^ topic. For now the only recording I have is of the first by Michelangeli, with the others in MIDI. I'd like the whole set on CD though. Thanks for any input!

Jerome Rose
Ivan Moravec
Cyprien Katsairs
Evgeny Kissin

Krystian Zimerman -- hands down.

I have Kissin's and Ashkenazy's. I don't listen to them much, but I do know that Ashkenazy's is very good, and Kissin's is very very good.

Hey, I think I shall listen to Kissin's recording now!

Whenever i have seen this topic discussed, the overwhelming majority is Zimerman. Who knows though, maybe opinions have changed However Ive only listened to Zimerman's so I dont really have a good basis for a recommendation.

Yes, yes, YES!!!

Zimerman, Kissin, Hough, Pollini. And Hough's recording is the best IMO.

But, Friedman plays the best 3 and 4 I've ever heard.

Dong Thai Soon's recording of the 4 ballades is incredible and I consider them the definitive recordings, I consider them better than the Zimmerman's, somehow I feel Zimmerman's rendition is rather cold.

Hmmm...

Pollini is called by some "The Greatest" and by others "Cold".

Now Zimmerman is called "Cold"...

Pollini and Zimmerman are both very classical pianists (like Solomon and Serkin). They don't put themselves so much into the music, as much as they try and let the music speak for itself. Some people love this style of performance, but others don't. I understand how it can sound like "cold performance" - it's not overly emotional or overly warming....

So, here's a new question:

Who is the best classical pianist for these ballades and who is the best romantic pianist for these ballades?

I think that might work better for people - just my very humble opinion.

His recording on 4 Chopin Ballades? Not really, all I can hear is fast, and faster.

I guess Chopin himself is the answer here...LOL

Well I think Pollini plays them authentically...

I'll definately have to check out Zimmerman. Does anybody know where I can listen to a sample recording of Zimmerman? I think I'll head over to Amazon.com and see if they have any.

Okay, I haven't seen any suggestions for Rubinstein. I like other Chopin recordings by him, but where does he rate on the Ballades compared to Zimmerman, Pollini, and Kissin?

If only if only if only they had recording capabilites back in his time so that he could make recordings of his works. I'd love to hear Chopin playing his own music.

Rubinstein has a very nocturne-like interpretation of the Ballades, if you like that kind of interpretation Rubinstein could be a good source. The arpeggios toward the end of Ballade 4 are quite something.

Zimerman, Rubinstein, Perahia...

Complete Sets:[/b]
Zimerman
Malcuzynski
Francois
Rubinstein
Moravec

Individual Recordings:[/b]

Ballade 1:[/b]
Gilels
Horowitz(1968)
Pollini(EMI)
Richter(Kiev 1960)

Ballade 2:[/b]
Gavrilov
Richter(Moscow 1950)
Richter(Bucharest 1960)


Ballade 3:[/b]
Arrau
Ohlsson
Richter(RCA)

Ballade 4:[/b]
Barere
Hofmann
Kuerti
Richter(Prague)

I do not enjoy either Perahia's or Hough's recordings of the Ballades.

http://classic.manual.ru/ for complete rubinstein ballades

btw i was not impressed with kissins

Best recording by far - www.aixrecords.com - however I don't know if it's the best performance.
Get a dvd-audio player though

I can't read it.

Never mind, I looked at that one again, and discovered that when you hover over a link, you can see where it points to in the status bar, in English! lol! I found the Rubinstein recordings and downloaded the 4th Ballade. A little bit of background fuzz, but very nice!!!

I've always liked the way Horowitz played Ballad 1 and 4. He takes #4 a little faster than most of the other artists mentioned -at least in the begining anyway - but I think it works out very well. I'd suggest it.

I personally find many pianist's interpretation of the fourth Ballade too fast. It seems everybody tends to play the main meolody in the beginning so fast (the one that is C-F-E-Bb-Db...)

I like it slower and more sweet sounding. Sort of nocturnal I guess you could say.

They may be ancient recordings, and some dispute his style, but just listen to Josef Hofmann's Ballade No. 1 and 4. You will hear ideas, power and spirit that you have never imagined. And the technique is still out of this world.

Zimerman....no doubt!

Yes, I agree with Jeff 135.
I prefer a slower interpretation of a slower beginning for Chopin's 4th Ballade.
I think a faster introduction/ the main motive seems to take the 'fire' out of the furious ending.
I like the beginning sweet and slow. No haste.
What about Elfrun Gabriel ( ballade ) or Arrau( etude )?
Does Arrau have recordings for Ballade also?

Rubinstein's interpertation of the first ballade is brilliant. Horowitz plays them well, but he doesn't go anywhere with the music...there's just no story in his playing.