Ballades: Brahms, Chopin

• Main performer: Cedric Tiberghien
• Booklet languages: English, French, German
• Time: 59:51

Review

An ideal coupling that's hardly ever coupled, Cédric Tiberghien's disc joining the four ballades of Chopin with the four ballades of Brahms is a brilliant idea. And, thank heavens, it's brilliantly executed as well. Tiberghien clearly has the virtuoso technique necessary to play these excruciatingly difficult works. But, more importantly, he has the interpretive soul to make them deeply moving. So while one is amazed and astounded by his reckless magnificence in Chopin's ballades -- few pianists have ever as skillfully articulated all the lines in the close of the First Ballade -- one is even more impressed by his heart-swelling passion in Brahms' ballades -- few pianists have ever as ably expressed the despairing emotions of the Fourth Ballade. While one may legitimately prefer some earlier recordings of the works -- say, Horowitz or Michelangeli in Chopin's ballades or Gilels or Arrau in Brahms' ballades -- Tiberghien's recording should be heard by anyone who loves the music. Harmonia Mundi's sound is a bit recessed but still clear enough and quite evocative in the quiet passages. ~ James Leonard, All Music Guide

Performances

Composer	Title	Time
Frédéric Chopin	Ballade for piano No. 1 in G minor, Op. 23, CT. 2	9:38
Frédéric Chopin	Ballade for piano No. 2 in F major, Op. 38, CT. 3	7:02
Johannes Brahms	Ballades (4) for piano, Op. 10	24:20
Frédéric Chopin	Ballade for piano No. 3 in A flat major, Op. 47, CT. 4	7:09
Frédéric Chopin	Ballade for piano No. 4 in F minor, Op. 52, CT. 5	11:42