Daniel Barenboim the Pianist [Box Set]

Read About This Recording

In November 2007, pianist Daniel Barenboim celebrated his 65th birthday. And there was certainly much to celebrate. Barenboim was blessed with two piano teachers for parents, in fact his only piano teachers, who were determined to help their child succeed.

When conducting greats like Toscanini, Furtwangler and Karajan passed through Argentina in the 1940s, Barenboim was there, growing up among musical royalty. He found inspiration in Chilean-born pianist Claudio Arrau from an early age. He studied under Nadia Boulanger, Igor Markevich, Carlo Zecchi, forging friendships with such notable names as Claudio Abbado and Zubin Mehta.

All in all, Barenboim seemed destined from an early age to become a musician — one of the greatest virtuosi of our time. And at 65, Warner Classics and Jazz saw fit to honor this life and career with the five-disc tribute, simply named Daniel Barenboim: The Pianist.

Contained herein are some of his finest performances including Bach's The Well-Tempered Clavier, Book I, plus Mozart piano concertos, Schubert impromptus and sonatas and ballades from Brahms. But the real treat here is the fourth disc, filled with tangos by Gardel, Piazzolla, Ginastera and Salgan. If this seems like a departure from his usual fare, recall that Barenboim is Argentinean by birth and spent many of his formative years absorbing the local music scene.

As a set, these five discs offer a comprehensive overview of Barenboim's life and career until now and offer many reasons to keep an eye and ear out for this talented musician in the years to come.

—Elaine Sutcliffe

Quotes

"The power of music lies in is its ability to speak to all aspects of the human being - the animal, the emotional, the intellectual, and the spiritual. Music teaches us, in short, that everything is connected." —Daniel Barenboim

"A phenomenon." —Wilhelm Furtwangler

"Barenboim's mission is to spread his passion for music — and change the world." —The Daily Telegraph

Contents

Imported from Europe!

CD 1 (TT: 59:08): Bach: The Well-Tempered Clavier, Book I: Prelude & Fugue No. 1 in C Major, BWV846; No. 2 in C Minor, BWV847; No. 3 in C-sharp Minor, BWV848; No. 4 in C-sharp Minor, BWV849; No. 5 in D Major, BWV850; No. 6 in D Minor, BWV851; No. 7 in E-flat Major, BWV852; No. 8 in E-flat Minor, BWV853; No. 9 in E Major, BWV854; No. 10 in E Minor, BWV855; No. 11 in F Major, BWV856; No. 12 in E Minor, BWV857.

CD 2 (TT: 63:00): Mozart: Piano Concerto No. 26 in D Major, K347, Coronation; Piano Concerto No. 27 in B-flat Major, K595. Berlin Philharmonic; Daniel Barenboim, Piano/Conductor.

CD 3 (TT: 72:22): Schubert: Four Impromptus, D935: No. 1 in F Minor; No. 2 in A-flat Major; No. 3 in B-flat Major; No. 4 in F Minor; Piano Sonata in B-flat Major, D960.

CD 4 (TT: 51:46): Gardel: Mi Buenos Aires querido; El dia que me quieras; Piazzolla: Verano porteno; Tzigane tango; Invierno porteno; Adios Nonino; Primavera portena; Otono porteno; Ginastera: Danza de la moza donosa; Salgan: Don Agustin Bardi; A feugo lento; Salgan/De Lio: Aquellos tangos camperos; Piazzolla/Troilo: Contrabajeando; Resta: Bailecito. Rodolfo Mederos, Bandoneon; Hector Console, Bass.

CD 5 (TT: 56:59): Brahms: Four Ballades, Op. 10: No. 1 in D Minor, Edward; No. 2 in D Major; No. 3 in B Minor; No. 4 in B Major; Piano Sonata in F Minor, Op. 5.