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Nimbus

Chopin Sonata, Op. 58 & Liszt Sonata, S. 178

$16.99

Details

Composer
Frederic Chopin, Franz Liszt
Artist
Ronald Smith
Format
CD
Label
Nimbus
Released
Mar 20, 2026
Catalog #
NI7115
UPC
0710357711527

About

Ronald Smith approached Nimbus at a turbulent time in the industry. His long-time recording partnership was in transition, and he would make six visits to the Nimbus studio, a peaceful space in the ballroom of the Victorian mansion at Wyastone Leys just outside Monmouth. His initial visits in February and August 1980 were concerned with core repertoire: Chopin's Etudes Op. 10 and Op. 25, his Sonata Op. 58, and the Liszt Sonata. He returned in 1983 to record Liszt's transcription of Beethoven's Seventh Symphony and Busoni's transcription of Bach's Chaconne. In 1985 there were two visits: in May to record an album of popular Beethoven Sonatas, then in September to deliver Balakirev's B-flat minor Sonata and Scriabin's 'Black Mass' Sonata No. 9. A final visit in June 1986 was devoted to Mussorgsky's Pictures at an Exhibition. The sessions in 1980 were both 'analogue', being made on reel-to-reel tape machines. We had little idea how quickly such industry-wide state-of-the-art technology would be brutally swept aside by the arrival of digital recording, and it's market counterpart, the Compact Disc. Ronald's Chopin Etudes were released on LP the following year. The LP sleeve went as far as announcing the catalogue number of the upcoming Chopin/Liszt Sonata pairing. The master was approved and ready to go. But all things 'digital' upended all sense: the record world, it's media, and followers clamoured for digital recordings of standard works. Labels rushed to satisfy the demand (Nimbus was no exception), and unreleased 'analogue' masters fell into a dark hole. Ronald Smith's later digital recordings enjoyed immediate release, but not so the Chopin/Liszt Sonatas-until now, 45 years on. © Adrian Farmer

Tracklist 7 tracks

  1. 1 I. Allegro maestoso 08:57
    Track
    1
    Title
    I. Allegro maestoso
    Duration
    08:57
    Composer
    Frédéric Chopin
    Performer
    Ronald Smith
  2. 2 II. Scherzo: Molto vivace 02:31
    Track
    2
    Title
    II. Scherzo: Molto vivace
    Duration
    02:31
    Composer
    Frédéric Chopin
    Performer
    Ronald Smith
  3. 3 III. Largo 08:42
    Track
    3
    Title
    III. Largo
    Duration
    08:42
    Composer
    Frédéric Chopin
    Performer
    Ronald Smith
  4. 4 IV. Finale: Presto non tanto 05:19
    Track
    4
    Title
    IV. Finale: Presto non tanto
    Duration
    05:19
    Composer
    Frédéric Chopin
    Performer
    Ronald Smith
  5. 5 Lento assai - Allegro energico - Grandioso - 11:16
    Track
    5
    Title
    Lento assai - Allegro energico - Grandioso -
    Duration
    11:16
    Composer
    Franz Liszt
    Performer
    Ronald Smith
  6. 6 Andante sostenuto - 07:06
    Track
    6
    Title
    Andante sostenuto -
    Duration
    07:06
    Composer
    Franz Liszt
    Performer
    Ronald Smith
  7. 7 Allegro energico 10:25
    Track
    7
    Title
    Allegro energico
    Duration
    10:25
    Composer
    Franz Liszt
    Performer
    Ronald Smith