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APR

Alfred Cortot - The Complete French Recordings, 1942-1943

Romantic Virtuosic Romantic Nostalgic Piano
$19.99

Details

Composer
Frederic Chopin
Artist
Alfred Cortot
Format
CD
Label
APR
Released
Sep 05, 2025
Catalog #
APR6046
UPC
5024709160464

About

What better way to introduce Alfred Cortot to APR's French Piano School series than by focussing on the few recordings he actually made in France. There's a good case for claiming Cortot as the greatest of twentieth century French pianists and he was certainly the most prolific one to record in the 78-rpm era. He began recording as a soloist in 1919 and continued through to the 1950s, but nearly all his discs were made in the USA and the UK. It was only during World War 2 that he recorded solo repertoire in France and these recordings, originally only released locally, are much less well-known than his London HMVs from the 1930s. Cortot seems to have planned these Paris sessions to be a substantial survey of Chopin's works, including the complete Polonaises and Scherzi which he had not previously recorded, but in the end only the Etudes, Preludes and Waltzes were released. Cortot here is still on top form, the post war decline in his playing not yet evident, and these performances are very much complimentary to his earlier ones. Anyone, knowing of Cortot's 'wrong notes' and doubting his technique only has to listen to these Etudes (all first takes!) to hear virtuoso playing of the highest order, and of course Cortot's unique poetry is never in doubt. Perhaps the Preludes best reveal the soul of our pianist, and this set finds him at his finest. As an appendix we have included another rarity, Cortot's first recording of Chopin's B minor Piano Sonata, made in London in 1931. He was to remake the work in the then new Abbey Road studios in 1933, and it is this later version which has been continuously reissued, but this earlier version is in no way inferior and could be argued to be better in parts than the 1933 version. It is also in very good sound for it's time and we are happy to give it some well-deserved attention.

Tracklist 66 tracks

  1. Disc 1
  2. 1 No. 1 in C Major, Op. 10, No. 1 02:04
    Track
    1
    Title
    No. 1 in C Major, Op. 10, No. 1
    Duration
    02:04
    Composer
    Frédéric Chopin
    Performer
    Alfred Cortot
  3. 2 No. 4 in C-Sharp Minor Op. 10, No. 4 02:06
    Track
    2
    Title
    No. 4 in C-Sharp Minor Op. 10, No. 4
    Duration
    02:06
    Composer
    Frédéric Chopin
    Performer
    Alfred Cortot
  4. 3 No. 3 in E Major, Op. 10, No. 3 03:59
    Track
    3
    Title
    No. 3 in E Major, Op. 10, No. 3
    Duration
    03:59
    Composer
    Frédéric Chopin
    Performer
    Alfred Cortot
  5. 4 No. 5 in G-Flat Major, Op. 10, No. 5, "Black Keys" 01:35
    Track
    4
    Title
    No. 5 in G-Flat Major, Op. 10, No. 5, "Black Keys"
    Duration
    01:35
    Composer
    Frédéric Chopin
    Performer
    Alfred Cortot
  6. 5 No. 2 in A Minor, Op. 10, No. 2 01:23
    Track
    5
    Title
    No. 2 in A Minor, Op. 10, No. 2
    Duration
    01:23
    Composer
    Frédéric Chopin
    Performer
    Alfred Cortot
  7. 6 No. 7 in C Major, Op. 10, No. 7 01:33
    Track
    6
    Title
    No. 7 in C Major, Op. 10, No. 7
    Duration
    01:33
    Composer
    Frédéric Chopin
    Performer
    Alfred Cortot
  8. 7 No. 8 in F Major, Op. 10, No. 8 02:23
    Track
    7
    Title
    No. 8 in F Major, Op. 10, No. 8
    Duration
    02:23
    Composer
    Frédéric Chopin
    Performer
    Alfred Cortot
  9. 8 No. 9 in F Minor, Op. 10, No. 9 02:08
    Track
    8
    Title
    No. 9 in F Minor, Op. 10, No. 9
    Duration
    02:08
    Composer
    Frédéric Chopin
    Performer
    Alfred Cortot
  10. 9 No. 11 in E-Flat Major, Op. 10, No. 11 01:45
    Track
    9
    Title
    No. 11 in E-Flat Major, Op. 10, No. 11
    Duration
    01:45
    Composer
    Frédéric Chopin
    Performer
    Alfred Cortot
  11. 10 No. 6 in E-Flat Minor, Op. 10, No. 6 02:57
    Track
    10
    Title
    No. 6 in E-Flat Minor, Op. 10, No. 6
    Duration
    02:57
    Composer
    Frédéric Chopin
    Performer
    Alfred Cortot
  12. 11 No. 12 in C Minor, Op. 10, No. 12, "Revolutionary" 02:37
    Track
    11
    Title
    No. 12 in C Minor, Op. 10, No. 12, "Revolutionary"
    Duration
    02:37
    Composer
    Frédéric Chopin
    Performer
    Alfred Cortot
  13. 12 No. 10 in A-Flat Major, Op. 10, No. 10 02:04
    Track
    12
    Title
    No. 10 in A-Flat Major, Op. 10, No. 10
    Duration
    02:04
    Composer
    Frédéric Chopin
    Performer
    Alfred Cortot
  14. 13 No. 13 in A-Flat Major, Op. 25, No. 1, "Harp Study" 02:00
    Track
    13
    Title
    No. 13 in A-Flat Major, Op. 25, No. 1, "Harp Study"
    Duration
    02:00
    Composer
    Frédéric Chopin
    Performer
    Alfred Cortot
  15. 14 No. 24 in C Minor, Op. 25, No. 12 02:42
    Track
    14
    Title
    No. 24 in C Minor, Op. 25, No. 12
    Duration
    02:42
    Composer
    Frédéric Chopin
    Performer
    Alfred Cortot
  16. 15 No. 14 in F Minor, Op. 25, No. 2 01:22
    Track
    15
    Title
    No. 14 in F Minor, Op. 25, No. 2
    Duration
    01:22
    Composer
    Frédéric Chopin
    Performer
    Alfred Cortot
  17. 16 No. 22 in B Minor, Op. 25, No. 10 03:04
    Track
    16
    Title
    No. 22 in B Minor, Op. 25, No. 10
    Duration
    03:04
    Composer
    Frédéric Chopin
    Performer
    Alfred Cortot
  18. 17 No. 15 in F Major, Op. 25, No. 3 01:41
    Track
    17
    Title
    No. 15 in F Major, Op. 25, No. 3
    Duration
    01:41
    Composer
    Frédéric Chopin
    Performer
    Alfred Cortot
  19. 18 No. 16 in A Minor, Op. 25, No. 4 01:29
    Track
    18
    Title
    No. 16 in A Minor, Op. 25, No. 4
    Duration
    01:29
    Composer
    Frédéric Chopin
    Performer
    Alfred Cortot
  20. 19 No. 20 in D-Flat Major, Op. 25, No. 8 01:06
    Track
    19
    Title
    No. 20 in D-Flat Major, Op. 25, No. 8
    Duration
    01:06
    Composer
    Frédéric Chopin
    Performer
    Alfred Cortot
  21. 20 No. 18 in G-Sharp Minor, Op. 25, No. 6 01:55
    Track
    20
    Title
    No. 18 in G-Sharp Minor, Op. 25, No. 6
    Duration
    01:55
    Composer
    Frédéric Chopin
    Performer
    Alfred Cortot
  22. 21 No. 17 in E Minor, Op. 25, No. 5 02:46
    Track
    21
    Title
    No. 17 in E Minor, Op. 25, No. 5
    Duration
    02:46
    Composer
    Frédéric Chopin
    Performer
    Alfred Cortot
  23. 22 No. 19 in C-Sharp Minor, Op. 25, No. 7 04:29
    Track
    22
    Title
    No. 19 in C-Sharp Minor, Op. 25, No. 7
    Duration
    04:29
    Composer
    Frédéric Chopin
    Performer
    Alfred Cortot
  24. 23 No. 21 in G-Flat Major, Op. 25, No. 9, "Butterfly's Wings" 01:03
    Track
    23
    Title
    No. 21 in G-Flat Major, Op. 25, No. 9, "Butterfly's Wings"
    Duration
    01:03
    Composer
    Frédéric Chopin
    Performer
    Alfred Cortot
  25. 24 No. 23 in A Minor, Op. 25, No. 11, "Winter Wind" 03:44
    Track
    24
    Title
    No. 23 in A Minor, Op. 25, No. 11, "Winter Wind"
    Duration
    03:44
    Composer
    Frédéric Chopin
    Performer
    Alfred Cortot
  26. 25 I. Allegro maestoso 08:32
    Track
    25
    Title
    I. Allegro maestoso
    Duration
    08:32
    Composer
    Frédéric Chopin
    Performer
    Alfred Cortot
  27. 26 II. Scherzo: Molto vivace 02:37
    Track
    26
    Title
    II. Scherzo: Molto vivace
    Duration
    02:37
    Composer
    Frédéric Chopin
    Performer
    Alfred Cortot
  28. 27 III. Largo 07:06
    Track
    27
    Title
    III. Largo
    Duration
    07:06
    Composer
    Frédéric Chopin
    Performer
    Alfred Cortot
  29. 28 IV. Finale: Presto non tanto 05:06
    Track
    28
    Title
    IV. Finale: Presto non tanto
    Duration
    05:06
    Composer
    Frédéric Chopin
    Performer
    Alfred Cortot
  30. Disc 2
  31. 1 No. 1 in C Major 00:36
    Track
    1
    Title
    No. 1 in C Major
    Duration
    00:36
    Composer
    Frédéric Chopin
    Performer
    Alfred Cortot
  32. 2 No. 2 in A Minor 02:00
    Track
    2
    Title
    No. 2 in A Minor
    Duration
    02:00
    Composer
    Frédéric Chopin
    Performer
    Alfred Cortot
  33. 3 No. 3 in G Major 01:00
    Track
    3
    Title
    No. 3 in G Major
    Duration
    01:00
    Composer
    Frédéric Chopin
    Performer
    Alfred Cortot
  34. 4 No. 4 in E Minor 01:34
    Track
    4
    Title
    No. 4 in E Minor
    Duration
    01:34
    Composer
    Frédéric Chopin
    Performer
    Alfred Cortot
  35. 5 No. 5 in D Major 00:35
    Track
    5
    Title
    No. 5 in D Major
    Duration
    00:35
    Composer
    Frédéric Chopin
    Performer
    Alfred Cortot
  36. 6 No. 6 in B Minor 01:34
    Track
    6
    Title
    No. 6 in B Minor
    Duration
    01:34
    Composer
    Frédéric Chopin
    Performer
    Alfred Cortot
  37. 7 No. 7 in A Major 00:34
    Track
    7
    Title
    No. 7 in A Major
    Duration
    00:34
    Composer
    Frédéric Chopin
    Performer
    Alfred Cortot
  38. 8 No. 8 in F-Sharp Minor 01:41
    Track
    8
    Title
    No. 8 in F-Sharp Minor
    Duration
    01:41
    Composer
    Frédéric Chopin
    Performer
    Alfred Cortot
  39. 9 No. 9 in E Major 01:12
    Track
    9
    Title
    No. 9 in E Major
    Duration
    01:12
    Composer
    Frédéric Chopin
    Performer
    Alfred Cortot
  40. 10 No. 10 in C-Sharp Minor 00:32
    Track
    10
    Title
    No. 10 in C-Sharp Minor
    Duration
    00:32
    Composer
    Frédéric Chopin
    Performer
    Alfred Cortot
  41. 11 No. 11 in B Major 00:34
    Track
    11
    Title
    No. 11 in B Major
    Duration
    00:34
    Composer
    Frédéric Chopin
    Performer
    Alfred Cortot
  42. 12 No. 12 in G-Sharp Minor 01:09
    Track
    12
    Title
    No. 12 in G-Sharp Minor
    Duration
    01:09
    Composer
    Frédéric Chopin
    Performer
    Alfred Cortot
  43. 13 No. 13 in F-Sharp Major 02:41
    Track
    13
    Title
    No. 13 in F-Sharp Major
    Duration
    02:41
    Composer
    Frédéric Chopin
    Performer
    Alfred Cortot
  44. 14 No. 14 in E-Flat Minor 00:34
    Track
    14
    Title
    No. 14 in E-Flat Minor
    Duration
    00:34
    Composer
    Frédéric Chopin
    Performer
    Alfred Cortot
  45. 15 No. 15 in D-Flat Major, "Raindrop" 04:40
    Track
    15
    Title
    No. 15 in D-Flat Major, "Raindrop"
    Duration
    04:40
    Composer
    Frédéric Chopin
    Performer
    Alfred Cortot
  46. 16 No. 16 in B-Flat Minor 01:07
    Track
    16
    Title
    No. 16 in B-Flat Minor
    Duration
    01:07
    Composer
    Frédéric Chopin
    Performer
    Alfred Cortot
  47. 17 No. 17 in A-Flat Major 02:47
    Track
    17
    Title
    No. 17 in A-Flat Major
    Duration
    02:47
    Composer
    Frédéric Chopin
    Performer
    Alfred Cortot
  48. 18 No. 18 in F Minor 00:49
    Track
    18
    Title
    No. 18 in F Minor
    Duration
    00:49
    Composer
    Frédéric Chopin
    Performer
    Alfred Cortot
  49. 19 No. 19 in E-Flat Major 01:14
    Track
    19
    Title
    No. 19 in E-Flat Major
    Duration
    01:14
    Composer
    Frédéric Chopin
    Performer
    Alfred Cortot
  50. 20 No. 20 in C Minor 01:25
    Track
    20
    Title
    No. 20 in C Minor
    Duration
    01:25
    Composer
    Frédéric Chopin
    Performer
    Alfred Cortot
  51. 21 No. 21 in B-Flat Major 01:32
    Track
    21
    Title
    No. 21 in B-Flat Major
    Duration
    01:32
    Composer
    Frédéric Chopin
    Performer
    Alfred Cortot
  52. 22 No. 22 in G Minor 00:46
    Track
    22
    Title
    No. 22 in G Minor
    Duration
    00:46
    Composer
    Frédéric Chopin
    Performer
    Alfred Cortot
  53. 23 No. 23 in F Major 00:39
    Track
    23
    Title
    No. 23 in F Major
    Duration
    00:39
    Composer
    Frédéric Chopin
    Performer
    Alfred Cortot
  54. 24 No. 24 in D Minor 02:33
    Track
    24
    Title
    No. 24 in D Minor
    Duration
    02:33
    Composer
    Frédéric Chopin
    Performer
    Alfred Cortot
  55. 25 Waltz No. 1 in E-Flat Major, Op. 18, "Grande valse brillante" 04:35
    Track
    25
    Title
    Waltz No. 1 in E-Flat Major, Op. 18, "Grande valse brillante"
    Duration
    04:35
    Composer
    Frédéric Chopin
    Performer
    Alfred Cortot
  56. 26 Waltz No. 2 in A-Flat Major, Op. 34, No. 1, "Valse brillante" 04:29
    Track
    26
    Title
    Waltz No. 2 in A-Flat Major, Op. 34, No. 1, "Valse brillante"
    Duration
    04:29
    Composer
    Frédéric Chopin
    Performer
    Alfred Cortot
  57. 27 Waltz No. 3 in A Minor, Op. 34, No. 2, "Valse brillante" 04:04
    Track
    27
    Title
    Waltz No. 3 in A Minor, Op. 34, No. 2, "Valse brillante"
    Duration
    04:04
    Composer
    Frédéric Chopin
    Performer
    Alfred Cortot
  58. 28 Waltz No. 4 in F Major, Op. 34, No. 3, "Valse brillante" 02:03
    Track
    28
    Title
    Waltz No. 4 in F Major, Op. 34, No. 3, "Valse brillante"
    Duration
    02:03
    Composer
    Frédéric Chopin
    Performer
    Alfred Cortot
  59. 29 Waltz No. 5 in A-Flat Major, Op. 42 03:39
    Track
    29
    Title
    Waltz No. 5 in A-Flat Major, Op. 42
    Duration
    03:39
    Composer
    Frédéric Chopin
    Performer
    Alfred Cortot
  60. 30 Waltz No. 6 in D-Flat Major, Op. 64, No. 1, "Minute" 01:29
    Track
    30
    Title
    Waltz No. 6 in D-Flat Major, Op. 64, No. 1, "Minute"
    Duration
    01:29
    Composer
    Frédéric Chopin
    Performer
    Alfred Cortot
  61. 31 Waltz No. 7 in C-Sharp Minor, Op. 64, No. 2 02:58
    Track
    31
    Title
    Waltz No. 7 in C-Sharp Minor, Op. 64, No. 2
    Duration
    02:58
    Composer
    Frédéric Chopin
    Performer
    Alfred Cortot
  62. 32 Waltz No. 8 in A-Flat Major, Op. 64, No. 3 02:52
    Track
    32
    Title
    Waltz No. 8 in A-Flat Major, Op. 64, No. 3
    Duration
    02:52
    Composer
    Frédéric Chopin
    Performer
    Alfred Cortot
  63. 33 Waltz No. 9 in A-Flat Major, Op. 69, No. 1, "L'adieu" 03:16
    Track
    33
    Title
    Waltz No. 9 in A-Flat Major, Op. 69, No. 1, "L'adieu"
    Duration
    03:16
    Composer
    Frédéric Chopin
    Performer
    Alfred Cortot
  64. 34 Waltz No. 10 in B Minor, Op. 69, No. 2 02:47
    Track
    34
    Title
    Waltz No. 10 in B Minor, Op. 69, No. 2
    Duration
    02:47
    Composer
    Frédéric Chopin
    Performer
    Alfred Cortot
  65. 35 Waltz No. 11 in G-Flat Major, Op. 70, No. 1 02:50
    Track
    35
    Title
    Waltz No. 11 in G-Flat Major, Op. 70, No. 1
    Duration
    02:50
    Composer
    Frédéric Chopin
    Performer
    Alfred Cortot
  66. 36 Waltz No. 12 in F Minor, Op. 70, No. 2 02:09
    Track
    36
    Title
    Waltz No. 12 in F Minor, Op. 70, No. 2
    Duration
    02:09
    Composer
    Frédéric Chopin
    Performer
    Alfred Cortot
  67. 37 Waltz No. 13 in D-Flat Major, Op. 70, No. 3 01:51
    Track
    37
    Title
    Waltz No. 13 in D-Flat Major, Op. 70, No. 3
    Duration
    01:51
    Composer
    Frédéric Chopin
    Performer
    Alfred Cortot
  68. 38 Waltz No. 14 in E Minor, Op. posth. 02:38
    Track
    38
    Title
    Waltz No. 14 in E Minor, Op. posth.
    Duration
    02:38
    Composer
    Frédéric Chopin
    Performer
    Alfred Cortot