Chopin: Complete Polonaises

Halina Czerny-Stefanska (2021 Remastered, Warsaw 1959-1960)

2 disc(s) - 17 track(s)
Total length: 02:10:09

It is highly significant that the polonaises were Chopin's first compositions: towards the end of the 18th century the polonaise was elevated to the rank of the national dance, of symbolic significance and much cherished following Poland's loss of independence in 1795. Reigning supreme in the Warsaw salons of the time were the compositions by Jözef Eisner, Chopin's future teacher at the Main School of Music, as well as by Maria Szymanowska, Karol Kurpifiski and Michal Kleofas Ogiriski, whose polonaises reflected the sentiments of his time.

Halina Czerny-Stefańska (1922-2001) comes from a musical family in Kraköw, southern Poland. She studied with her father, Stanislaw Czerny, and subsequently, with Alfred Cortot, Józef Turczyński and Zbigniew Drzewiecki. She won First Prize and the Prize for the best interpretation of a mazurka at the 4th International Chopin Competition in Warsaw in 1949. She has performed extensively in Poland and abroad. She is regularly on the jury of international piano competitions (the Chopin Competition in Warsaw, the Artur Rubinstein Competition in Tel-Aviv, the Hummel Competition in Bratislava, the Sibelius Competition in Helsinki). She also has to her credit recordings for the following labels: Deutsche Grammophon, Decca, His Master's Voice, RCA and Polskie Nagrania. 

Ludwik Stefański (1917—1982), pianist and pedagogue, began his piano studies at the Wladyslaw Zeleński School of Music in Kraköw. He furthered his education at the Conservatory in Bologna (Italy) and at N. Rossi's master classes. Upon returning to Poland in 1939, Ludwik Stefański became a professor at the State Higher Schools of Music in Kraköw and Wroclaw. He also pursued an extensive concert carrer, often performing with his wife, pianist Halina Czerny-Stefańska.

Enjoy your listening

CD 1
1. Andante spianato et grande polonaise brillante in E-Flat Major, Op. 22 (2021 Remastered, Warsaw 1959-1960)
2. Polonaise in C-Sharp minor, Op. 26 No. 1 (2021 Remastered, Warsaw 1959-1960)
3. Polonaise in E-Flat minor, Op. 26 No. 2 (2021 Remastered, Warsaw 1959-1960)
4. Polonaise in A Major, Op. 40 No. 1 « Military » (2021 Remastered, Warsaw 1959-1960)
5. Polonaise in C minor, Op. 40 No. 2 (2021 Remastered, Warsaw 1959-1960)
6. Polonaise in F-Sharp minor, Op. 44 (2021 Remastered, Warsaw 1959-1960)
7. Polonaise in B-Flat Major, Op. 53 « Heroica » (2021 Remastered, Warsaw 1959-1960)
8. Polonaise in A-Flat Major, Op. 61 (2021 Remastered, Warsaw 1959-1960)

CD 2
1. Tree youthful Polonaises, No. 1 in G minor (2021 Remastered, Warsaw 1959-1960)
2. Tree youthful Polonaises, No. 2 in B-Flat Major (2021 Remastered, Warsaw 1959-1960)
3. Tree youthful Polonaises, No. 3 in A-Flat Major (2021 Remastered, Warsaw 1959-1960)
4. Polonaise in G-Sharp minor (2021 Remastered, Warsaw 1959-1960)
5. Polonaise in B-Flat minor (2021 Remastered, Warsaw 1959-1960)
6. Polonaise in G-Flat Major (2021 Remastered, Warsaw 1959-1960)
7. Polonaise in D minor, Op. 71 No. 1 (2021 Remastered, Warsaw 1959-1960)
8. Polonaise in B-Flat Major, Op. 71 No. 2 (2021 Remastered, Warsaw 1959-1960)
9. Polonaise in F minor, Op. 71 No. 3 (2021 Remastered, Warsaw 1959-1960)