TRACKLISTING
CD 1
Beethoven 1-34 33 Variations in C major on a Waltz by Diabelli, op.120*
35 Polonaise in C major, op.89*
36-37 Piano Sonata No.32 in C minor, op.111*

CD 2
1-4 Schubert: Fantasie in C major, D760 "Wanderer"*
5 Schumann: Toccata in C major, op.7*
6-27 Carnaval, op.9*
28-40 Etudes symphoniques, op.13*

CD 3
Chopin: 1 Ballade No.3 in A flat major, op.47
2 Fantasy in F minor, op.49
3-6 Piano Sonata No.2 in B flat minor, op.35*
7-10 Piano Sonata No.3 in B minor, op.58*
11 Fantaisie-Impromptu in C sharp minor, op.66*
12 Polonaise No.6 in A flat major, op.53*

CD 4
1-4 Mendelssohn: Prelude and Fugue in E minor, op.35 no.1* · Auf Flügeln des Gesanges (arr.Liszt) · Scherzo in E minor, op.16 no.2 · Rondo capriccioso in E major, op.14*
5-7 Franck: Prélude, choral et fugue
8-14 Brahms: Sonata No.2 in A major for violin & piano, op.100*º · Sonata No.3 in D minor for violin & piano, op.108*º

CD 5
Brahms: 1-5 Piano Sonata in F minor, op.5
6-13 Variations and Fugue on a Theme by Handel, op.24*
14-15 Variations on a Theme by Paganini, op.35*

CD 6
1-4 Ravel: Piano Concerto for the left hand · Piano Concerto in G major
5-15 Bartók: 8 Pieces from Mikrokosmos* · Piano Concerto No.3*ºº

CD 7
1 Gershwin: Rhapsody in Blue
2-5 Rorem: Piano Sonata No.2
6-18 Britten: Diversions for piano (left hand) and orchestra, op.21
19-21 Prokofiev: Piano Concerto No.3 in C major, op.26
CD 8: 1-27 Rachmaninov: Piano Concerto No.2 in C minor, op.18*ª · Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini, op.43*ªª
28-41 Dohnányi: Variations on a Nursery Tune, op.25*ªª

* first international CD release

Julius Katchen piano
Ruggiero Ricci violinº
London Symphony Orchestra
L'Orchestre de la Suisse Romandeºº
New Symphony Orchestraª
London Philharmonic Orchestraªª
Benjamin Britten
István Kertész
Ernest Ansermetºº
Anatole Fistoulariª
Sir Adrian Boultªª

Katchen’s repertory was immense and ranged from the Viennese classics to 20th century works such as Britten’s Diversions and Ned Rorem’s Second Sonata. These are part of his recorded legacy for Decca which includes many of the important piano concertos and much 19th century literature. His first recordings for Decca, made in 1947, include a version of Brahms’ Handel Variations, and for the next 21 years this composer would feature regularly in Katchen’s concerts and recording schedule. His last recordings, made in 1968, included what are now regarded as reference recordings of the 3 Piano Trios with Josef Suk and János Starker. Katchen is the only pianist of truly international stature to have recorded all of Brahms’ important solo keyboard literature as well as those chamber works which include piano.

Katchen’s recordings of solo Brahms are already available as a Decca Collector Box (6 CDs 455 247-2) and a recent group of 4 Double Decca releases has restored to the catalogue his cycle of Beethoven Piano Concertos and Choral Fantasia (with the London Symphony Orchestra and Piero Gamba); Mozart Piano Concertos 13, K415, 20, K466 and 25, K503; Brahms Piano Concertos; Schumann Concerto and Fantasie; Liszt Concertos and 3 solo pieces; Grieg Concerto; Mussorgsky Pictures at an Exhibition; Balakirev Islamey.

This Original Masters set devoted to Katchen makes many recordings from this master pianist available on CD for the first time as international releases.