Shura Cherkassky - The Complete 78 RPM Recordings, 1923-1950

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In his later years, SHURA CHERKASSKY (1909–1995) was regarded as one of the last ‘Romantics’ – a throwback to the so-called ‘golden age’ of pianism in the first decades of the 20th century. As a pupil of Josef Hofmann, he had an impeccable pedigree, but we tend to forget his long career meant he was already playing and recording in that ‘golden age’. Here then are these early recordings, complete for the first time, starting in the acoustic era with the young prodigy’s 1923 Victor discs. Much of the repertoire is unique in his discography, including his only recording of chamber music – the Rachmaninov cello sonata. The Tchaikovsky 2nd Concerto, Cherkassky’s earliest concerto recording, has never previously been reissued and reveals the 36-year-old artist at his virtuoso peak.

REVIEWS:

It is a joy to have all these recordings available together. Cherkassky was a supremely gifted and communicative pianist and there is something to admire in every piece in this collection.

-- MusicWeb International

Of special note are the many Chopin pieces and a smashing performance of the Fantasy in F minor from 1950. The latter has reasonably decent sound and gives us the opportunity of hearing what Cherkassky can do with one of Chopin’s masterworks.

Outstanding in-depth notes are supplied by Jonathan Summers, and special praise must be given to Seth B. Winner for his detail about restoration techniques. No lover of the art of the piano can afford to be without this set.

-- American Record Guide



Product Description:

  • Release Date: November 03, 2023


  • Catalog Number: APR7316


  • UPC: 5024709173167


  • Label: APR Recordings


  • Number of Discs: 3


  • Composer: Ludwig van Beethoven, Cecile Chaminade, Shura Cherkassky, Frederic Chopin, Mikhail Glinka, Morton Gould, Aram Khachaturian, Anatoly Liadov, Franz Liszt, Manna-Zucca, Nikolai Medtner, Felix Mendelssohn, Francois Poulenc, Sergei Prokofiev, Sergei Rachmaninoff, Jean-Philippe Rameau, Vladimir Rebikov, Camille Saint-Saens, Alexander Scriabin, Dmitri Shostakovich, Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky


  • Conductor: Jacques Rachmilovich


  • Orchestra/Ensemble: Santa Monica Symphony Orchestra


  • Performer: Shura Cherkassky, Marcel Hubert



Works:

  1. Ecossaises (6) in E-Flat Major, WoO 83 (acoustic version)

    Composer: Ludwig van Beethoven

    Performer: Shura Cherkassky (Piano)


  2. 6 Preludes and Fugues, Op. 35: Prelude No. 1 in E Minor (acoustic version)

    Composer: Felix Mendelssohn

    Performer: Shura Cherkassky (Piano)


  3. 3 Fantaisies ou caprices, Op. 16: No. 2. Scherzo in E Minor (acoustic version)

    Composer: Felix Mendelssohn

    Performer: Shura Cherkassky (Piano)


  4. Prélude Pathétique (acoustic version)

    Composer: Shura Cherkassky

    Performer: Shura Cherkassky (Piano)


  5. Lieder ohne Worte, Book 1, Op. 19b: No. 3 in A Major, Op. 19b, No. 3, MWV U89, "Jägerlied

    Composer: Felix Mendelssohn

    Performer: Shura Cherkassky (Piano)


  6. Waltz No. 14 in E Minor, Op. posth.

    Composer: Frédéric Chopin

    Performer: Shura Cherkassky (Piano)


  7. Renaissance, Book 1: No. 6. Tambourin in E Minor

    Composer: Leopold Godowsky

    Performer: Shura Cherkassky (Piano)


  8. Prelude, Op. 73

    Composer: Mana-Zucca Cassel

    Performer: Shura Cherkassky (Piano)


  9. 6 Ecossaises in E-Flat Major, WoO 83

    Composer: Ludwig van Beethoven

    Performer: Shura Cherkassky (Piano)


  10. 6 Preludes and Fugues, Op. 35: Prelude No. 1 in E Minor (electric version)

    Composer: Felix Mendelssohn

    Performer: Shura Cherkassky (Piano)


  11. 3 Fantaisies ou caprices, Op. 16: No. 2. Scherzo in E Minor (electric version)

    Composer: Felix Mendelssohn

    Performer: Shura Cherkassky (Piano)


  12. Prélude Pathétique (electric version)

    Composer: Shura Cherkassky

    Performer: Shura Cherkassky (Piano)


  13. Cello Sonata in G Minor, Op. 19

    Composer: Sergei Rachmaninoff

    Performer: Marcel Hubert (Cello), Shura Cherkassky (Piano)


  14. Tarantella in A Minor

    Composer: Mikhail Glinka

    Performer: Shura Cherkassky (Piano)


  15. Yolka (The Christmas Tree), Op. 21L: Tableau II: Waltz

    Composer: Vladimir Rebikov

    Performer: Shura Cherkassky (Piano)


  16. Les saisons (The Seasons), Op. 37a: X. October: Autumn Song

    Composer: Peter Ilyich Tchaikovsky

    Performer: Shura Cherkassky (Piano)


  17. A Musical Snuffbox, Op. 32

    Composer: Anatol Liadov

    Performer: Shura Cherkassky (Piano)


  18. Pieces (2) for the Left Hand, Op. 9: No. 1. Prelude in C-Sharp Minor

    Composer: Alexander Scriabin

    Performer: Shura Cherkassky (Piano)


  19. Fairy Tales (4), Op. 34: No. 2 in E Minor

    Composer: Nikolai Medtner

    Performer: Shura Cherkassky (Piano)


  20. Pieces (4), Op. 4: No. 4. Suggestion diabolique

    Composer: Sergei Prokofiev

    Performer: Shura Cherkassky (Piano)


  21. Toccata

    Composer: Aram Khachaturian

    Performer: Shura Cherkassky (Piano)


  22. Preludes (24), Op. 34 (excerpts)

    Composer: Dmitri Shostakovich

    Performer: Shura Cherkassky (Piano)


  23. Hungarian Rhapsodies (19), S244/R106 (excerpts)

    Composer: Franz Liszt

    Performer: Shura Cherkassky (Piano)


  24. Concert Etudes (2), S145/R6: No. 2. Gnomenreigen

    Composer: Franz Liszt

    Performer: Shura Cherkassky (Piano)


  25. Polonaise No. 6 in A-Flat, Op. 53, "Heroic"

    Composer: Frédéric Chopin

    Performer: Shura Cherkassky (Piano)


  26. Lachtäubchen, Op. 303, "Polka de WR"

    Composer: Franz Behr

    Performer: Shura Cherkassky (Piano)


  27. Pieces (3), FP 48: No. 3. Toccata

    Composer: Francis Poulenc

    Performer: Shura Cherkassky (Piano)


  28. Prelude and Toccata

    Composer: Morton Gould

    Performer: Shura Cherkassky (Piano)


  29. Boogie Woogie Etude

    Composer: Morton Gould

    Performer: Shura Cherkassky (Piano)


  30. Concerto for Piano and Orchestra No. 2 in G, Op. 44

    Composer: Peter Ilyich Tchaikovsky

    Ensemble: Santa Monica Symphony Orchestra

    Performer: Shura Cherkassky (Piano)

    Conductor: Jacques Rachmilovich


  31. Nocturne No. 19 in E Minor, Op. 72, No. 1

    Composer: Frédéric Chopin

    Performer: Shura Cherkassky (Piano)


  32. Mazurka No. 23 in D, Op. 33, No. 2

    Composer: Frédéric Chopin

    Performer: Shura Cherkassky (Piano)


  33. Etude No. 1 in C, Op. 10, No. 1

    Composer: Frédéric Chopin

    Performer: Shura Cherkassky (Piano)


  34. Fantasy in F Minor, Op. 49

    Composer: Frédéric Chopin

    Performer: Shura Cherkassky (Piano)


  35. Études (6), Op. 52 (excerpts)

    Composer: Camille Saint-Saens

    Performer: Shura Cherkassky (Piano)


  36. Consolations, S172/R12, "Pensées poétiques": No. 3 in D-Flat: Lento placido (2nd version)

    Composer: Franz Liszt

    Performer: Shura Cherkassky (Piano)


  37. Pieces humoristiques (6), Op. 87: 6 Pieces humoristiques, Op. 87: No. 4. Autrefois

    Composer: Cecile Chaminade

    Performer: Shura Cherkassky (Piano)