Favorite Classical CDs by 
NickVolos 
If you made it this far down, you just discovered my favorite chart of all - a list of my favorite classical CDs. Most of these CDs are collections of multiple of the composer's works - in some cases spanning the whole lifetime of the composer - rather than individual works. The chart is sorted based on my favorite collection of a composer's work and not based on the performer(s) and/or conductor that interprets it. All selections are rated 100 as all represent the absolutely top most quality that music has to offer. Reverse this chart from 100 to 1 and the music in it remains beautifully perfect.
- Chart updated: 02/09/2015 13:15
- (Created: 11/07/2013 04:43).
- Chart size: 27 albums.
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This chart is currently filtered to only show albums from Wilhelm Kempff. (Remove this filter)
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It could be said that Schnabel was the archetype of the modern German pianist. In our day his school is represented by such pianists as Backhaus, Serkin and predominantly by Wilhelm Kempff. In all groupings of the Beethoven sonatas, Kempff defines the German school of piano playing through his scrupulous musicianship, severity, strength rather than charm, solidity rather than sensuosity, intellect rather than instinct, sobriety rather than brilliance. It is an approach that stresses planning and leaves nothing to chance. Beethoven's piano sonatas are unique in three respects. First, they represent the whole development of a genius, from his beginnings to the threshold of the late quartets. Secondly, there is not an inferior work among them-in contrast to many of the sets of variations, for example, which tend to be uneven. Thirdly, Beethoven does not repeat himself in his sonatas, each work, each movement is a new organism. In Kempff's performances of the sonatas, he defines the drama of Beethoven's sonata form more precisely, we are bound to notice that it is drama in which the character of the principal theme predominates. In the hands of Kempff, we never lose our bearings, we always know where we are. Kempff performs like an architect draws. We learn more about the architecture of Beethoven through his treatment of harmony. In Beethoven a new movement or theme in a chromatic neighbouring key is unthinkable. (Before him, however, that tireless adventurer Haydn had in his great Sonata in E flat major a slow movement in E major.) When Beethoven does make his way to a distant key-which happens only rarely, and then with logical preparation-there are far-reaching consequences for the whole work. It is not Kempff's duty to give or teach the history of Beethoven's music, history and style can be taught from reproductions; masterpieces such as the performances given by Kempff have something quite different to say.... (Raymond Vacchino M.Mus.(MT) A.Mus. L.R.S.M. Licentiate (hon.))
[First added to this chart: 11/18/2013]
1Total albums: 1. Page 1 of 1
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Favorite Classical CDs composition
| Decade | Albums | % | |
|---|---|---|---|
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| 1930s | 0 | 0% | |
| 1940s | 0 | 0% | |
| 1950s | 1 | 4% | |
| 1960s | 0 | 0% | |
| 1970s | 3 | 11% | |
| 1980s | 3 | 11% | |
| 1990s | 8 | 30% | |
| 2000s | 12 | 44% | |
| 2010s | 0 | 0% | |
| 2020s | 0 | 0% |
| Artist | Albums | % | |
|---|---|---|---|
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| Trevor Pinnock / The English Concert | 3 | 11% | |
| Aldo Ciccolini | 2 | 7% | |
| Musica Amphion / Pieter-Jan Belder | 2 | 7% | |
| Quatuor Mosaïques | 1 | 4% | |
| Jakob Lindberg | 1 | 4% | |
| Alban Berg Quartett | 1 | 4% | |
| Chapelle Du Roi & Alistair Dixon | 1 | 4% | |
| Show all | |||
| Country | Albums | % | |
|---|---|---|---|
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9 | 33% | |
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3 | 11% | |
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3 | 11% | |
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2 | 7% | |
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2 | 7% | |
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2 | 7% | |
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1 | 4% | |
| Show all | |||
Favorite Classical CDs chart changes
| New entries |
|---|
 Debussy: L'Oeuvre Pour Pianoby Aldo Ciccolini |
Favorite Classical CDs similarity to your chart(s)
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A lot of hard work happens in the background to keep BEA running, and it's especially difficult to do this when we can't pay our hosting fees :(
We work very hard to ensure our site is as fast (and FREE!) as possible, and we respect your privacy.