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Grigory Sokolov plays Schubert, Schumann, Chopin, Scriabin, Prokofiev, Stravinsky (2015) 2CDs [Re-Up]

Posted By: Designol
Grigory Sokolov plays Schubert, Schumann, Chopin, Scriabin, Prokofiev, Stravinsky (2015) 2CDs [Re-Up]

Grigory Sokolov plays Schubert, Schumann, Chopin, Scriabin, Prokofiev, Stravinsky (2015)
EAC | FLAC | Image (Cue&Log) ~ 484 Mb | Mp3 (CBR320) ~ 314 Mb | Scans included
Genre: Classical | Label: Melodiya | # MEL CD 10 02292 | Time: 02:14:24

The art of the 20th century legendary pianists lives on in this century in the creative work of Grigory Sokolov, “the greatest pianist of modern times,” “the world's pianist No. 1,” “a genius” as the contemporaries name him. Sokolov's name ranks with the names of the great musicians of the past – Vladimir Horowitz, Sviatoslav Richter and Glenn Gould. The pianist gives quite a number of concerts annually in different cities of Europe, including a traditional klavierabend in his native St. Petersburg. Grigory Sokolov finished the special music school of the Leningrad Conservatory under Liya Zelikhman, and in 1973 he graduated from the Leningrad Conservatory under Moisey Khalfin. Later on, Sokolov became a professor of the St. Petersburg Conservatory where he taught for a long time. As early as at the age of twelve, Sokolov gave his first solo concert, and at 16 he received the first prize of the 3rd International Tchaikovsky Competition in 1966. That victory signified the beginning of Sokolov's career. Many compared his emergence on stage with that of the young Emil Gilels after his triumph at the 1st All-Union Competition of Performing Musicians in 1933. In 2003 and 2004, Sokolov received a prestigious Franco Abbiati award of the National Association of Italian Music Critics. Grigory Sokolov has collaborated with some of the best conductors and orchestras, including London's Philharmonia Orchestra, Leipzig's Gewandhaus Orchestra, the New York Philharmonic Orchestra, the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra and others. At present, the pianist prefers solo performances. Sokolov is characterized as a thinker musician whose art requires intellectual co-creation from the listener. His performance is always perfect in terms of technique and distinguished with special, inimitable sound of the instrument. For Sokolov, the piano is like a living being. “We must understand each other… I know that we play together, that I would be happy if I don't have to make my concert grand do what I want and it does it willingly,” the pianist said describing his meticulous rehearsals before the performances. Sokolov's phonographic heritage is rather small. Lately he has recorded just a few of recitals. According to the pianist, “the biggest gap is the one between a microphone and a man, and between one man and thousands of people such a gap doesn't exist.” That is why the amount of studio work among his recordings is so small. Grigory Sokolov's repertoire includes only “contemporary” music – from the works of old masters to 20th century composers – because he believes that “music knows no geography, no time.” Regardless of the era when a piece was composed, Sokolov interprets it in an extraordinarily sincere and natural fashion. “I can play only what I feel important at a given moment of time. That is something in what I feel myself. Because there cannot be anything contrived in a programme and in an interpretation. This is a part of a performer,” Sokolov says. This album includes compositions from the romanticism period (Schubert, Chopin, Schumann) as well as music of the early 20th century (Scriabin, Stravinsky, Prokofiev), which allows us to feel the pianist's timeless performing freedom. The recordings featured on two discs were made in Leningrad in the late 1960s to the 1980s. The pianist's early recording are of special interest – Schumann's brilliant, ringing Carnaval, Chopin's moving piano miniatures, and Schubert and Scriabin's sonatas. The second disc includes a virtuosic transcription of three fragments from Stravinsky's Petrushka and two of Prokofiev's “war” sonatas (Nos 7 and 8). At one time, these sonatas were premiered by Sviatoslav Richter and Emil Gilels, the great pianists of the 20th century. Grigory Sokolov is by right referred to as an heir to their performing art.

This is the third Melodiya release of live recordings by the Russian pianist Grigory Sokolov that I have reviewed, and very welcome it is too in making these valuable concerts available. The Sokolov discography comprises live airings almost exclusively. There are only one or two rare exceptions. He abhors the contrived studio patching together of takes, in favour of the freshness and spontaneity of the ‘live’ situation. Apart from two short pieces from the 1966 Third International Tchaikovsky Competition in Moscow, the remaining bulk of the recordings, we are informed in the booklet, emanate from Leningrad over a twenty year period. They range from Schubert to the virtuosic transcription of Three Movements from Petrushka by Stravinsky. So, we are offered a comprehensive cross-section of the pianist’s repertoire.

Schubert’s Piano Sonata in A minor, D 784 must surely be one of his bleakest utterances. This performance is suffused with darkness and austerity, with Sokolov navigating the tragic trajectory in a way few have matched. There are several violent and dramatic chordal passages, effectively managed and brilliantly captured. The pianist finds some consolation in the slow movement, where the despair is assuaged somewhat.

The earliest recording, Schumann’s Carnaval, is from 1967 when the pianist was only seventeen. Considering its date and provenance it is in remarkably fine sound. From the opening Préambule the pianist grabs your attention and you know you’re in for an exciting ride. It’s a towering performance of great technical strength, and Sokolov’s consummate pianism shines forth. He captures the mood of each piece, and in the more inward ones finds poetry and nobility. It doesn’t get much better than this.

Scriabin’s Piano Sonata No. 9, Op. 68, known as ‘Black Mass’ is a late work, highly chromatic and atonal. Sokolov captures the unsettled mood convincingly, and highlights the mystery and menace of the score. He achieves a shattering climax, and his playing is awash with tonal colour. The performance stands side by side with that other great recording by Horowitz.

Sokolov’s Stravinsky has tremendous energy, drive, excitement and rhythmic propulsion. What disappoints, however, is the poor quality of the recording, rendering the piano sound brittle and hard-edged. The overall aural picture is over-bright and lacking in tonal colour. I shall not be straying too far from my Pollini recording for this three-movement extravaganza.

The two Prokofiev Sonatas are imbued with a wealth of melodic invention. Although this is not music I particularly enjoy, these performances are technically brilliant, underpinned by drama, passion and lyricism. With Sokolov, his playing is always rhythmically alert. Phrasing and articulation are well judged and dynamics are perfectly realized. Sound quality is more than acceptable.

The shorter pieces are equally convincing and are graced with the same inspirational insights.

Review by Stephen Greenbank, MusicWeb-International.com

Grigory Sokolov plays Schubert, Schumann, Chopin, Scriabin, Prokofiev, Stravinsky (2015) 2CDs [Re-Up]



Tracklist:

CD1:

Franz SCHUBERT (1797-1828)

Piano Sonata in A minor, D 784 Op. Posth. 143 (1823)
01. I. Allegro giusto (11:07)
02. II. Andante (4:18)
03. III. Allegro vivace (4:54)


Robert SCHUMANN (1810-1856)

Carnaval Op. 9
04. Preambule (2:14)
05. Pierrot (0:58)
06. Arlequin (1:07)
07. Valse noble (1:30)
08. Eusebius (1:54)
09. Florestan (0:55)
10. Coquette (1:04)
11. Replique (1:02)
12. Sphinxes (0:37)
13. Papillons (0:43)
14. A.S.C.H-S.C.H.A. (0:40)
15. Chiarina (0:45)
16. Chopin (1:17)
17. Estrella (0:23)
18. Reconnaissance (1:51)
19. Pantalon et Colombine (1:05)
20. Valse Allemande (0:55)
21. Paganini (Intermezzo) (1:15)
22. Aveu (1:19)
23. Promenade (1:44)
24. Pause (0:16)
25. Marche des Davidsbundler contre les Philistins (3:37)


Frédéric CHOPIN (1810-1849)

26. Mazurka in A minor, Op. 17 No. 4 (4:41)
27. Etude in F major, Op. 10 No. 8 (2:17)
28. Etude in A minor, Op. 25 No. 11 (3:25)


Alexander SCRIABIN (1872-1915)

29. Etude in D flat major, Op. 8 No. 10 (2:00)
30. Piano Sonata No. 9, Op. 68 (9:20)


CD2:

Igor STRAVINSKY (1882-1971)

Three Movements from Petrushka
01. Russian Dance (2:58)
02. Petrushka's Room (4:57)
03. The Shrovetide Fair (9:06)



Sergei PROKOFIEV (1891-1953)

Sonata No. 7 in B flat major, Op. 83
04. I. Allegro inquieto (7:40)
05. II. Andante caloroso (6:38)
06. III. Precipitato (3:38)

Sonata No. 8 in B flat major, Op. 84
07. I. Andante dolce - Allegro moderato (14:45)
08. II. Andante sognando (5:08)
09. III. Vivace (10:21)


Exact Audio Copy V1.1 from 23. June 2015

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Grigory Sokolov / Sokolov plays Schubert, Schumann, Chopin, Scriabin

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Copy CRC BA0C9E9E
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foobar2000 1.2 / Dynamic Range Meter 1.1.1
log date: 2017-06-19 16:49:40

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Analyzed: Grigory Sokolov / Sokolov plays Schubert, Schumann, Chopin, Scriabin (1)
Grigory Sokolov / Sokolov plays Schubert, Schumann, Chopin, Scriabin (2-30)
––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––

DR Peak RMS Duration Track
––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
DR12 -5.17 dB -23.87 dB 11:07 01-Schubert: Piano Sonata No.14, D.784 - I. Allegro giusto
DR15 -4.81 dB -26.65 dB 4:18 02-Schubert: Piano Sonata No.14, D.784 - II. Andante
DR13 -4.52 dB -23.06 dB 4:54 03-Schubert: Piano Sonata No.14, D.784 - III. Allegro vivace
DR11 -2.72 dB -16.89 dB 2:14 04-Schumann: Carnaval, Op.9 - Preambule
DR11 -4.14 dB -22.82 dB 0:58 05-Schumann: Carnaval, Op.9 - Pierrot
DR12 -3.72 dB -22.28 dB 1:07 06-Schumann: Carnaval, Op.9 - Arlequin
DR12 -6.06 dB -24.47 dB 1:30 07-Schumann: Carnaval, Op.9 - Valse noble
DR13 -8.90 dB -29.03 dB 1:54 08-Schumann: Carnaval, Op.9 - Eusebius
DR11 -2.80 dB -18.40 dB 0:55 09-Schumann: Carnaval, Op.9 - Florestan
DR14 -7.58 dB -25.56 dB 1:04 10-Schumann: Carnaval, Op.9 - Coquette
DR12 -12.47 dB -29.90 dB 1:02 11-Schumann: Carnaval, Op.9 - Replique
DR11 -27.41 dB -44.38 dB 0:37 12-Schumann: Carnaval, Op.9 - Sphinxes
DR11 -4.32 dB -19.64 dB 0:43 13-Schumann: Carnaval, Op.9 - Papillons
DR12 -4.33 dB -21.10 dB 0:40 14-Schumann: Carnaval, Op.9 - A.S.C.H-S.C.H.A.
DR11 -3.35 dB -18.35 dB 0:45 15-Schumann: Carnaval, Op.9 - Chiarina
DR10 -9.63 dB -25.32 dB 1:17 16-Schumann: Carnaval, Op.9 - Chopin
DR10 -4.71 dB -18.65 dB 0:23 17-Schumann: Carnaval, Op.9 - Estrella
DR14 -8.58 dB -26.37 dB 1:51 18-Schumann: Carnaval, Op.9 - Reconnaissance
DR11 -5.72 dB -21.37 dB 1:05 19-Schumann: Carnaval, Op.9 - Pantalon et Colombine
DR13 -4.70 dB -24.02 dB 0:55 20-Schumann: Carnaval, Op.9 - Valse Allemande
DR11 -4.14 dB -20.74 dB 1:15 21-Schumann: Carnaval, Op.9 - Paganini (Intermezzo)
DR13 -16.24 dB -34.19 dB 1:19 22-Schumann: Carnaval, Op.9 - Aveu
DR12 -4.30 dB -21.48 dB 1:44 23-Schumann: Carnaval, Op.9 - Promenade
DR9 -5.01 dB -18.08 dB 0:16 24-Schumann: Carnaval, Op.9 - Pause
DR12 -2.29 dB -17.46 dB 3:37 25-Schumann: Carnaval, Op.9 - Marche des Davidsbundler contre les Philistins
DR14 -4.55 dB -26.68 dB 4:41 26-Chopin: Mazurka in A minor, Op.17 No.4
DR11 -6.37 dB -21.42 dB 2:17 27-Chopin: Etude in F major, Op.10 No.8
DR10 -2.75 dB -16.83 dB 3:25 28-Chopin: Etude in A minor, Op.25 No.11
DR11 -4.53 dB -19.61 dB 2:00 29-Scriabin: Etude in D flat major, Op.8 No.10
DR13 -0.82 dB -20.53 dB 9:20 30-Scriabin: Piano Sonata No.9, Op.68
––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––

Number of tracks: 30
Official DR value: DR12

Samplerate: 44100 Hz
Channels: 2
Bits per sample: 16
Bitrate: 532 kbps
Codec: FLAC
================================================================================


Exact Audio Copy V1.1 from 23. June 2015

EAC extraction logfile from 3. July 2016, 16:06

Grigory Sokolov / Sokolov plays Stravinsky, Prokofiev

Used drive : HL-DT-STDVDRAM GU70N Adapter: 1 ID: 0

Read mode : Secure
Utilize accurate stream : Yes
Defeat audio cache : Yes
Make use of C2 pointers : No

Read offset correction : 48
Overread into Lead-In and Lead-Out : No
Fill up missing offset samples with silence : Yes
Delete leading and trailing silent blocks : No
Null samples used in CRC calculations : Yes
Used interface : Native Win32 interface for Win NT & 2000

Used output format : User Defined Encoder
Selected bitrate : 128 kBit/s
Quality : High
Add ID3 tag : No
Command line compressor : C:\Program Files (x86)\Exact Audio Copy\Flac\flac.exe
Additional command line options : -V -8 -T "Date=%year%" -T "Genre=%genre%" %source%


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Extraction speed 2.1 X
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foobar2000 1.2 / Dynamic Range Meter 1.1.1
log date: 2017-06-19 16:50:01

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Analyzed: Grigory Sokolov / Sokolov plays Stravinsky, Prokofiev
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DR Peak RMS Duration Track
––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
DR9 -7.44 dB -19.21 dB 2:58 01-Stravinsky: Three fragments from 'Petrushka' - Russian Dance
DR9 -7.17 dB -20.86 dB 4:57 02-Stravinsky: Three fragments from 'Petrushka' - Petrushka's Room
DR9 -7.12 dB -18.71 dB 9:06 03-Stravinsky: Three fragments from 'Petrushka' - The Shrovetide Fair
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DR16 -11.81 dB -33.84 dB 5:08 08-Prokofiev: Piano Sonata No.8, Op.84 - II. Andante sognando
DR13 -5.84 dB -25.87 dB 10:21 09-Prokofiev: Piano Sonata No.8, Op.84 - III. Vivace
––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––

Number of tracks: 9
Official DR value: DR12

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Bitrate: 458 kbps
Codec: FLAC
================================================================================

Grigory Sokolov plays Schubert, Schumann, Chopin, Scriabin, Prokofiev, Stravinsky (2015) 2CDs [Re-Up]