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First Hand Records

Cherkassky: The Ambassador Auditorium Recitals, 1981–1989

Virtuosic Romantic Dramatic Piano
$48.99 Only 1 left

Details

Composer
Shura Cherkassky, Frederic Chopin, Cesar Franck, George Frideric Handel, Jozef (Josef) Hofmann, Fran
Artist
Shura Cherkassky
Format
CD
Label
First Hand Records
Released
Feb 14, 2025
Catalog #
FHR99
UPC
5060216341699

About

Shura Cherkassky (1909-1995) was a Russian-American concert pianist known for his performances of the romantic repertoire. He was one of the last pianists to come from the Golden Age of Pianism, whose playing was characterised by a virtuoso technique and singing piano tone. Cherkassky early on in his career earned a reputation for spontaneity, creativity, and technical perfection in his playing. His sound was unique and became almost instantly recognisable and was famous for never playing the same piece the same way. In addition to the standard virtuoso repertoire, especially that of Chopin, Liszt, and Rachmaninoff, Cherkassky also performed works by Hofmann, Hindemith, Morton Gould, Britten, Luciano Berio, Alban Berg, Stockhausen, Boulez and other 20th century/contemporary composers. The stimulus of a live audience always produced a more compelling performance from Cherkassky than he would give in a recording studio. Presented here are all the recital performances, totalling over five hours, which he gave at the Ambassador Auditorium between 1981 and 1989, published for the first time.

Tracklist 66 tracks

  1. Disc 1
  2. 1 Ballade No. 1 in G Minor, Op. 23 09:14
    Track
    1
    Title
    Ballade No. 1 in G Minor, Op. 23
    Duration
    09:14
    Composer
    Frédéric Chopin
    Performer
    Shura Cherkassky
  3. 2 Nocturne No. 2 in E-Flat Major, Op. 9, No. 2 04:18
    Track
    2
    Title
    Nocturne No. 2 in E-Flat Major, Op. 9, No. 2
    Duration
    04:18
    Composer
    Frédéric Chopin
    Performer
    Shura Cherkassky
  4. 3 Nocturne No. 15 in F Minor, Op. 55, No. 1 04:57
    Track
    3
    Title
    Nocturne No. 15 in F Minor, Op. 55, No. 1
    Duration
    04:57
    Composer
    Frédéric Chopin
    Performer
    Shura Cherkassky
  5. 4 Andante spianato 04:19
    Track
    4
    Title
    Andante spianato
    Duration
    04:19
    Composer
    Frédéric Chopin
    Performer
    Shura Cherkassky
  6. 5 Grande Polonaise 08:54
    Track
    5
    Title
    Grande Polonaise
    Duration
    08:54
    Composer
    Frédéric Chopin
    Performer
    Shura Cherkassky
  7. 6 Fantasy in F Minor, Op. 49 12:32
    Track
    6
    Title
    Fantasy in F Minor, Op. 49
    Duration
    12:32
    Composer
    Frédéric Chopin
    Performer
    Shura Cherkassky
  8. 7 Impromptu No. 2 in F-Sharp Major, Op. 36 05:17
    Track
    7
    Title
    Impromptu No. 2 in F-Sharp Major, Op. 36
    Duration
    05:17
    Composer
    Frédéric Chopin
    Performer
    Shura Cherkassky
  9. 8 Fantasy-Impromptu in C-Sharp Minor, Op. 66 04:14
    Track
    8
    Title
    Fantasy-Impromptu in C-Sharp Minor, Op. 66
    Duration
    04:14
    Composer
    Frédéric Chopin
    Performer
    Shura Cherkassky
  10. 9 Scherzo No. 2 in B-Flat Minor, Op. 31 09:13
    Track
    9
    Title
    Scherzo No. 2 in B-Flat Minor, Op. 31
    Duration
    09:13
    Composer
    Frédéric Chopin
    Performer
    Shura Cherkassky
  11. 10 Nocturne No. 3 in B Major, Op. 9, No. 3 06:34
    Track
    10
    Title
    Nocturne No. 3 in B Major, Op. 9, No. 3
    Duration
    06:34
    Composer
    Frédéric Chopin
    Performer
    Shura Cherkassky
  12. 11 Waltz No. 5 in A-Flat Major, Op. 42 04:12
    Track
    11
    Title
    Waltz No. 5 in A-Flat Major, Op. 42
    Duration
    04:12
    Composer
    Frédéric Chopin
    Performer
    Shura Cherkassky
  13. Disc 2
  14. 1 I. Allemande 02:14
    Track
    1
    Title
    I. Allemande
    Duration
    02:14
    Composer
    Jean-Baptiste Lully
    Performer
    Shura Cherkassky
  15. 2 II. Slow aire 02:58
    Track
    2
    Title
    II. Slow aire
    Duration
    02:58
    Composer
    Jean-Baptiste Lully
    Performer
    Shura Cherkassky
  16. 3 III. Courante 01:52
    Track
    3
    Title
    III. Courante
    Duration
    01:52
    Composer
    Jean-Baptiste Lully
    Performer
    Shura Cherkassky
  17. 4 IV. Sarabande 03:39
    Track
    4
    Title
    IV. Sarabande
    Duration
    03:39
    Composer
    Jean-Baptiste Lully
    Performer
    Shura Cherkassky
  18. 5 V. Gigue 02:34
    Track
    5
    Title
    V. Gigue
    Duration
    02:34
    Composer
    Jean-Baptiste Lully
    Performer
    Shura Cherkassky
  19. 6 Scherzo a capriccio in F-Sharp Minor, WoO 3, MWV U113 06:07
    Track
    6
    Title
    Scherzo a capriccio in F-Sharp Minor, WoO 3, MWV U113
    Duration
    06:07
    Composer
    Felix Mendelssohn
    Performer
    Shura Cherkassky
  20. 7 I. Moderato e risoluto 11:53
    Track
    7
    Title
    I. Moderato e risoluto
    Duration
    11:53
    Composer
    Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky
    Performer
    Shura Cherkassky
  21. 8 II. Andante non troppo quasi moderato 09:27
    Track
    8
    Title
    II. Andante non troppo quasi moderato
    Duration
    09:27
    Composer
    Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky
    Performer
    Shura Cherkassky
  22. 9 III. Scherzo: Allegro giocoso 02:41
    Track
    9
    Title
    III. Scherzo: Allegro giocoso
    Duration
    02:41
    Composer
    Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky
    Performer
    Shura Cherkassky
  23. 10 IV. Finale: Allegro vivace 06:15
    Track
    10
    Title
    IV. Finale: Allegro vivace
    Duration
    06:15
    Composer
    Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky
    Performer
    Shura Cherkassky
  24. 11 Polonaise No. 7 in A-Flat Major, Op. 61, "Polonaise-fantaisie" 10:52
    Track
    11
    Title
    Polonaise No. 7 in A-Flat Major, Op. 61, "Polonaise-fantaisie"
    Duration
    10:52
    Composer
    Frédéric Chopin
    Performer
    Shura Cherkassky
  25. 12 Ballade No. 4 in F Minor, Op. 52 10:20
    Track
    12
    Title
    Ballade No. 4 in F Minor, Op. 52
    Duration
    10:20
    Composer
    Frédéric Chopin
    Performer
    Shura Cherkassky
  26. Disc 3
  27. 1 Charakterskizzen, Op. 40: No. 4. Kaleidoskop 04:35
    Track
    1
    Title
    Charakterskizzen, Op. 40: No. 4. Kaleidoskop
    Duration
    04:35
    Composer
    Józef Hofmann
    Performer
    Shura Cherkassky
  28. 2 Mozart - Réminiscences de Don Juan, S418/R228 16:09
    Track
    2
    Title
    Mozart - Réminiscences de Don Juan, S418/R228
    Duration
    16:09
    Composer
    Franz Liszt
    Performer
    Shura Cherkassky
  29. 3 Prélude Pathétique 02:22
    Track
    3
    Title
    Prélude Pathétique
    Duration
    02:22
    Composer
    Shura Cherkassky
    Performer
    Shura Cherkassky
  30. 4 Waltz No. 5 in A-Flat Major, Op. 42 03:42
    Track
    4
    Title
    Waltz No. 5 in A-Flat Major, Op. 42
    Duration
    03:42
    Composer
    Frédéric Chopin
    Performer
    Shura Cherkassky
  31. 5 Prélude - 04:03
    Track
    5
    Title
    Prélude -
    Duration
    04:03
    Composer
    César Franck
    Performer
    Shura Cherkassky
  32. 6 Choral (Chorale) - 04:31
    Track
    6
    Title
    Choral (Chorale) -
    Duration
    04:31
    Composer
    César Franck
    Performer
    Shura Cherkassky
  33. 7 Fugue 07:33
    Track
    7
    Title
    Fugue
    Duration
    07:33
    Composer
    César Franck
    Performer
    Shura Cherkassky
  34. 8 No. 1. Préambule 02:21
    Track
    8
    Title
    No. 1. Préambule
    Duration
    02:21
    Composer
    Robert Schumann
    Performer
    Shura Cherkassky
  35. 9 No. 2. Pierrot 01:53
    Track
    9
    Title
    No. 2. Pierrot
    Duration
    01:53
    Composer
    Robert Schumann
    Performer
    Shura Cherkassky
  36. 10 No. 3. Arlequin 00:58
    Track
    10
    Title
    No. 3. Arlequin
    Duration
    00:58
    Composer
    Robert Schumann
    Performer
    Shura Cherkassky
  37. 11 No. 4. Valse noble 02:07
    Track
    11
    Title
    No. 4. Valse noble
    Duration
    02:07
    Composer
    Robert Schumann
    Performer
    Shura Cherkassky
  38. 12 No. 5. Eusebius 01:35
    Track
    12
    Title
    No. 5. Eusebius
    Duration
    01:35
    Composer
    Robert Schumann
    Performer
    Shura Cherkassky
  39. 13 No. 6. Florestan 00:43
    Track
    13
    Title
    No. 6. Florestan
    Duration
    00:43
    Composer
    Robert Schumann
    Performer
    Shura Cherkassky
  40. 14 No. 7. Coquette 01:26
    Track
    14
    Title
    No. 7. Coquette
    Duration
    01:26
    Composer
    Robert Schumann
    Performer
    Shura Cherkassky
  41. 15 No. 8. Réplique 00:37
    Track
    15
    Title
    No. 8. Réplique
    Duration
    00:37
    Composer
    Robert Schumann
    Performer
    Shura Cherkassky
  42. 16 No. 9. Papillons 00:43
    Track
    16
    Title
    No. 9. Papillons
    Duration
    00:43
    Composer
    Robert Schumann
    Performer
    Shura Cherkassky
  43. 17 No. 10. ASCH - SCHA (Lettres dansantes) 00:43
    Track
    17
    Title
    No. 10. ASCH - SCHA (Lettres dansantes)
    Duration
    00:43
    Composer
    Robert Schumann
    Performer
    Shura Cherkassky
  44. 18 No. 11. Chiarina 01:17
    Track
    18
    Title
    No. 11. Chiarina
    Duration
    01:17
    Composer
    Robert Schumann
    Performer
    Shura Cherkassky
  45. 19 No. 12. Chopin 01:20
    Track
    19
    Title
    No. 12. Chopin
    Duration
    01:20
    Composer
    Robert Schumann
    Performer
    Shura Cherkassky
  46. 20 No. 13. Estrella 00:28
    Track
    20
    Title
    No. 13. Estrella
    Duration
    00:28
    Composer
    Robert Schumann
    Performer
    Shura Cherkassky
  47. 21 No. 14. Reconnaissance 01:54
    Track
    21
    Title
    No. 14. Reconnaissance
    Duration
    01:54
    Composer
    Robert Schumann
    Performer
    Shura Cherkassky
  48. 22 No. 15. Pantalon et Colombine 01:03
    Track
    22
    Title
    No. 15. Pantalon et Colombine
    Duration
    01:03
    Composer
    Robert Schumann
    Performer
    Shura Cherkassky
  49. 23 No. 16. Valse allemande 00:47
    Track
    23
    Title
    No. 16. Valse allemande
    Duration
    00:47
    Composer
    Robert Schumann
    Performer
    Shura Cherkassky
  50. 24 No. 17. Intermezzo: Paganini 01:20
    Track
    24
    Title
    No. 17. Intermezzo: Paganini
    Duration
    01:20
    Composer
    Robert Schumann
    Performer
    Shura Cherkassky
  51. 25 No. 18. Aveu 00:56
    Track
    25
    Title
    No. 18. Aveu
    Duration
    00:56
    Composer
    Robert Schumann
    Performer
    Shura Cherkassky
  52. 26 No. 19. Promenade 02:25
    Track
    26
    Title
    No. 19. Promenade
    Duration
    02:25
    Composer
    Robert Schumann
    Performer
    Shura Cherkassky
  53. 27 No. 20. Pause 00:19
    Track
    27
    Title
    No. 20. Pause
    Duration
    00:19
    Composer
    Robert Schumann
    Performer
    Shura Cherkassky
  54. 28 No. 21. Marche des Davidsbündler contre les Philistins 04:12
    Track
    28
    Title
    No. 21. Marche des Davidsbündler contre les Philistins
    Duration
    04:12
    Composer
    Robert Schumann
    Performer
    Shura Cherkassky
  55. Disc 4
  56. 1 Variations on a Theme of Corelli, Op. 42 15:40
    Track
    1
    Title
    Variations on a Theme of Corelli, Op. 42
    Duration
    15:40
    Composer
    Sergei Rachmaninoff
    Performer
    Shura Cherkassky
  57. 2 Charakterskizzen, Op. 40: No. 4. Kaleidoskop 04:38
    Track
    2
    Title
    Charakterskizzen, Op. 40: No. 4. Kaleidoskop
    Duration
    04:38
    Composer
    Józef Hofmann
    Performer
    Shura Cherkassky
  58. 3 Nocturne No. 15 in F Minor, Op. 55, No. 1 04:53
    Track
    3
    Title
    Nocturne No. 15 in F Minor, Op. 55, No. 1
    Duration
    04:53
    Composer
    Frédéric Chopin
    Performer
    Shura Cherkassky
  59. 4 Barcarolle in F-Sharp Major, Op. 60 07:53
    Track
    4
    Title
    Barcarolle in F-Sharp Major, Op. 60
    Duration
    07:53
    Composer
    Frédéric Chopin
    Performer
    Shura Cherkassky
  60. 5 Valse de l'opera Faust de Gounod, S407/R166 09:22
    Track
    5
    Title
    Valse de l'opera Faust de Gounod, S407/R166
    Duration
    09:22
    Composer
    Franz Liszt
    Performer
    Shura Cherkassky
  61. 6 España, Op. 165: II. Tango (arr. L. Godowsky) 02:42
    Track
    6
    Title
    España, Op. 165: II. Tango (arr. L. Godowsky)
    Duration
    02:42
    Composer
    Isaac Albéniz
    Performer
    Shura Cherkassky
  62. 7 Lachtäubchen, Op. 303, "Polka de WR" (arr. S. Rachmaninov for piano) 03:36
    Track
    7
    Title
    Lachtäubchen, Op. 303, "Polka de WR" (arr. S. Rachmaninov for piano)
    Duration
    03:36
    Composer
    Franz Behr
    Performer
    Shura Cherkassky
  63. 8 Les saisons (The Seasons), Op. 37a: X. October: Autumn Song 04:27
    Track
    8
    Title
    Les saisons (The Seasons), Op. 37a: X. October: Autumn Song
    Duration
    04:27
    Composer
    Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky
    Performer
    Shura Cherkassky
  64. Disc 5
  65. 1 Keyboard Suite No. 5 (Set I) in E Major, HWV 430: IV. Air, "Harmonious Blacksmith" 04:54
    Track
    1
    Title
    Keyboard Suite No. 5 (Set I) in E Major, HWV 430: IV. Air, "Harmonious Blacksmith"
    Duration
    04:54
    Composer
    George Frideric Handel
    Performer
    Shura Cherkassky
  66. 2 Fantasie in C Major, Op. 17: III. Langsam getragen 10:48
    Track
    2
    Title
    Fantasie in C Major, Op. 17: III. Langsam getragen
    Duration
    10:48
    Composer
    Robert Schumann
    Performer
    Shura Cherkassky
  67. 3 6 Morceaux, Op. 19: No. 6. Theme originale et variations 10:37
    Track
    3
    Title
    6 Morceaux, Op. 19: No. 6. Theme originale et variations
    Duration
    10:37
    Composer
    Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky
    Performer
    Shura Cherkassky
  68. 4 Morceaux de salon, Op. 10: No. 3. Barcarolle in G Minor 04:21
    Track
    4
    Title
    Morceaux de salon, Op. 10: No. 3. Barcarolle in G Minor
    Duration
    04:21
    Composer
    Sergei Rachmaninoff
    Performer
    Shura Cherkassky
  69. 5 19 Hungarian Rhapsodies, S244/R106: No. 2 in C-Sharp Minor 08:37
    Track
    5
    Title
    19 Hungarian Rhapsodies, S244/R106: No. 2 in C-Sharp Minor
    Duration
    08:37
    Composer
    Franz Liszt
    Performer
    Shura Cherkassky
  70. 6 España, Op. 165: II. Tango (arr. L. Godowsky) 03:15
    Track
    6
    Title
    España, Op. 165: II. Tango (arr. L. Godowsky)
    Duration
    03:15
    Composer
    Isaac Albéniz
    Performer
    Shura Cherkassky
  71. 7 Tarantelle in A-Flat Major, Op. 43 03:41
    Track
    7
    Title
    Tarantelle in A-Flat Major, Op. 43
    Duration
    03:41
    Composer
    Frédéric Chopin
    Performer
    Shura Cherkassky