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Shostakovich: Music For Piano / Melvin Chen
Bridge Records

Shostakovich: Music For Piano / Melvin Chen

$18.99 Only 3 left

Details

Composer
SHOSTAKOVICH, DMITRI
Artist
Melvin Chen
Format
CD
Label
Bridge Records
Released
Oct 23, 2007
Catalog #
BCD9238
UPC
090404923821

About


This is a brilliant recital, one that reveals just about every facet of Shostakovich's musical personality in terms of his writing for piano. The novelty for most listeners will be Dances of the Dolls, yet another arrangement of numbers from his film and ballet music, aimed at younger players. Somehow these tunes sound even more charming and witty in their keyboard guise, and Melvin Chen's clean and rhythmically snappy approach lets their puckish humor speak for itself. Both the Aphorisms and the First Sonata reveal the young, modernist Shostakovich, the latter work in particular. Once again Chen manages to give shape and meaning to music that can sound merely noisy, but he does it without sacrificing the music's aggressiveness or impetuosity.

With the Second Sonata we encounter the mature composer around the time of the Second World War, when he was creating some of his finest large works. This sonata never has caught on, partly on account of its typically spare textures, but more likely because it's a very large work (nearly 30 minutes) that ends quietly and enigmatically. Certainly it does not sound in any way lacking in content here. Chen keeps the music interesting, particularly in the long variation finale, which has plenty of contrast and seems perfectly paced. This is music that, given time and a fine performance like this one, will grow on you. So if you like Shostakovich but have not yet warmed to his piano music, try this superbly played and recorded CD. I suspect it will win you over.

--David Hurwitz, ClassicsToday.com

Tracklist 23 tracks

  1. 1 I. Lyric Waltz 01:50
    Track
    1
    Title
    I. Lyric Waltz
    Duration
    01:50
    Composer
    Dmitri Shostakovich
    Performer
    Melvin Chen
  2. 2 II. Gavote 01:33
    Track
    2
    Title
    II. Gavote
    Duration
    01:33
    Composer
    Dmitri Shostakovich
    Performer
    Melvin Chen
  3. 3 III. Romance 02:23
    Track
    3
    Title
    III. Romance
    Duration
    02:23
    Composer
    Dmitri Shostakovich
    Performer
    Melvin Chen
  4. 4 IV. Polka 01:20
    Track
    4
    Title
    IV. Polka
    Duration
    01:20
    Composer
    Dmitri Shostakovich
    Performer
    Melvin Chen
  5. 5 V. Waltz Scherzo 02:41
    Track
    5
    Title
    V. Waltz Scherzo
    Duration
    02:41
    Composer
    Dmitri Shostakovich
    Performer
    Melvin Chen
  6. 6 VI. Hurdy Gurdy 00:51
    Track
    6
    Title
    VI. Hurdy Gurdy
    Duration
    00:51
    Composer
    Dmitri Shostakovich
    Performer
    Melvin Chen
  7. 7 VII. Dance 00:49
    Track
    7
    Title
    VII. Dance
    Duration
    00:49
    Composer
    Dmitri Shostakovich
    Performer
    Melvin Chen
  8. 8 No. 1. Recitative 00:48
    Track
    8
    Title
    No. 1. Recitative
    Duration
    00:48
    Composer
    Dmitri Shostakovich
    Performer
    Melvin Chen
  9. 9 No. 2. Serenade 01:17
    Track
    9
    Title
    No. 2. Serenade
    Duration
    01:17
    Composer
    Dmitri Shostakovich
    Performer
    Melvin Chen
  10. 10 No. 3. Nocturne 01:34
    Track
    10
    Title
    No. 3. Nocturne
    Duration
    01:34
    Composer
    Dmitri Shostakovich
    Performer
    Melvin Chen
  11. 11 No. 4. Elegy 01:24
    Track
    11
    Title
    No. 4. Elegy
    Duration
    01:24
    Composer
    Dmitri Shostakovich
    Performer
    Melvin Chen
  12. 12 No. 5. Funeral March 01:17
    Track
    12
    Title
    No. 5. Funeral March
    Duration
    01:17
    Composer
    Dmitri Shostakovich
    Performer
    Melvin Chen
  13. 13 No. 6. Etude 00:41
    Track
    13
    Title
    No. 6. Etude
    Duration
    00:41
    Composer
    Dmitri Shostakovich
    Performer
    Melvin Chen
  14. 14 No. 7. Danse macabre 00:57
    Track
    14
    Title
    No. 7. Danse macabre
    Duration
    00:57
    Composer
    Dmitri Shostakovich
    Performer
    Melvin Chen
  15. 15 No. 8. Canon 01:03
    Track
    15
    Title
    No. 8. Canon
    Duration
    01:03
    Composer
    Dmitri Shostakovich
    Performer
    Melvin Chen
  16. 16 No. 9. Legend 02:14
    Track
    16
    Title
    No. 9. Legend
    Duration
    02:14
    Composer
    Dmitri Shostakovich
    Performer
    Melvin Chen
  17. 17 No. 10. Berceuse 03:02
    Track
    17
    Title
    No. 10. Berceuse
    Duration
    03:02
    Composer
    Dmitri Shostakovich
    Performer
    Melvin Chen
  18. 18 Allegro - 07:49
    Track
    18
    Title
    Allegro -
    Duration
    07:49
    Composer
    Dmitri Shostakovich
    Performer
    Melvin Chen
  19. 19 Lento - 03:24
    Track
    19
    Title
    Lento -
    Duration
    03:24
    Composer
    Dmitri Shostakovich
    Performer
    Melvin Chen
  20. 20 Allegro 01:45
    Track
    20
    Title
    Allegro
    Duration
    01:45
    Composer
    Dmitri Shostakovich
    Performer
    Melvin Chen
  21. 21 I. Allegretto 07:46
    Track
    21
    Title
    I. Allegretto
    Duration
    07:46
    Composer
    Dmitri Shostakovich
    Performer
    Melvin Chen
  22. 22 II. Largo 06:46
    Track
    22
    Title
    II. Largo
    Duration
    06:46
    Composer
    Dmitri Shostakovich
    Performer
    Melvin Chen
  23. 23 III. Moderato (con moto) - Allegretto con moto - Adagio - Moderato 13:55
    Track
    23
    Title
    III. Moderato (con moto) - Allegretto con moto - Adagio - Moderato
    Duration
    13:55
    Composer
    Dmitri Shostakovich
    Performer
    Melvin Chen