Frédéric Chopin (1810-1849)
Valse n° 1 en mi bémol majeur, op. 18 "Grande valse brillante"
Valse n° 2 en la bémol majeur, op. 34/1 "Valse brillante"
Valse n° 3 en la mineur, op. 34/2 "Grande valse brillante"
Valse n° 4 en fa majeur, op. 34/3
Valse n° 5 en la bémol majeur, op. 42 "Grande valse"
Valse n° 6 en ré bémol majeur, op. 64/1 "Minute Waltz"
Valse n° 7 en do dièse mineur, op. 64/2
Valse n° 8 en la bémol majeur, op. 64/3
Valse n° 9 en la bémol majeur, op. 69/1 "L'Adieu"
Valse n° 10 en si mineur, op. 69/2
Valse n° 11 en sol bémol majeur, op. 70/1
Valse n° 12 en fa mineur, op. 70/2
Valse n° 13 en ré bémol majeur, op. 70/3
Valse n° 14 en mi mineur, op. posth.
Valse n° 15 en mi mineur, op. posth.
Valse n° 16 en la bémol majeur, op. posth.
Valse n° 17 en mi bémol majeur, op. posth.

Martin Ivanov, piano

Frederic Chopin counts among Johann Strauss Sr. and Joseph Lanner as one of the significant cofounders of the modern form of the waltz during the first half of the 19th century. In contrast to the orchestral variants, the contributions by Chopin – composed like most of his works for his own instrument, the piano – are suited rather for the concert than the dancing hall. With his debut album the young Bulgarian pianist Martin Ivanov, who already at an early age was critically acclaimed in numerous international competitions, presents the waltzes by Chopin. Although most of the waltzes are written in different major keys and therefore tend to convey a cheerful, bright and entertaining impression, a few are set in minor keys which allow a glimpse of that certain melancholy that is characteristic of Chopin’s oeuvre as a whole.