | Chapel Hill, NC USA | 12/15/2004

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Everything is simply amazing on this CD. Even the Chopin played at the seemingly ill-advised speed of light sounds marvelous. I can't say enough good things about the playing of Samson Francois; as soon as his complete recordings of Ravel are available in the US, I'll be buying it. You should, too."

The sublime poet!

Hiram Gomez Pardo | Valencia, Venezuela | 05/12/2005

(5 out of 5 stars)

"
Samson Francois, the eminent disciple of Alfred Cortot, always got around the extensive repertoire of concert and concentrated all his imaginative playing, idiosyncratic rapture and sublime expressiveness in the romantic genre, but avoiding in every moment to express romantically. It may be sound ironic but that was his approach along his brief existence. Born in 1924 and pitifully died in 1970, Francois gave us aristocratic readings of Chopin, Ravel, Debussy and Prokoviev.

But besides Francois was a consummate jazz player and good pool player.

This album is a remarkable selection of his relatively brief discography. The time has proved slowly the terrible fact caused by his premature departure.

Don't doubt just any second. Go for this piano colossus.

"