EMIL GILELS Plays Russian Music

Emil Gilels – piano

CD1

Sergei Prokofiev 1891–1953

Piano Sonata No.2 in D minor Op.14

1 I. Allegro ma non troppo 6’13

2 II. Scherzo: Allegro marcato 1’52

3 III.Andante 5’01

4 IV. Vivace 4’28

5 Piano Sonata No.3 in A minor Op.28 8’18

Piano Sonata No.8 in B flat Op.84

6 I. Andante dolce 15’01

7 II. Andante sognando 3’57

8 III.Vivace 9’29

9 Visions fugitives Op.22 (selection) 9’42

10 Toccata Op.11 4’34

11 March (The Love for Three Oranges) 1’40

CD2

Alexander Scriabin 1872–1915

Piano Sonata No.3 in F sharp minor Op.23

1 I. Drammatico 6’48

2 II. Allegretto 2’49

3 III.Andante – IV. Presto con fuoco 11’09

4 Piano Sonata No.4 in F sharp minor Op.30 7’08

Préludes Op.74

5 No.1 Douloureux 1’16

6 No.2 Trés lent, contemplatif 1’28

7 No.3 Allegro drammatico 1’02

8 No.4 Lent, vague, indécis 1’18

9 No.5 Fier, belliqueux 1’15

Nicolai Medtner 1880–1951

10 Sonata in G minor Op.22 16’32

CD3

Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky 1840–1893

6 Morceaux Op.19

1 No.1 Rêverie du soir 4’06

2 No.2 Scherzo humoristique 5’00

3 No.3 Feuillet d’album 3’15

4 No.4 Nocturne 2’46

5 No.5 Capriccioso 4’24

6 No.6 Thème original et variations 6’00

Alexander Glazunov 1865–1936

Piano Sonata No.2 in E minor Op.75

7 I. Moderato 8’32

8 II. Scherzo 6’06

9 III.Finale 8’03

Sergei Rachmaninov 1873–1943

10 Daisies Op.38 No.3 2’23

11 Vocalise Op.34 No.14 6’00

5 Preludes

12 Prelude in C sharp minor Op.3 No.2 3’51

13 Prelude in B flat Op.23 No.2 3’33

14 Prelude in G flat Op.23 No.10 3’19

15 Prelude in B Op.32 No.11 2’25

16 Prelude in G minor Op.23 No.5 3’55

17 Étude-tableau in E flat minor Op.39 No.5 4’49

This second batch of 3-CD sets drawn from the rich catalogue of the Russian Archives presents legendary Russian musicians in works of their compatriots. Russians will always tell you that only they can understand the Russian Soul in Russian music, so who are we to contradict them?

Listen to the glowing and noble Tchaikovsky of Mravinsky, the enervating and passionate Rachmaninoff of Svetlanov, the deep insight into Shostakovich’s world of Barshai (world premiere of the 14-th symphony), the famous Piano Sound of the Russian Piano School in Emil Gilels’ hands: unique testimonies of a unique era in Western music history! As proof against the bias that Russians can only play Russian music Yevgeny Kissin shows himself a true master in Chopin and Liszt… Including liner notes.

With a style recalling the grandeur and fieriness of Anton Rubenstein’s, Emil Gilels – born in the southern Ukrainian seaport of Odessa on 19 October 1916 – ranks among the foremost musicians of all time. The maestro was especially renowned for his wide-ranging repertoire, and in this excellent release listeners can enjoy a selection of works based on one particular area of his extensive library – great Russian masters of the piano repertoire. Gilels begins his recital with a disc entirely devoted to Prokofiev. Having detailed the composer’s First, Third and Eighth Sonatas as well as the famous set of miniatures

known as Vision fugitives, he then moves on to a series of compositions that trace the compositional career of Scriabin – one of Russia’s most individual figures.

From the accessible nature of the Third Sonata to the Fourth’s departure from strict tonality and form, Gilels contrasts the work of an artist inspired by mysticism against that of a much lesser-known figure – Medtner – before turning to an early suite by Tchaikovsky. Here, in CD3, we are also introduced to the work of Glazunov, whose appealing Piano Sonata No. 2 in E minor is complemented by some of Rachmaninov’s best-known works and transcriptions. Spanning over three decades of recording and featuring some of Gilels’ favourite works to perform, this comprehensive set offers a fascinating

glimpse into a musician who was just as comfortable playing Bach as he was interpreting the modern masters of the keyboard. Full of refined yet powerful performances, it is a valuable addition to Brilliant Classics’ celebrated Russian Archives set.

Brilliant Classics 3cds 9265