Like other titles in this substantial Decca series,
Ultimate Chopin is a box set devoted to recordings drawn from the label's prestigious backlist, designed to give beginners and casual listeners a well-rounded introduction to this Romantic master of piano music. The affordable package of five volumes includes
Chopin's two concertos for piano and orchestra, as well as his solo keyboard works, such as the nocturnes, ballades, preludes, impromptus, and waltzes. By no means is this the entirety of
Chopin's output, for many significant works are not included, including the sonatas, scherzos, etudes, polonaises, and mazurkas, to name only keyboard works. The performances by such major artists as
Jorge Bolet,
Vladimir Ashkenazy,
Claudio Arrau, and
Zoltán Kocsis are among the most legendary and enjoyable to be found in Decca's catalog.