Artist: Claudio Arrau
Title: The Complete RCA Victor & Columbia Album Collection
Year Of Release: 2016
Label: Sony Classical
Genre: Classical
Total Time: 12 CD

These recordings reflect how Arrau s textually scrupulous yet highly personal mastery of many styles had matured and ripened, while retaining the fire and ardency of his youth. Arrau s Mozart, Weber and Chopin probe beyond the music s surface charm, as do the luminous and full-bodied Spanish and French Impressionist selections. Cumulative momentum and thoughtful detail characterize Arrau s Beethoven and Schumann while the extraordinary technical finish of his Liszt transcends mere virtuosity and bravura.

Claudio Arrau (1903 1991) was a singular figure among the great pianists of his time, who strived to fuse the best that nineteenth- and twentieth-century performing traditions had to offer. Arrau s 1941 1952 American recordings for Victor and Columbia represent the pianist on prime form at one of the peaks of his long career. Sony brings this body of work together for the first time in a comprehensive edition, vividly remastered from the original sources.

Born in Chillán, Chile, on February 6, 1903, Arrau gave his first recital at five. Three years later the Chilean government awarded the prodigy a ten-year grant to study in Germany. Martin Krause, one of Liszt s last pupils, nurtured the young pianist, gave him daily lessons, supervised his practice, and took him to concerts, museums, and the opera. At 24 Arrau won the 1927 International Geneva Prize, and embarked on his legendary cyclical programs encompassing the complete sonatas of Beethoven, Mozart, Schubert and Weber, plus all of Bach s solo keyboard in twelve Berlin concerts. A triumphant 1941 Carnegie Hall recital launched Arrau s American career, and his international profile came into focus with numerous worldwide tours, honors, prizes and recording sessions that continued up until his death on June 9, 1991 in Mürzzuschlag, Austria.

Disc: 1
1. Mozart: Piano Sonata No. 5 in G major, K. 283 (K. 189h)
2. Mozart: Piano Sonata No. 18 (17) in D major, K. 576
3. Mozart: Fantasia in C Minor, K. 475 [December 15, 1941, previously unreleased]
4. Bach: Invention No. 8 in F, BWV 779
5. Bach: Sinfonia No. 6 in E, BWV 792
6. Bach: Sinfonia No. 15 in B Minor, BWV 801
7. Bach: Invention No. 2 in C Minor, BWV 773
8. Bach: Sinfonia No. 2 in C Minor, BWV 788
9. Bach: Invention No. 6 in E, BWV 777
10. Bach: Chromatic Fantasy and Fugue in D Minor, BWV 903
11. Sinfonia No. 6 in E Major, BWV 792
12. Sinfonia No. 15 in B Minor, BWV 801
13. Invention No. 2 in C Minor, BWV 773
14. Sinfonia No. 2 in C Minor, BWV 788
15. Invention No. 6 in E Major, BWV 777
16. Chromatic Fantasy and Fugue in D Minor, BWV 903 / I. Chromatic Fantasy
17. Chromatic Fantasy and Fugue in D Minor, BWV 903 / II. Fugue

Disc: 2
1. Weber: Piano Sonata No. 1 in C Major, Op. 24
2. Beethoven: 6 Variations on an Original Theme in F Major, Op. 34
3. Beethoven: 15 Variations and Fugue for Piano in E – flat Major, Op. 35 "Eroica Variations"
4. Piano Sonata No. 1 in C Major, J. 138 / IV. Rondo Presto "Perpetuum Mobile"
5. 6 Variations on an Original Theme in F Major, Op. 34 / Theme – Adagio
6. Variations on an Original Theme in F Major, Op. 34 / Variation I
7. 6 Variations on an Original Theme in F Major, Op. 34 / Variation II
8. 6 Variations on an Original Theme in F Major, Op. 34 / Variation III
9. 6 Variations on an Original Theme in F Major, Op. 34 / Variation IV
10. 6 Variations on an Original Theme in F Major, Op. 34 / Variation V
11. 6 Variations on an Original Theme in F Major, Op. 34 / Variation VI and Coda
12. Variations and Fugue in E – Flat Major, Op. 35 "Eroica Variations" / Introduzione col basso del tema
13. Variations and Fugue in E – Flat Major, Op. 35 "Eroica Variations" / Variation I
14. Variations and Fugue in E – Flat Major, Op. 35 "Eroica Variations" / Variation II
15. Variations and Fugue in E – Flat Major, Op. 35 "Eroica Variations" / Variation III
16. Variations and Fugue in E – Flat Major, Op. 35 "Eroica Variations" / Variation IV
17. Variations and Fugue in E – Flat Major, Op. 35 "Eroica Variations" / Variation V
18. Variations and Fugue in E – Flat Major, Op. 35 "Eroica Variations" / Variation VI
19. Variations and Fugue in E – Flat Major, Op. 35 "Eroica Variations" / Variation VII
20. Variations and Fugue in E – Flat Major, Op. 35 "Eroica Variations" / Variation VIII
21. Variations and Fugue in E – Flat Major, Op. 35 "Eroica Variations" / Variation IX
22. Variations and Fugue in E – Flat Major, Op. 35 "Eroica Variations" / Variation X
23. Variations and Fugue in E – Flat Major, Op. 35 "Eroica Variations" / Variation XI
24. Variations and Fugue in E – Flat Major, Op. 35 "Eroica Variations" / Variation XII
25. Variations and Fugue in E – Flat Major, Op. 35 "Eroica Variations" / Variation XIII
26. Variations and Fugue in E – Flat Major, Op. 35 "Eroica Variations" / Variation XIV
27. Variations and Fugue in E – Flat Major, Op. 35 "Eroica Variations" / Variation XV
28. Variations and Fugue in E – Flat Major, Op. 35 "Eroica Variations" / Finale

Disc: 3
1. Schumann: Concerto for Piano and Orchestra in A Minor, Op. 54
2. Piano Concerto in A Minor, Op. 54 / II. Intermezzo – Andantino grazioso
3. Piano Concerto in A Minor, Op. 54 / III. Allegro vivace – Claudio Arrau / Karl Krueger

Disc: 4
1. Strauss: Burleske for Piano and Orchestra in D Minor
2. Weber: Konzertstück for Piano and Orchestra in F Minor, Op. 79
3. Konzertstück for Piano and Orchestra in F Minor, Op. 79, J. 282 / II. Allegro passionato – Claudio Arrau / Désiré Defauw
4. Konzertstück for Piano and Orchestra in F Minor, Op. 79, J. 282 / III. Adagio – Tempo di marcia

Disc: 5
1. Albéniz: Iberia Book I
2. Albéniz: Iberia Book II
3. Iberia Book I / III. El corpus Christi en Sevilla
4. Iberia Book II / I. Rondeña
5. Iberia Book II / II. Almería
6. Iberia Book II / III. Triana

Disc: 6
1. Debussy: Pour le piano
2. Debussy: Estampes
3. Debussy: Images, Book I
4. Debussy: Images, Book II
5. Estampes, L. 100 / II. La soiree dans Grenade – Mouvement de Habanera
6. Estampes, L. 100 / III. Jardins sous la pluie – Net et vif
7. Images Book I, L. 110 / I. Reflets dans l'eau
8. Images Book I, L. 110 / II. Hommage à Rameau
9. Images Book I, L. 110 / III. Mouvement
10. Images Book II, L. 111 / I. Cloches à travers les feuilles
11. Images Book II, L. 111 / II. Et la lune descend sur le temple qui fut
12. Images Book II, L. 111 / III. Poissons d'or

Disc: 7
1. Beethoven: Piano Concerto No. 3 in C Minor, Op. 37
2. Beethoven: Piano Sonata No. 21 in C Major, Op. 53 "Waldstein"
3. Piano Concerto No. 3 in C Minor, Op. 37 / III. Rondo – Allegro
4. Piano Sonata No. 21 in C Major, Op. 53 "Waldstein" / I. Allegro con brio
5. Piano Sonata No. 21 in C Major, Op. 53 "Waldstein" / II. Introduzione – Adagio molto
6. Piano Sonata No. 21 in C Major, Op. 53 "Waldstein" / III. Rondo – Allegretto moderato

Disc: 8
1. Chopin: 24 Préludes, Op. 28
2. 24 Préludes, Op. 28 / Prélude No. 2 in A Minor
3. 24 Préludes, Op. 28 / Prélude No. 3 in G Major
4. 24 Préludes, Op. 28 / Prélude No. 4 in E Minor
5. 24 Préludes, Op. 28 / Prélude No. 5 in D Major
6. 24 Préludes, Op. 28 / Prélude No. 6 in B Minor
7. 24 Préludes, Op. 28 / Prélude No. 7 in A Major
8. 24 Préludes, Op. 28 / Prélude No. 8 in F – Sharp Minor
9. 24 Préludes, Op. 28 / Prélude No. 9 in E Major
10. 24 Préludes, Op. 28 / Prélude No. 10 in C – Sharp Minor
11. 24 Préludes, Op. 28 / Prélude No. 11 in B Major
12. 24 Préludes, Op. 28 / Prélude No. 12 in G – Sharp Minor
13. 24 Préludes, Op. 28 / Prélude No. 13 in F – Sharp Major
14. 24 Préludes, Op. 28 / Prélude No. 15 in D – Flat Major
15. 24 Préludes, Op. 28 / Prélude No. 14 in E – Flat Minor
16. 24 Préludes, Op. 28 / Prélude No. 16 in B – Flat Minor
17. 24 Préludes, Op. 28 / Prélude No. 17 in A – Flat Major
18. 24 Préludes, Op. 28 / Prélude No. 18 in F Minor
19. 24 Préludes, Op. 28 / Prélude No. 19 in E – Flat Major
20. 24 Préludes, Op. 28 / Prélude No. 20 in C Minor
21. 24 Préludes, Op. 28 / Prélude No. 21 in B – Flat Major
22. 24 Préludes, Op. 28 / Prélude No. 22 in G Minor
23. 24 Préludes, Op. 28 / Prélude No. 23 in F Major
24. Préludes, Op. 28 / Prélude No. 24 in D Minor

Disc: 9
1. Liszt: Concerto No. 1 in E – flat Major for Piano and Orchestra, S. 124
2. Liszt: Fantasia in E minor on Hungarian Folk Songs, S. 123
3. Piano Concerto No. 1 in E – Flat Major, S. 124 / III. Allegretto vivace
4. Piano Concerto No. 1 in E – Flat Major, S. 124 / IV. Allegro marziale animato
5. Fantasy on Hungarian Themes , S. 123 / Andante mesto – Claudio Arrau / Eugene Ormandy
6. Fantasy on Hungarian Themes , S. 123 / Allegro eroico – Piú animato
7. Fantasy on Hungarian Themes , S. 123 / Molto adagio – Quasi fantasia
8. Fantasy on Hungarian Themes , S. 123 / Vivace assai – Prestissimo

Disc: 10
1. Schumann: Kreisleriana, Op. 16
2. Schumann: Arabeske, Op. 18
3. Kreisleriana, Op. 16 / III. Sehr aufgeregt
4. Kreisleriana, Op. 16 / IV. Sehr langsam
5. Kreisleriana, Op. 16 / V. Sehr lebhaft
6. Kreisleriana, Op. 16 / VI. Sehr langsam
7. Kreisleriana, Op. 16 / VII. Sehr rasch
8. Kreisleriana, Op. 16 / VIII. Schnell und spielend
9. Arabeske, Op. 18

Disc: 11
1. Chopin: Andante spianato et Grande polonaise brillante in E – flat major, op. 22
2. Chopin: Waltz No. 1, Op. 18 in E – flat major "Grande valse brillante"
3. Beethoven: Bagatelle in A minor, WoO 59 "Für Elise"
4. Schubert: Allegretto in C minor: D.915 [Abridged]
5. Ravel: Gaspard de la nuit
6. Liszt: Hungarian Rhapsodies, S. 244, Nos. 8, 9, 10, 11, 13
7. Hungarian Rhapsodies, S. 244 / No. 8 in F – Sharp Minor
8. Hungarian Rhapsodies, S. 244 / No. 9 in E – Flat Major
9. Hungarian Rhapsodies, S. 244 / No. 10 in E Major
10. Hungarian Rhapsodies, S. 244 / No. 11 in A Minor
11. Hungarian Rhapsodies, S. 244 / No. 13 in A Minor

Disc: 12
1. Bach: Goldberg Variations, BWV 988
2. Goldberg Variations, BWV 988 / Variation I
3. Goldberg Variations, BWV 988 / Variation II
4. Goldberg Variations, BWV 988 / Variation III – Canon at the Unison
5. Goldberg Variations, BWV 988 / Variation IV
6. Goldberg Variations, BWV 988 / Variation V
7. Goldberg Variations, BWV 988 / Variation VI – Canon at the Second
8. Goldberg Variations, BWV 988 / Variation VII
9. Goldberg Variations, BWV 988 / Variation VIII
10. Goldberg Variations, BWV 988 / Variation IX – Canon at the Third
11. Goldberg Variations, BWV 988 / Variation X
12. Goldberg Variations, BWV 988 / Variation XI
13. Goldberg Variations, BWV 988 / Variation XII – Canon at the Fourth
14. Goldberg Variations, BWV 988 / Variation XIII
15. Goldberg Variations, BWV 988 / Variation XIV
16. Goldberg Variations, BWV 988 / Variation XV – Canon at the Fifth
17. Goldberg Variations, BWV 988 / Variation XVI – Overture
18. Goldberg Variations, BWV 988 / Variation XVII
19. Goldberg Variations, BWV 988 / Variation XVIII – Canon at the Sixth
20. Goldberg Variations, BWV 988 / Variation XIX
21. Goldberg Variations, BWV 988 / Variation XX
22. Goldberg Variations, BWV 988 / Variation XXI – Canon at the Seventh
23. Goldberg Variations, BWV 988 / Variation XXII
24. Goldberg Variations, BWV 988 / Variation XXIII
25. Goldberg Variations, BWV 988 / Variation XXIV: Canon at the Octave
26. Goldberg Variations, BWV 988 / Variation XXV
27. Goldberg Variations, BWV 988 / Variation XXVI
28. Goldberg Variations, BWV 988 / Variation XXVII – Canon at the Ninth
29. Goldberg Variations, BWV 988 / Variation XXVIII
30. Goldberg Variations, BWV 988 / Variation XXIX
31. Goldberg Variations, BWV 988 / Variation XXX – Quodlibet
32. Goldberg Variations, BWV 988 / Aria