This ballade, like its two predecessors, is assumed to draw on the poetry of Chopin's friend Adam Mickiewicz (Chopin never confirmed the precise sources or programs connected with these works). Dedicated to Princess Pauline de Noailles, one of the composer's pupils, the piece is said to be inspired by Mickiewicz's "Undine." It's the tale of a water sprite who falls in love with a mortal; she cannot have him because her watery embrace would be fatal. (The sprite appears in another celebrated piano work, the first movement of Ravel's Gaspard de la nuit.)
Far less turbulent than the other ballades, this one begins almost coyly, with a rising yet hesitant phrase in moderate tempo that gives way to a slightly more emphatic theme, dominated by its gently rocking rhythm, suggesting the waves of Undine's natural habitat. This material rises in volume and intensity, but quickly recedes into splashes and gentle cascades of notes in the keyboard's upper reaches.
This aquatic idyll gives way to a new section, still dominated by the rocking rhythm but now arising from a simple, almost childlike tune. Within a few measures this melody grows more complex and the music heaves with passion without becoming truly turbulent. The music ebbs, making way for a return of the section's opening material. Now more gradually, the tempo and filigree increase and recede again. The ballade's opening theme returns without overtly marking a new section; it's incorporated into the tempo and texture the music has already established, and propels a long, restless passage that builds to the most intense climax of all -- yet one that suggests frustrated, passionate love rather than the high tragedy of the other ballades. ~ James Reel, All Music Guide
| A Chopin Collection |
1999 |
| Abbey Simon Plays Chopin, Vol. 2 |
1990 |
| Adam Harasiewicz Plays Chopin |
1999 |
| Adam Harasiewicz Plays Frédéric Chopin |
1994 |
| Alexander Paley plays Chopin |
|
| Alfred Cortot plays Chopin |
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| Alfred Cortot: The Master Classes |
2005 |
| Alicja Fiderkiewicz plays Chopin |
2008 |
| Allen Barton 3 |
2002 |
| An Anniversary Tribute [Box Set] |
2003 |
| Anatole Kitain Plays Chopin, Liszt, Schumann, Brahms |
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| Arrau Recordings 1929-44 |
1998 |
| Arthur Rubinstein plays Chopin |
1998 |
| Arthur Rubinstein plays Chopin |
1998 |
| Artur Rubinstein |
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| Bach: French Overture / Chopin: Four Ballades |
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| Ballades: Brahms, Chopin |
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| Beethoven: Two Rondos/Bagatelles/Chopin: Etudes Op.10 &25/Ballades |
|
| Benno Moiseiwitsch |
1999 |
| Benno Moiseiwitsch plays Chopin, Vol. 1 |
2000 |
| Benno Moiseiwitsch plays Chopin, Vol. 2 |
2003 |
| Best of Chopin Vol.2 |
2000 |
| Best of Chopin [Telarc] |
2003 |
| Brahms, Chopin: Ballades |
1997 |
| Cherkassky: Chopin |
2001 |
| Chopin |
1997 |
| Chopin |
2001 |
| Chopin & Liszt |
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| Chopin Complete Edition (Box Set) |
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| Chopin Piano Works |
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| Chopin Recital |
2009 |
| Chopin Recitals |
1999 |
| Chopin [Hybrid SACD] |
2003 |
| Chopin for Lovers |
2003 |
| Chopin the Dramatist |
1994 |
| Chopin, Liszt and Beethoven |
|
| Chopin: 24 Preludes, Op. 28; 4 Ballades |
|
| Chopin: 24 Préludes |
|
| Chopin: 24 Préludes, Op. 28; 4 Ballades |
|
| Chopin: 4 Ballades |
1994 |
| Chopin: 4 Ballades |
|
| Chopin: 4 Ballades |
|
| Chopin: 4 Ballades, Tarantelle and 14 Waltzes |
1998 |
| Chopin: 4 Ballades/Barcarolle, Op.60/Fantasie in F |
1988 |
| Chopin: 4 Ballades/Fantaisie/Berceuse |
|
| Chopin: 4 Ballades; 4 Scherzi |
1990 |
| Chopin: 4 Ballades; 4 Scherzi |
1995 |
| Chopin: 4 Ballades; Barcarolle; Fantaisie; Berceuse |
|
| Chopin: 4 Ballades; Fantaisie, Op. 49; Prelude, Op. 45 |
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| Chopin: 4 Ballades; Fantaisie; Barcarolle; 4 Mazurkas |
2008 |
| Chopin: 4 Ballades; Scherzos; Mazurkas |
2005 |
| Chopin: 4 Ballads; 4 Scherzi |
1999 |
| Chopin: 4 Impromptus / 4 Mazurkas / 4 Ballades |
|
| Chopin: Ballade No. 3; Andante spinato & Grande Polonaise brillante Op. 22; Fantasia Op. 49; Polonaise-Fantaisie |
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| Chopin: Ballades |
1992 |
| Chopin: Ballades & Etudes |
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| Chopin: Ballades & Nocturnes |
2009 |
| Chopin: Ballades & Polonaises |
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| Chopin: Ballades No1; Ballades No3 |
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| Chopin: Ballades No1; Ballades No3 |
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| Chopin: Ballades No1; Scherzos No2 |
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| Chopin: Ballades No1; Scherzos No2 |
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| Chopin: Ballades No1; Scherzos No2 |
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| Chopin: Ballades No3; Brahms: Pieces Op118 |
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| Chopin: Ballades No3; Impromptus No2 |
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| Chopin: Ballades Nos 1-4; Liszt: Années de pèlerinage, deuxième année, Italie |
1997 |
| Chopin: Ballades and Fantasies |
|
| Chopin: Ballades, Impromptus |
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| Chopin: Ballades, Mazurkas, Polonaises |
2003 |
| Chopin: Ballades/Barcarolle/Berceuse |
|
| Chopin: Ballades; Mazurkas; Polonaises |
2003 |
| Chopin: Ballades; Third Sonata |
1993 |
| Chopin: Ballades; Third Sonata |
1993 |
| Chopin: Ballads/Andante Spianato |
1994 |
| Chopin: Ballady; 3 Nokturny |
2006 |
| Chopin: Bolero |
1998 |
| Chopin: Cello Sonata Op. 65; Polonaise Brillante Op. 3; Balladen Op. 47 & Op. 52 |
|
| Chopin: Compact Edition (Box Set) |
|
| Chopin: Complete Piano Music (Box Set) |
1995 |
| Chopin: Complete Piano Music, Vol. 1 |
1999 |
| Chopin: Complete Works [Box Set] |
|
| Chopin: Complete Works [Box Set] |
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| Chopin: Complete Works [Box Set] |
|
| Chopin: Complete Works [Box Set] |
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| Chopin: Complete Works [Box Set] |
|
| Chopin: Etudes, Ballades, Waltzes |
2001 |
| Chopin: Etudes; Ballads; Dufourt: La ligne gravissant la Chute |
2008 |
| Chopin: Famous Piano Music |
1989 |
| Chopin: Famous Pianoworks 2 |
2000 |
| Chopin: Favorite Piano Works |
1995 |
| Chopin: Favourite Piano Works |
|
| Chopin: Four Ballades & Four Scherzos |
2004 |
| Chopin: Four Ballades and Fantaisie |
2002 |
| Chopin: Four Ballades: Liszt: Sonata in B minor |
|
| Chopin: Four Ballades; Barcarolle |
1981 |
| Chopin: Four Impromptus; Five Nocturnes; Ballade No. 3; Scherzo No. 1 |
2005 |
| Chopin: Impromptus No4; Ballades No1 |
|
| Chopin: Impromptus No4; Ballades No3 |
|
| Chopin: Impromptus; Ballades; Berceuse |
|
| Chopin: Intégrale de l'oeuvre pour piano seul (Box Set) |
|
| Chopin: Nikita Magaloff |
|
| Chopin: Nocturne, Op. 48 No. 1; Ballades Nos. 3 & 4; Mussorgsky: Pictures at an Exhibition |
2004 |
| Chopin: Nocturnes; 4 Ballades |
1997 |
| Chopin: Nocturnes; Romantic Piano Etudes & Preludes |
2006 |
| Chopin: Paris - Nohant (1840-1841) |
|
| Chopin: Piano Concerto No. 1; The 4 Ballades |
|
| Chopin: Piano Concertos Nos. 1 & 2 |
2008 |
| Chopin: Piano Favourites, Vol. 2 |
2004 |
| Chopin: Piano Masterworks [Box Set] |
2008 |
| Chopin: Piano Music (Complete) Vol. 3 (Box Set) |
1993 |
| Chopin: Piano Sonatas 2 & 3; Scherzi; Ballades |
2003 |
| Chopin: Piano Works |
1992 |
| Chopin: Piano Works |
1993 |
| Chopin: Piano Works |
|
| Chopin: Piano Works |
2001 |
| Chopin: Piano Works |
2004 |
| Chopin: Piano Works |
|
| Chopin: Piano Works [Box Set] |
1997 |
| Chopin: Piano Works, Vol. 2 |
|
| Chopin: Piano Works, Vol. 4 |
2001 |
| Chopin: Pièces Célèbres pour Piano |
1999 |
| Chopin: Preludes & Ballades |
1993 |
| Chopin: Preludes & Ballades |
2001 |
| Chopin: Préludes, Op. 28 |
|
| Chopin: Romantic Piano |
1995 |
| Chopin: Scherzo; Ballade; Etudes; Mazurkas |
|
| Chopin: Scherzos & Ballades |
1996 |
| Chopin: Scherzos & Ballades |
2005 |
| Chopin: Solo Piano, Vol. 1 |
2003 |
| Chopin: Sonatas for piano No2; Ballades No1 |
|
| Chopin: The Complete Piano Works, Vol. 3: Ballades |
1991 |
| Chopin: The Complete Works [Box Set] |
2008 |
| Chopin: The Four Ballades; Berceuse Op. 57; Barcarolle Op. 60; Scherzo No. 4, Op. 54 |
1999 |
| Chopin: The Four Ballades; F Minor Fantasie; Berceuse; Liszt: Liebesträume; Petrarch Sonnets; Three Concert Studies |
1995 |
| Chopin: The Masterpieces for Piano, Vol. 2 |
2003 |
| Chopin: The Piano Works [Box Set] |
1995 |
| Chopin: The Piano Works [Box Set] |
|
| Chopin: The Scherzos, Ballades, and Waltzes |
1989 |
| Chopin: The Three Sonatas; The Four Scherzos; The Four Ballades; The Barcarolle; The Fantasy |
1999 |
| Chopin: Works For Solo Piano |
|
| Chopin: Works for Piano |
1998 |
| Chopin: Études & Ballades |
1997 |
| Chopin:Four Ballades/Four Scherzi |
1994 |
| Chopins Balaldes & Scherzi |
|
| Clair de Lune |
2007 |
| Classic CD No. 58 |
|
| Classical Piano, Vol. 1 |
2004 |
| Classical Surroundings: Solo Piano |
1999 |
| Classical Top 1000 [Box Set] |
|
| Claudio Arrau (Magic Talent) |
|
| Claudio Arrau Performs Chopin [Box Set] |
2003 |
| Claudio Arrau Performs Chopin [Box Set] |
2003 |
| Claudio Arrau Plays Liszt, Schumann, Debussy |
|
| Claudio Arrau: Recordings 1929-1944 |
1998 |
| Complete Classical Music Library: The Piano, Vol. 1 [Box Set] |
2006 |
| Complete Recordings, Vol. 1 |
2002 |
| Complete Solo Recordings of Ignaz Friedman |
|
| Complete Solo Recordings of Ignaz Friedman |
|
| Cortot Plays Chopin |
1991 |
| Cortot Plays Chopin: The Legendary 1925-29 Recordings |
|
| Debussy: Preludes; L'Isle joyeuse; Chopin: Ballade No. 3; Scherzo No. 4; Etc. |
1999 |
| Deutsche Grammophon Centenary Collection, 1978-1987 (Box Set) |
|
| Early London Records: Chopin, Beethoven |
|
| Early Years |
2000 |
| Edward Auer Plays Chopin |
1992 |
| Egon Petri, Vol.3 |
|
| Eliso Virsaladze plays Chopin |
1996 |
| Essential Chopin |
2003 |
| Famous Piano Works |
1994 |
| Freddy Kempf Plays Chopin |
2000 |
| Frederic Chopin: 24 Preludes, Op 28 |
1996 |
| Frederic Chopin: Four Ballades [DVD Audio] |
2002 |
| Frederic Chopin: Four Ballades, Grande Polonaise Brillante/Polonaise-fantaisie |
1995 |
| Friedman plays Mendelssohn, Chopin, Liszt |
1999 |
| Friedrich Gulda: Porträt [Digipak] |
2006 |
| Frédéric Chopin, Vol. 1 |
1999 |
| Frédéric Chopin: Ballades, Impromptus & Preludes |
|
| Frédéric Chopin: Piano Works |
|
| Frédéric Chopin: Solo Piano Works |
2004 |
| Frédéric Chopin: The Original Piano Roll Recordings |
1992 |
| Gary Gillispie Plays Chopin |
2006 |
| Gieseking: A Retrospective, Vol.3 |
|
| Golden Piano [Collector's Edition] [Box Set] |
2008 |
| Golden Piano, Vol. 1 |
2008 |
| Gramophone Editor's Choice, January 2000 |
2000 |
| Grand Piano: Chopin |
1998 |
| Great Pianists of the 20th Century: The Complete Edition (Box 1) (Box Set) |
1999 |
| Great Pianists of the 20th Century: The Complete Edition (Box 1) (Box Set) |
1999 |
| Great Pianists of the 20th Century: The Complete Edition (Box 2) (Box Set) |
1999 |
| Great Pianists of the 20th Century: The Complete Edition (Box 2) (Box Set) |
1999 |
| Great Pianists of the 20th Century: The Complete Edition (Box 2) (Box Set) |
1999 |
| Great Pianists of the 20th Century: The Complete Edition (Box 2) (Box Set) |
1999 |
| Great Pianists of the Century |
1996 |
| Great Pianists of the Golden Era |
1990 |
| Guiomar Novaes |
|
| György Kukorelly joue Chopin |
2003 |
| Harmonia Mundi 50: The Fiftieth Anniversary Boxed Set [Box Set] |
2007 |
| His Rarest Records, Vol. 3 |
|
| Hommage à Werner Haas |
2001 |
| Horowitz Performs Chopin |
2002 |
| Horowitz Plays Beethoven, Scarlatti, Chopin |
1993 |
| Horowitz plays Chopin |
|
| Ignace Jan Paderewski |
|
| Ignace Jan Paderewski plays Paderewski, Chopin & Liszt |
2008 |
| Ignace Paderewski Plays Chopin |
1989 |
| Ignacy Friedman |
1999 |
| Ivan Moravec Plays (Box Set) |
2001 |
| Ivan Moravec Plays Chopin |
2001 |
| Ivan Moravec Plays Chopin, Vol.2 |
1994 |
| Jerome Rose Plays Chopin Live in Concert [DVD Video] |
2007 |
| Jorge Bolet Plays |
|
| Julius Katchen |
1998 |
| Kaleidoscope: Piano Encores |
|
| Leo Nadelmann: The renowned WQXR Recordings Vol. 1 |
1993 |
| Les Enregistrements Antérieurs à 1939 |
|
| Liebestraum |
|
| Liszt: Piano Concerto No. 1; Chopin: Four Ballades |
1998 |
| Luisada plays Bizet & Chopin |
|
| Mad about Chopin |
1993 |
| Malcuzynski plays Brahms, Beethoven & Chopin |
2000 |
| Malcuzynski plays great romantic piano music |
2000 |
| Maria Tipo, Piano |
2000 |
| Maria Tipo: Piano |
|
| Michael Ponti Live Vol. 7 |
|
| Mindru Katz plays Frédéric Chopin, Vol. 1 |
2008 |
| Mischa Levitzki: His Rarest Recordings (1923-1929) |
|
| Mischa Levitzki: The Complete HMV Recordings 1927-1933 |
1992 |
| Moiseivitch Joue Frédéric Chopin/Robert Schumann |
|
| My Favorite Chopin |
1961 |
| My Favorite Chopin |
1989 |
| Nelson Freire Plays Chopin & Villa-Lobos |
2006 |
| Newport Festival in Honor of Sergio Fiorentio |
|
| Olga Samaroff: An American Virtuoso on the Stage |
1999 |
| On Freedom |
2001 |
| Paderewski on Welte-Mignon Rolls |
2001 |
| Paderewski plays Paderewski |
2003 |
| Paul Komen plays Chopin |
1997 |
| Peter Katin Plays Chopin, Vol. 2 |
|
| Peter and the Wolf |
|
| Pianist of the Century (Box) |
|
| Player Piano 2: Chopin played by Pianists around 1900 |
2006 |
| Poetic Chopin |
1996 |
| Presenting Vanessa Perez |
2005 |
| Rachmaninoff Plays Chopin |
1994 |
| Rachmaninov Plays Chopin |
|
| Rachmaninov's Chopin Recordings |
|
| Rachmaninov: His Complete Recordings [Box Set] |
2005 |
| Raul Koczalski: Pianist & Composer, Vol. 4: Chopin, Koczalski |
1998 |
| Recordings, 1923-1933 |
|
| Richter Rediscovered |
2001 |
| Richter in Prague |
1999 |
| Robert Casadesus plays Chopin, Schumann, Ravel, Fauré, De Séverac |
|
| Romantic Piano: Frederic Chopin |
1993 |
| Romantic World of Chopin's Piano |
|
| Rubinstein Collection, Vol. 45 |
1999 |
| Rubinstein: Mozart/Chopin |
2000 |
| Rudolf Firkusny Plays Fryderyk Chopin |
1991 |
| Russian Piano School, Vol. 11-20 |
1996 |
| Ruth Slenczynska Plays Chopin and Liszt Live |
1997 |
| Samson François |
1999 |
| Schumann: Piano Concerto in A minor; Chopin: Ballades Nos. 2 & 3; Scherzo No. 1; Etc. |
2004 |
| Sergei Rachmaninoff |
1998 |
| Sergei Rachmaninoff: The Complete Recordings |
1992 |
| Shura Cherkassky plays Rameau, Haydn, Chopin, Liszt, Hindemith & Berkeley |
2007 |
| Shura Cherkassy Live, Vol. 1 |
1991 |
| Shura Cherkassy: The Complete HMV Stereo Recordings |
2009 |
| Shura Cherkassy: The Complete HMV Stereo Recordings |
2009 |
| Simon Abbey: Chopin |
2001 |
| Sofronitsky, Vol.10 |
|
| Summertime Classics |
2000 |
| Summertime Classics |
2002 |
| Sviatoslav Richter plays Chopin |
|
| Sviatoslav Richter à Prague [Box Set] |
|
| Sviatoslav Richter: In Memoriam |
|
| Tchaikovsky: The Seasons |
1988 |
| Teresa Carreño, Pianist |
2004 |
| The Art of Guiomar Novaes |
1994 |
| The Art of Rachmaninov: Sonata for Piano and Cello, Op. 19; Two Pieces for Cello and Piano, Op. 2 |
2005 |
| The Best of Chopin |
1992 |
| The Best of Chopin |
1997 |
| The Chopin Ballades & Scherzos [Hybrid SACD] |
1984 |
| The Chopin Collection [Box Set] |
1991 |
| The Chopin Collection [Box Set] |
1991 |
| The Chopin Collection: The Ballades; The Scherzos |
1984 |
| The Chopin Experience |
1994 |
| The Chopin of Mexico Plays Chopin, Vol. 1 |
2007 |
| The Complete 1950s Chopin Recordings [Box Set] |
|
| The Complete Chopin Recordings |
1997 |
| The Complete Columbia Recordings, 1936-1939 |
|
| The Early Recordings |
|
| The Genesis Recordings of Legendary Pianists, Vol. 2 |
1999 |
| The Great Composers: Frédéric Chopin [DVD + 2 CDs] |
|
| The Great Pianists, Vol. 1 |
|
| The Monet Collection: Piano Moods (Box Set) |
|
| The Only Chopin Album You Will Ever Need |
2007 |
| The Original Chopin, Vol. Two |
1996 |
| The Piano Collection [Box Set] |
|
| The Piano Collection, CD 1 |
|
| The Romantic Era |
2005 |
| The Romantic Piano |
1993 |
| The Rubinstein Collection (Limited Edition) [Box Set] |
1999 |
| The Schiller Family in Concert |
2007 |
| The Stephen Hough Piano Collection |
2005 |
| The Ultimate Most Relaxing Chopin in the Universe |
2008 |
| The Very Best of Chopin |
2005 |
| The World Of Chopin |
1995 |
| The World Of Chopin (1931-1943) |
|
| The young Arthur Rubinstein, 1919 - 1924: the master Duo-Art Piano rolls |
1999 |
| Ultimate Chopin [Box Set] |
2006 |
| Vladimir Ashkenazy: Favourite Chopin |
1983 |
| Vlado Perlemuter Plays Chopin (Box Set) |
1993 |
| Walter Gieseking, Vol. 8 |
|
| Walter Gieseking: Unissued Broadcasts |
|
| Walter Hautzig plays Chopin |
1999 |
| Wilhelm Kampff Plays Chopin, Vol. 2 |
1996 |
| Wilhelm Kempff plays Chopin |
|
| World's Most Beautiful Music Collection |
1994 |
| World's Most Beautiful Music Collection (Box Set) |
1994 |
| York Bowen: The Complete Solo 78-rpm Recordings |
2008 |
