Columbia ML 5444
This was the first classical LP I ever owned. I found it in the trunk of a Volvo I was repairing for a friend. I played it so much that I eventually had to buy another copy, which I sold in my record purge of 2005. This copy was a thrift shop find (99¢), in good condition.
Alexander Brailowsky seems to have fallen out of favor, judging by what recordings are being released on CD. His recording of Chopin's Polonaises is still very well regarded and available on CD. Some of his Chopin recordings appear on various Chopin "greatest hits" CDs. An early recording he made of the Preludes is available as an mp3 download. This recording is not on CD.
I'm not qualified to judge the merits of his playing, and critical opinions vary. Billboard wrote of this album in 1960 "Brailowsky's striking technique and particular flair for Chopin's works are brilliantly highlighted on the 24 Preludes." Others were not as kind.
No. 4 in E minor
No. 7 in A major
No. 11 in B major
No. 20 in C minor
No. 24 in D minor
Thank you for these. I love Brailowsky's Chopin waltzes, which I have on CD, and recently started looking for other Chopin recordings of his, and was disappointed to find so little available.
ReplyDeleteI'm glad you enjoyed them. Thanks for commenting.
ReplyDeleteNo problem. Playing these tracks inspired to buy two more Brailowsky CDs I found available online, as well as one album from the new Google Music store (cheaper than from Amazon or eMusic). And I went looking for this album as well, but I'll only want to rip it to CD when I get it, as I don't have a turntable as part of my current setup. :-(
ReplyDeleteIt's a fairly common album - I wouldn't pay more than $5 for it. Best of luck!
ReplyDeleteThanks for the advice. Just put in a bid on eBay. I'll be keeping an eye out on what else you post. I haven't thought about Freddy Fender in years! :-)
ReplyDeleteHis right hand figuration is not really pianistic in the way Chopin's is. Difficult as they are, Chopin's figures always fit some physical logic in the hand.
ReplyDelete