Emil Gilels, piano: J.S. Bach - Partita No.1, BWV 825 / Mozart - Piano sonata in C minor, K 457 / Beethoven and etc…

ID: RCD16363 (EAN: 4600383163635)  | 1 CD | ADD
Publi: 2011

LABEL:

Russian Compact Disc

Collection:

Russe école de pianist

Subcollection:

Piano

Compositeurs:

BACH, Johann Sebastian | BEETHOVEN, Ludwig Van | CHOPIN, Frédéric François | MENDELSSOHN-BARTHOLDY, Felix | MOZART, Wolfgang Amadeus | SCARLATTI, Domenico

Interprètes:

GILELS, Emil (piano)

Pour plus amples dtails:

Live Recording.
Recorded in 1949 (15, 16);
1950 (2-8; 19-24);
1952 (12, 14); 1953 (17, 18);
1951 (1, 13)

Presented on this disc are recordings of 1949-1953 made at the recitals in the Grand Hall of the Moscow Conservatory: Partita No. 1 and Prelude from Well Tempered Clavier of Bach, Sonata in C minor of Mozart, Scarlatti’s Sonata, Beethoven’s Bagatelle in E flat major, Mendelssohn’s Scherzo, and pieces by Chopin and Prokofiev.
The music of Bach had a special place in Gilels’s creativity. “He was probably the first composer that really excited me still in my early childhood,” said the pianist about Bach. However, he was most interested in his organ music (according to himself, there was a time when he was even going to study organ playing). Therefore, he included transcriptions on his programs much more often than original piano compositions. Still more interesting is the unique recording of Bach’s Partita (Gilels’s heritage contains no other recording of it).
Another author of that epoch whom the pianist willingly addressed was Scarlatti. He used to include his sonatas in the uncompleted cycle “History of Piano Sonata.”
Gilels’s addressing Mozart should be specially noted. It seemed unexpected to many critics, for Gilels was primarily apprehended as a virtuoso for a long time. The tragic Sonata in C minor is a masterpiece in Gilels’s heritage.
Generally, he often surprised critics. For instance, by his Chopin interpretations (a reviewer commented in 1972 that “accurate and disciplined Gilels went into a state of ecstatic frenzy” when performing the First Ballad of Chopin). Presented here are his recordings of Nocturne in C minor, Second Impromptu, and two etudes of Chopin.
Beethoven was of greatest importance for Gilels. For example, he performed the whole set of the Beethoven concertos; in the last years of his life, he started recording all of Beethoven’s piano sonatas and variations, but had no time to finish the work. The Bagatelle in this recording is also unique.
Mendelssohn’s music was with Gilels throughout his life, starting from the very first recital. Presented here is Scherzo from Op. 16.
Gilels played much of music contemporary to him, and Soviet music in particular. His interpretations of Prokofiev were brilliant (by the way, he was the premiere performer of the Eighth Sonata). Presented on this CD are two Prokofiev recordings, pieces from the Visions Fugitives cycle and Toccata.