--- product_id: 38363121 title: "Alexis Weissenberg: The Complete Rca Album Collection" brand: "alexis weissenberg" price: "VT43196" currency: VUV in_stock: true reviews_count: 10 url: https://www.desertcart.vu/products/38363121-alexis-weissenberg-the-complete-rca-album-collection store_origin: VU region: Vanuatu --- # Alexis Weissenberg: The Complete Rca Album Collection **Brand:** alexis weissenberg **Price:** VT43196 **Availability:** ✅ In Stock ## Quick Answers - **What is this?** Alexis Weissenberg: The Complete Rca Album Collection by alexis weissenberg - **How much does it cost?** VT43196 with free shipping - **Is it available?** Yes, in stock and ready to ship - **Where can I buy it?** [www.desertcart.vu](https://www.desertcart.vu/products/38363121-alexis-weissenberg-the-complete-rca-album-collection) ## Best For - alexis weissenberg enthusiasts ## Why This Product - Trusted alexis weissenberg brand quality - Free international shipping included - Worldwide delivery with tracking - 15-day hassle-free returns ## Description Alexis Weissenberg The Complete RCA Album Collection brings together all of the pianist s 1967/70 RCA Victor sessions for the first time in one place and remastered from the original analog sources, along with his 1949 recorded début that first appeared as a ten-inch Columbia Masterworks LP. The recordings include Chopin s Scherzi Nos. 1 and 2 and Sonata No. 3 in B minor, three Haydn Sonatas, a Debussy recital, Bartók s Piano Concerto No. 2, plus interpretations of Rachmaninoff s complete Préludes and Piano Concerto No. 3 that became modern-day reference versions. The booklet contains full discographical information and an essay by Jed Distler. Born in Sofia, Bulgaria in 1929, Alexis Weissenberg s musical journey effectively began during the war. In 1944, after three months confined to a prison camp, the teenage pianist and his mother escaped via Turkey to Israel. At 17 he travelled alone to America, where he had lessons with Artur Schnabel and Wanda Landowska. He studied at the Juilliard School with Olga Samaroff, who had taught Rosalyn Tureck and William Kapell. After placing first in the prestigious Leventritt Competition and a highly acclaimed 1948 New York début, Weissenberg became an overnight American sensation. In the aftermath of his early successes, however, Weissenberg retreated from concertizing to rethink his career and focus his priorities. In 1967 Weissenberg returned to New York to play with the Philharmonic as a last-minute replacement for Arturo Benedetti Michelangeli. These events helped re-establish Weissenberg as a major, international artist. Tours, recordings and master classes followed steadily over the next four decades. After battling Parkinson s disease for years, Weissenberg passed away in January 2012. ## Images ![Alexis Weissenberg: The Complete Rca Album Collection - Image 1](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/81P4ZZ74cML.jpg) ![Alexis Weissenberg: The Complete Rca Album Collection - Image 2](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/81FN-CWxLoL.jpg) ## Customer Reviews ### ⭐⭐⭐⭐ Weissenberg – a Romantic Modernist *by H***E on Reviewed in the United States on January 6, 2017* This seven disc set from Sony Classical features pianist Alexis Weissenberg’s complete recordings for Columbia Masterworks (one disc) and RCA Red Seal (six discs). The Columbia recording was made in 1949; the others from 1967-1969.Disc 1: This mono disc includes “Sigi” Weissenberg’s earliest recordings. Prokofiev’s Sonata No. 3 and Suggestion Diabolique are virtuosic but sectionalized; indicating that the young pianist had chops but was still assimilating the formal aspects of the works. The Scriabin works fare a bit better, with beautiful voicing in the Left Hand Prelude. The three Rachmaninoff Preludes are the best items on the disc, which makes one wonder why they’ve never been issued before.Disc 2: Weissenberg includes the exposition repeat in the opening movement of Chopin’s B minor Sonata – a rare decision at the time but somewhat more common today. The more assertive theme is presented in a rather clipped manner, and then thickly lays on the rubato for the lyrical sections. Contrast is also the watchword for the Scherzo, in which the rapid filigreed is presented non-legato and without pedal, while the interlude is more richly colored and accented. The Largo is presented with inward stillness, and Finale goes with great gusto and flair. As with Horowitz, Weissenberg ends the B minor Scherzo with interlocking octaves rather than chromatic scales. Unlike Horowitz, he includes the repeat of the first section, which makes an already repetitive piece too much so. The B-flat minor Scherzo is rather hard driven – I miss the plush quality of Rubinstein.Disc 3: It’s possible that Weissenberg, like many pianists of his generation, had a Horowitz fixation during his younger years. His rendition of the Rachmaninoff Third Concerto is along the same virtuosic lines as the elder pianist’s 1951 rendition – Weissenberg’s playing has much the same diamond hard brilliance, although there is a welcome sense of relaxation during the central movement. Also like Horowitz, Weissenberg plays the shorter cadenza. The Chicago Symphony under Georges Prétre provides a fine accompaniment – if somewhat masked by the close miking of the piano.Disc 4: Weissenberg’s Debussy is notably clear and cool-eyed - the antithesis of the piano without hammers approach that was championed by Walter Gieseking and Debussy himself. This is more successful in pieces like Dr. Gradus as Parnassum and L’Isle Joyeuse than The Girl with the Flaxen Hair or Clair de lune. An acquired taste.Disc 5: Weissenberg’s approach is a bit more suited to Haydn. He plays the Sonatas with a full dynamic range, far outstripping the capabilities of the piano Haydn knew. Within that framework, Weissenberg turns in a beautifully paced E-flat Sonata that demonstrates how Haydn was evolving toward a broader sound world that would soon be championed by Beethoven, and the C minor Sonata emerges with more passion than usually heard.Disc 6: Bartók’s Second Piano Concerto finds Weissenberg in his element. The opening Allegro is delivered with color and full throated virtuosity. The contrasting chorale/rustic aspects of the central movement, where the performance could easily become fragmented, are beautifully held together. The Finale is a headlong dance through the score. In the Concerto and the Four Pieces, Op. 12 (the first ever recording for this piece), Ormandy and the Philadelphians contribute some gorgeous playing.Disc 7: Weissenberg brings to Rachmaninoff’s Preludes many of the same qualities the composer himself did: sensible tempi, a strong left hand with – when called for – an almost barbaric rhythmic thrust – and judicious pedaling which keeps the textures clear and prevents the music from dissolving into Romantic mush.This is an Original Album style reissue, reproducing the front and back covers, and adhering to the programming of the original LPs (with the exception of disc 1, which adds the three Rachmaninoff Preludes). Most of the contents have been newly remastered, but the piano is invariably miked closely, resulting in a rather dry sound picture. The booklet includes a perceptive essay by Jed Distler, appropriately titled “Fire and Ice”. ### ⭐⭐⭐ Not impressed *by M***O on Reviewed in the United States on April 24, 2019* I am sorry to say that I am not impressed with Mr. Weissenberg's performances. I was swept by the hyperbole that he was one of the 20th century's greatest pianists. EIther these CD's have been so remastered that they clipped any dynamic range or Mr. Weissenberg's playing is just not for me. I have so many collections of great pianists that I prefer. I'm glad I got this set to compare and to have in my collection. Maybe it will grow on me, but listening to his Chopin CD I had to switch and play Kissin, Malczusinski, Bunin, Horowitz or Rubinstein and then I was satisfied. ### ⭐⭐⭐ A mixed set of Weissenberg *by A***O on Reviewed in the United States on January 4, 2020* I remember a teacher of mine saying that Weissenberg was “crazy” after listening to his Rachmaninov preludes cd - i believe it remains the most exciting performance available. Its included here - but the rest of the set is not the best representation of this pianist - both in sound and performances. --- ## Why Shop on Desertcart? - 🛒 **Trusted by 1.3+ Million Shoppers** — Serving international shoppers since 2016 - 🌍 **Shop Globally** — Access 737+ million products across 21 categories - 💰 **No Hidden Fees** — All customs, duties, and taxes included in the price - 🔄 **15-Day Free Returns** — Hassle-free returns (30 days for PRO members) - 🔒 **Secure Payments** — Trusted payment options with buyer protection - ⭐ **TrustPilot Rated 4.5/5** — Based on 8,000+ happy customer reviews **Shop now:** [https://www.desertcart.vu/products/38363121-alexis-weissenberg-the-complete-rca-album-collection](https://www.desertcart.vu/products/38363121-alexis-weissenberg-the-complete-rca-album-collection) --- *Product available on Desertcart Vanuatu* *Store origin: VU* *Last updated: 2026-05-12*