Born in Poland in 1949, Emanuel Ax moved with his family to Canada before settling in New York City in 1961. There, beginning in 1966, he studied piano with Mieczyslaw Munz at the Juilliard School of Music. He made a concert tour of South America in 1969; in the year that followed he completed a bachelor's degree in French at Columbia University and became an American citizen.
Ax had his New York recital debut in 1973, at Alice Tully Hall. In 1974, at the age of twenty-five, he took first place in the Arthur Rubinstein International Piano Master Competition in Tel Aviv. A successful American concert tour was the result, along with numerous European appearances. He received the prestigious Young Concert Artists' Michaels Award in 1975, and the coveted Avery Fisher Prize in 1979.
An exclusive Sony Classical recording artist since 1987, Mr. Ax made his debut on this label with a collection of Chopin scherzos and mazurkas. He has won two Grammy Awards, both for recordings of the piano sonatas of Franz Joseph Haydn.
Devoted to chamber music, Mr. Ax regularly performs with artists such as Yo-Yo Ma, Peter Serkin, Young Uck Kim, and Jaime Laredo; the late Isaac Stern was also a frequent partner. These collaborations frequently result in widely acclaimed recordings and additional Grammy Awards.
In recent years Mr. Ax has developed an enthusiasm for twentieth-century music, including the works of Paul Hindemith, Aaron Copland, and others. He has given the premier performances of compositions by John Adams, Christopher Rouse, Bright Sheng, Melinda Wagner, and others. This growing interest in contemporary music has produced numerous commissions for new music and further additions to his acclaimed discography.
Discography
1975
RCA Red Seal ARL1-1030 - "First Prize Winner: Artur Rubinstein International Piano Master Competition"
Chopin, Frédéric
Sonata No. 3 in B minor, Op. 58
Schubert, Franz (arr. Franz Liszt)
Das Wandern
Der Müller und der Bach
Liebesbotschaft
Hark, hark, the lark
Liszt, Franz
Gnomenreigen
étude in A minor, after Paganini
1976
RCA Red Seal ARL1-1569
Chopin, Frédéric
Andante spianato and Grand polonaise brillante in E-flat Major, Op. 22
Nocturne in B Major, Op. 62, No. 1
Scherzo No. 4 in E Major, Op. 54
Polonaise-fantaisie in A-flat Major, Op. 61
Library of Congress Concert 1976-02-20.
LWO 8894
LWO 8717 (edited for broadcast)
Sergiu Luca, violin.
Dvorák, Antonín
Sonatina for Violin and Piano in G minor, Op. 100
Janácek. Leos
Sonata for Violin and Piano
Bartók, Béla
Sonata for Violin and Piano No. 1
1977
RCA Red Seal ARL1-2083
Beethoven, Ludwig van
Sonata for Piano No. 21 in C Major, Op. 53, "Waldstein"
Variations and Fugue in E-flat Major, Op. 35, "Eroica"
RCA Red Seal ARL 1-2240
Cleveland Quartet.
Dvorák, Antonín
Quintet for Piano and Strings No. 2 in A Major, Op. 81/B.155
1978
RCA Red Seal ARL1-2530
Yoko Nozaki, piano (3rd work).
Ravel, Maurice
Gaspard de la nuit
Valses nobles et sentimentales
Ma Mere l'Oye
RCA Red Seal ARL1-2868
Philadelphia Orchestra, Eugene Ormandy, conductor.
Chopin, Frédéric
Concerto for Piano No. 2 in F minor, Op. 21
Trois nouvelles etudes
Scherzo No. 2 in B-flat minor, Op. 31
Reissue of Concerto: RCA Siver Seal 60789 (1991)
1980
RCA Red Seal ARL1-3457
Dallas Symphony Orchestra, Eduardo Mata, conductor.
Mozart, Wolfgang Amadeus
Concerto for Piano No. 20 in D minor, K. 466
Concerto for Piano No. 22 in E-flat Major, K. 482
Library of Congress Concert, 1980-06-12.
LWO 16635
Robert Mann, violin.
Beethoven, Ludwig van
Sonata for Violin and Piano No. 5 in F Major, Op. 24, "Spring"
Sonata for Violin and Piano No. 4 in A minor, Op. 23
Sonata for Violin and Piano No. 1 in D Major, Op. 12, No. 1
Sonata for Violin and Piano No. 7 in C minor, Op. 30, No. 2
Library of Congress Concert, 1980-06-13.
LWO 16641
Robert Mann, violin
Beethoven, Ludwig van
Sonata for Violin and Piano No. 2 in A Major, Op. 12, No. 2
Sonata for Violin and Piano No. 8 in G Major, Op. 30, No. 3
Sonata for Violin and Piano No. 9 in A Major, Op. 47
Library of Congress Concert, 1980-06-15.
LWO 16642
Robert Mann, violin.
Beethoven, Ludwig van
Sonata for Violin and Piano No. 6 in A Major, Op. 30, No. 1
Sonata for Violin and Piano No. 3 in E-flat Major, Op. 12, No. 3
Sonata for Violin and Piano No. 10 in G Major, Op. 96
1981
RCA Red Seal ARL1-2752
Beethoven, Ludwig van
Sonata for Piano No. 23 in F minor, Op. 57, "Appassionata"
Sonata for Piano No. 26 in E-flat Major, Op. 81a, "Les Adieux"
Polonaise for Piano in C Major, Op. 89
Reissue of Polonaise: RCA Red Seal 61213 (1992)
RCA Red Seal ATC1-4097
Philadelphia Orchestra, Eugene Ormandy, conductor.
Chopin, Frédéric
Concerto No.1 for Piano and Orchestra in E minor, Op. 11
Reissues: RCA Silver Seal 60789 (1991)
RCA Red Seal 68023 (1994)
1982
RCA Red Seal ARC1-4522
Saint Paul Chamber Orchestra, Pinchas Zukerman, conductor.
Mozart, Wolfgang Amadeus
Piano Concerto No. 17 in G Major, K. 453
Piano Concerto No. 18 in B-flat Major, K. 456
Reissue: RCA Red Seal 60136 (1989)
RCA Red Seal ARC1 - 4275
Schumann, Robert
Humoresque, Op. 20
Phantasiestücke, Op. 12
CBS Records IM 37251
Yo-Yo Ma, cello.
Beethoven, Ludwig van
Sonata for Cello and Piano No. 1 in F Major, Op. 5, No. 1
Sonata for Cello and Piano No. 2 in G minor, Op. 5, No. 2
Reissue: CBS Masterworks 42446 (1988)
1983
RCA Red Seal ARC2-4734
Margaret Price, soprano; Marilyn Horne, mezzo-soprano; Jon Vickers, tenor; Matti Salminen, bass; New York Philharmonic Orchestra, New York Choral Artists, Zubin Mehta, conductor.
Beethoven, Ludwig van
Symphony No. 9 in D minor, Op. 125, "Choral"
Fantasia in C minor, Op. 80, "Choral Fantasy"
Reissue of Fantasia: RCA Red Seal 61213 (1992)
RCA ARC1-4825
Richard Stoltzman, clarinet.
Weber, Carl Maria von
Grand duo concertante for Clarinet and Piano in E-flat Major, Op. 48
Schubert, Franz (arr. for clarinet by Stoltzman)
Sonata for Arpeggione and Piano in A minor, D 821
1984
RCA Red Seal ARC1-4954
Cleveland Quartet.
Brahms, Johannes
Quintet for Piano and Strings in F minor, Op. 34
RCA Red Seal ARC1- 4962
Chicago Symphony Orchestra, James Levine, conductor.
Brahms, Johannes
Concerto No. 1 in D minor, Op. 15
CBS Masterworks IM 39024
Yo-Yo Ma, cello.
Beethoven, Ludwig van
Sonata for Cello and Piano No. 3 in A Major, Op. 69
Sonata for Cello and Piano No. 5 in D Major, Op. 102, No. 2
Reissue: CBS Masterworks 42446 (1988)
RCA Red Seal ARC1-5167
Guarneri Quartet; Julius Levine, double bass.
Mozart, Wolfgang Amadeus
Serenade No. 13 in G Major, K. 525, "Eine kleine Nachtmusik"
Schubert, Franz
Quintet for Piano and Strings in A Major, D. 667/Op. 114, "Trout"
Reissue of Trout Quintet: RCA Red Seal 55270 (2004)
1985
RCA Red Seal ARC1-7022
Yo-Yo Ma, cello.
Brahms, Johannes
Sonata for Cello and Piano No. 1 in E minor, Op. 38
Sonata for Cello and Piano No. 2 in F Major, Op. 99
Reissue: RCA Red Seal 59415 (2004)
1986
RCA Red Seal ARC1-5476
Håkan Hagegård, baritone.
Schubert, Franz
Schwanengesang, D 957
RCA Red Seal HRC1-5854
Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, Andre Previn, conductor.
Beethoven, Ludwig van
Concerto for Piano and Orchestra No. 5 in E-flat Major, Op. 73, "Emporer"
Reissues: RCA Red Seal 61213 (1992)
RCA Red Seal 55267 (2004)
RCA Red Seal ARC1-7069
Chopin, Frédéric
Ballade No. 1 in G minor, Op. 23
Ballade No. 2 in F Major, Op. 38
Ballade No. 3 in A-flat Major, Op. 47
Ballade No. 4 in F minor, Op. 52
Sonata for Piano No. 2 in B-flat minor, Op. 35, "Funeral March"
Reissue: RCA Red Seal 60480 (1990)
CBS Masterworks IM 42121
Yo-Yo Ma, cello.
Beethoven, Ludwig van
Sonata for Cello and Piano No. 4 in C Major, Op. 102, No. 1
Seven Variations in E-Flat Major on the theme "Bei Mannern welche Liebe Fuhlen" from Mozart's opera "Die Zauberflaute," WoO. 46
Twelve Variations in G Major on the Theme "See, The Conqu'ring Hero Comes", from Handel's Oratorio "Judas Maccabaeus," WoO. 45
Twelve Variations in F Major on the Theme, "Ein Mädchen Oder Weibchen," from Mozart's "Die Zauberflüte," Op. 66
Reissue: CBS Masterworks 42446 (1987)
1987
RCA Red Seal ARC1-6498
The Cleveland Quartet.
Schumann, Robert
Quartet for Piano and Strings in E-flat Major, Op. 47
Quintet for Piano and Strings in E-flat Major, Op. 44
1988
CBS Masterworks MK 42387
Yo-Yo Ma, cello; Isaac Stern, violin; Jaime Laredo, violin.
Brahms, Johannes
Quartet for Piano and Strings No. 3 in C minor, Op. 60
Reissue: Sony Classical 90405 (2003)
CBS Masterworks MK 42663
Yo-Yo Ma, cello.
Schumann, Robert
Phantasiestücke for Clarinet (or Cello or Violin) and Piano, Op. 73
Adagio & Allegro for Horn (or Violin or Cello) and Piano in A-flat Major, Op. 70
Stücke im Volkston for Cello (or Violin) & Piano, Op. 102
Reissue: Sony Classical 92757 (2005)
CBS Masterworks 44527
Yo-Yo Ma, cello; Kim Young Uck, violin.
Dvorák, Antonín
Trio for Piano and Strings No. 3 in F minor, Op. 65/B 130
Trio for Piano and Strings No. 4 in E minor, Op. 90/B 166, "Dumky"
Reissue of "Dumky": Sony Legacy 89860 (2002)
CBS Masterworks MK 44544
Chopin, Frédéric
Scherzo for Piano No. 1 in B minor, Op. 20
Scherzo for Piano No. 2 in B-flat minor/D-flat Major, Op. 31
Scherzo for Piano No. 3 in C-sharp minor, Op. 39
Scherzo for Piano No. 4 in E Major, Op. 54
Mazurka for Piano in C sharp minor, Op. 6, No. 2
Mazurka for Piano in C major, Op. 24, No. 2
Mazurka for Piano in C minor, Op. 56, No. 3
3 Mazurkas for Piano, Op. 59
Reissue of Scherzos: Sony Classical SK 72554 (2005)
CBS Masterworks 44664
Isaac Stern, violin; Yo-Yo Ma, cello
Shostakovich, Dmitri
Trio for Piano and Strings No. 2 in E minor, Op. 67
Sonata for Cello and Piano in D minor, Op. 40
Reissue of Sonata: Sony Classical 90397 (2003)
1989
CBS Masterworks 44918
Haydn, Franz Joseph
Sonata for Keyboard No. 58 in C Major, H. 16, No. 48
Sonata for Keyboard No. 33 in C minor, H. 16, No. 20
Sonata for Keyboard No. 60 in C Major, H. 16, No. 50
Sonata for Keyboard No. 38 in F Major, H. 16, No. 23
Reissue: Sony Classical SK 92766 (2005)
CBS Masterworks 44980
Yo-Yo Ma, cello.
Strauss, Richard
Sonata for Cello and Piano in F Major, Op. 6
Britten, Benjamin
Sonata for Cello and Piano in C Major, Op. 65
Reissue: Sony Classical 90397 (2003)
Reissue of Strauss: Sony Classical 94735 (2005)
CBS Masterworks 45646
Vincent Cordelette, percussion; Pierre-Yves Sorin, bass; Claude Bolling, piano.
Bolling, Claude
Sonata for 2 Pianos No. 1 in C minor
Sonata for 2 pianos No. 2 in G-sharp minor
1990
CBS Masterworks 45933
Brahms, Johannes
Sonata for Piano No. 3 in F minor, Op. 5
Intermezzi (3) for Piano, Op. 117
1991
CBS Masterworks MK 45846
Isaac Stern, violin; Yo-Yo Ma, cello; Jaime Laredo, violin.
Brahms, Johannes
Quartet for Piano and Strings No. 1 in G minor, Op. 25
Quartet for Piano and Strings No. 2 in A Major, Op. 26
Quartet for Piano and Strings No. 3 in C minor, Op. 60
Reissue of Quartet No. 3 and parts of No. 1: Sony Classical 90405 (2003)
Sony Classical SK 46486
Yo-Yo Ma, cello.
Prokofiev, Sergei
Sonata for cello and piano in C Major, Op. 119
Rachmaninov, Sergei
Sonata for cello and piano in G minor, Op. 19
Reissue: Sony Classical SK 90397 (2003)
1992
Sony Classical SK 48046
Brahms, Johannes
Variations and Fugue for Piano in B-flat Major on a Theme by Handel, Op. 24
Pieces (6) for Piano, Op. 118
Rhapsodies (2) for Piano, Op. 79
Sony Classical SK 48066
Isaac Stern, violin; Yo-Yo Ma, cello; Jaime Laredo, violin.
Fauré, Gabriel
Quartet for Piano and Strings No. 1 in C minor, Op. 15
Quartet for Piano and Strings No. 2 in G minor, Op. 45
Reissue: Sony Classical 92745 (2004)
Sony Classical SK 48191
Yo-Yo Ma, cello.
Brahms, Johannes
Sonata for Cello and Piano in E minor, Op. 38
Sonata for Cello and Piano in F Major, Op. 99
Sonata for Violin and Piano in D minor, Op. 108 (arr. for cello)
Sony Classical SK 48383
Franz Liszt Academy Chamber Orchestra, Emanuel Ax, conductor.
Haydn, Franz Joseph
Concerto for Keyboard in F Major, H. 18, No. 3
Concerto for Keyboard in G Major, H. 18, No. 4
Concerto for Keyboard in D Major, H. 18, No. 11
Reissue: Sony Legacy 89853 (2002)
Reissue of Concerto No. 11: Sony Classical 90392 (2003)
Sony Classical S2K 45820
Brahms, Johannes
Theme and Variations for Piano in D minor
1993
Sony Classical SK 48484
Liszt, Franz
Piano Sonata in B minor, S 178
Aida Paraphrase
Rigoletto Paraphrase
Vallee d'Obermann
Reissue of Piano Sonata: Sony Classical SK 94746 (2005)
Sony Classical 53289
Philharmonia Orchestra, Esa-Pekka Salonen, conductor.
Schoenberg, Arnold
Concerto for Piano, Op. 42
Liszt, Franz
Concerto for Piano No. 1 in E-flat Major, S 124
Concerto for Piano No. 2 in A Major, S 125
Reissue of Liszt concertos: Sony Classical SK 94746 (2005)
1994
Sony Classical SK 53112
Yo-Yo Ma, cello; Pamela Frank, violin.
Chopin, Frédéric
Trio for Piano and Strings in G minor, Op. 8
Introduction and Polonaise for Cello and Piano in C Major, Op. 3
Sonata for Cello and Piano in G minor, Op. 65
Sony Classical 53339
Isaac Stern, violin; Jaime Laredo, violin; Yo-Yo Ma, cello.
Beethoven, Ludwig van
Quartet for Piano and Strings in E-flat Major, Op. 16
Schumann, Robert
Quartet for Piano and Strings in E-flat Major, Op. 47
Sony Classical SK 53635
Haydn, Franz Joseph
Sonata for Keyboard No. 47 in B minor, H. 16, No. 32
Sonata for Keyboard No. 53 in E minor, H. 16, No. 34
Sonata for Keyboard No. 32 in G minor, H. 16, No. 44
Sonata for Keyboard No 59 in E-flat Major, H. 16, No. 49
RCA Red Seal 61705
Håkan Hagegård, baritone.
Schubert, Franz
Die schöne Müllerin
1995
Sony Classical SK 57499
Yo-Yo Ma, cello; Richard Stoltzman, clarinet.
Beethoven, Ludwig van
Trio for Piano, Clarinet and Cello in B-flat Major, Op. 11
Brahms, Johannes
Trio for Piano, Clarinet and Cello in A minor, Op. 114
Mozart, Wolfgang Amadeus
Trio for Clarinet, Piano and Cello in E-flat Major, K. 498, "Kegelstatt"
Reissue: Sony Classical 92730 (2004)
Reissue of Mozart: Sony Classical 93071 (2004)
Sony Classics SK 69284
Brahms, Johannes
Fantasies (7) for Piano, Op. 116
Pieces (4) for Piano, Op. 119
Sonata for Piano No. 2 in F-sharp minor, Op. 2
1996
Sony Classical SK 57971
Omar Ebrahim, spoken vocals; David Taylor, trombone; Stefan Huge, percussion; András Adorján, flute; Peter Serkin, piano; Yo-Yo Ma, cello; Deborah Marshall, clarinet; William Purvis, french horn; András Adorján, piccolo; Deborah Marshall, bass clarinet; Peter Lieberson, conductor.
"King Gesar" - Peter Lieberson
Sony Classical SK 61964
Pamela Frank, violin; Rebecca Young, viola; Yo-Yo Ma, cello; Edgar Meyer, double bass; Barbara Bonney, soprano.
Schubert, Franz
Quintet for Piano, Violin, Viola, Cello and Contrabass in A Major, Op. Posth. 114, D. 667, "Trout Quintet"
Sonata for Piano and Arpeggione in A minor, D. 821 (transcribed for cello)
"Die Forelle" for voice and piano
Reissue: Sony Classical SK 92765 (2005)
1997
Sony Classical 62728 - "Los Tangueros"
Pablo Ziegler, piano.
Piazzola, Astor
Revirado
María de Buenos Aires: Fuga y misterio
Milonga del Angel
Decaríssimo
Soledad
La muerte del Angel
Adios nonino
Libertango
Las estaciones porteños (4): Verano porteño
Michelangelo 70
Buenos Aires hora zero
Tangata
Sony Classical SK 66841
Jaime Laredo, viola; Isaac Stern, violin; Yo-Yo Ma, cello.
Mozart, Wolfgang Amadeus
Quartet for Piano and Strings No. 1 in G minor, K 478
Quartet for Piano and Strings No. 2 in E-flat Major, K 493
Reissues: Sony Legacy 89794 (2002)
Sony Classical 93071 (2004)
1998
Sony Classical SK 63371
Emanuel Ax, 19th Century Erard piano; Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment, Sir Charles Mackerras, conductor.
Chopin, Frédéric
Concerto for Piano No. 2 in F minor, Op. 21
Fantasia on Polish Airs for Piano and Orchestra in A Major, Op. 13
Andante spianato et Grand polonaise brillante in E-flat Major, Op. 22
1999
Sony Classical SK 60771
Emanuel Ax, 19th Century Erard piano; Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment, Sir Charles Mackerras, conductor.
Chopin, Frédéric
Concerto for Piano No. 1 in E minor, Op. 11
Waltz for Piano, Op. 34, No. 1 in A-flat Major, "Valse brillante"
Variations for Piano and Orchestra in B flat major on Mozart's "Là ci darem", Op. 2
Sony Classical SK 63229
Boston Symphony Orchestra, Bernard Haitink, conductor; Jules Eskin, cello; Yo-Yo Ma, cello.
Brahms, Johannes
Concerto for Piano No. 2 in B-flat Major, Op. 83
Sonata for Violin and Piano No. 1 in G Major, Op. 78 (transcribed for cello by Brahms)
2000
Nonesuch 79607
Cleveland Orchestra, Christoph von Dohnányi, conductor.
Adams, John
Concerto for Piano, "Century Rolls"
Sony Classical SK 60747
Yo-Yo Ma, cello.
Corigliano, John
Fantasia on an Ostinato
The Ghosts of Versailles: Phantasmagoria for Cello and Piano
Sony Classical SK 62597
Jaime Laredo, viola; Yo-Yo Ma, cello; Isaac Stern, violin.
Dvorák, Antonín
Quartet for Piano and Strings No. 2 in E-flat Major, Op. 87 / B 162
Reissue: Sony Classical 93013 (2003)
2001
Sony Classical SK 61767
Yefim Bronfman, piano.
Rachmaninov, Sergei
Suite for 2 Pianos No. 1, Op. 5, "Fantaisie-tableaux"
Suite for 2 Pianos No. 2, Op. 17
Symphonic Dances, Op. 45
2003
Sony Classical SK 89363
Haydn, Franz Joseph
Sonata for Keyboard No. 31 in A-flat Major, H. 16, No. 46
Sonata for Keyboard No. 34 in D Major, H. 16, No. 33
Sonata for Keyboard No. 29 in E-flat Major, H. 16, No. 45
Sonata for Keyboard No. 49 in C-sharp minor, H. 16, No. 36
Sonata for Keyboard No. 35 in A-flat Major, H. 16, No. 43
RCA Red Seal 55703
Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, André Previn, conductor.
New York Philharmonic Orchestra, New York Choral Artists, Zubin Mehta, conductor. (Last work)
Beethoven, Ludwig van
Concerto for Piano No. 1 in C Major, Op. 15
Concerto for Piano No. 2 in B-flat Major, Op. 19
Concerto for Piano No. 3 in C minor, Op. 37
Concerto for Piano No. 4 in G Major, Op. 58
Concerto for Piano No. 5 in E-flat Major, Op. 73, "Emperor"
Fantasia in C minor, Op. 80, "Choral Fantasy"
Reissue of Concertos 4 and 5: RCA 55267 (2004)
2005
Sony Classical SK 89868
Yefim Bronfman, piano.
Brahms, Johannes
Variations on a Theme by Haydn for 2 Pianos, Op. 56b, "St Anthony"
Sonata in F minor for 2 Pianos, Op. 34b
Sony Classical SK 72554
Chopin, Frédéric
Ballade for Piano No. 1 in G minor, Op. 23
Ballade for Piano No. 2 in F Major / A minor, Op. 38
Ballade for Piano No. 3 in A-flat Major, Op. 47
Ballade for Piano No. 4 in F minor, Op. 52
DISCLAIMER:
This discography was assembled using available catalog records, internet resources, discographies, and other works. Especially included are the performers' Library of Congress concert appearances, the recordings of which reside in the Library of Congress's Recorded Sound collections. Excluded are the numerous promotional and special market reissues of excerpts of complete recordings.
Although every attempt has been made to be comprehensive, some recordings may have inadvertently been missed. Please send any additions and corrections to https://www.loc.gov/rr/askalib/ask-perform.html.
While many of the recordings listed here are in the collections of the Library of Congress, not all are. If you have a question about specific recordings, please contact the Recorded Sound Reference Center at 202-707-7833. All recordings listed are protected by applicable Federal and State laws. The Library of Congress cannot provide copies of any of these recordings without proper permission from the copyright holder(s).