Shura Cherkassky - The Complete 78 RPM Recordings, 1923-1950
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:
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Release Date: November 03, 2023
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UPC: 5024709173167
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Catalog Number: APR7316
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Label: APR
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Number of Discs: 3
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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
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Conductor: Jacques Rachmilovich
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Orchestra/Ensemble: Santa Monica Symphony Orchestra
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Performer: Shura Cherkassky, Marcel Hubert
Works:
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Ecossaises (6) in E-Flat Major, WoO 83 (acoustic version)
Composer: Ludwig van Beethoven
Performer: Shura Cherkassky (Piano)
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6 Preludes and Fugues, Op. 35: Prelude No. 1 in E Minor (acoustic version)
Composer: Felix Mendelssohn
Performer: Shura Cherkassky (Piano)
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3 Fantaisies ou caprices, Op. 16: No. 2. Scherzo in E Minor (acoustic version)
Composer: Felix Mendelssohn
Performer: Shura Cherkassky (Piano)
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Prélude Pathétique (acoustic version)
Composer: Shura Cherkassky
Performer: Shura Cherkassky (Piano)
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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)
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Waltz No. 14 in E Minor, Op. posth.
Composer: Frédéric Chopin
Performer: Shura Cherkassky (Piano)
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Renaissance, Book 1: No. 6. Tambourin in E Minor
Composer: Leopold Godowsky
Performer: Shura Cherkassky (Piano)
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Prelude, Op. 73
Composer: Mana-Zucca Cassel
Performer: Shura Cherkassky (Piano)
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6 Ecossaises in E-Flat Major, WoO 83
Composer: Ludwig van Beethoven
Performer: Shura Cherkassky (Piano)
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6 Preludes and Fugues, Op. 35: Prelude No. 1 in E Minor (electric version)
Composer: Felix Mendelssohn
Performer: Shura Cherkassky (Piano)
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3 Fantaisies ou caprices, Op. 16: No. 2. Scherzo in E Minor (electric version)
Composer: Felix Mendelssohn
Performer: Shura Cherkassky (Piano)
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Prélude Pathétique (electric version)
Composer: Shura Cherkassky
Performer: Shura Cherkassky (Piano)
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Cello Sonata in G Minor, Op. 19
Composer: Sergei Rachmaninoff
Performer: Marcel Hubert (Cello), Shura Cherkassky (Piano)
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Tarantella in A Minor
Composer: Mikhail Glinka
Performer: Shura Cherkassky (Piano)
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Yolka (The Christmas Tree), Op. 21L: Tableau II: Waltz
Composer: Vladimir Rebikov
Performer: Shura Cherkassky (Piano)
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Les saisons (The Seasons), Op. 37a: X. October: Autumn Song
Composer: Peter Ilyich Tchaikovsky
Performer: Shura Cherkassky (Piano)
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A Musical Snuffbox, Op. 32
Composer: Anatol Liadov
Performer: Shura Cherkassky (Piano)
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Pieces (2) for the Left Hand, Op. 9: No. 1. Prelude in C-Sharp Minor
Composer: Alexander Scriabin
Performer: Shura Cherkassky (Piano)
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Fairy Tales (4), Op. 34: No. 2 in E Minor
Composer: Nikolai Medtner
Performer: Shura Cherkassky (Piano)
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Pieces (4), Op. 4: No. 4. Suggestion diabolique
Composer: Sergei Prokofiev
Performer: Shura Cherkassky (Piano)
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Toccata
Composer: Aram Khachaturian
Performer: Shura Cherkassky (Piano)
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Preludes (24), Op. 34 (excerpts)
Composer: Dmitri Shostakovich
Performer: Shura Cherkassky (Piano)
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Hungarian Rhapsodies (19), S244/R106 (excerpts)
Composer: Franz Liszt
Performer: Shura Cherkassky (Piano)
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Concert Etudes (2), S145/R6: No. 2. Gnomenreigen
Composer: Franz Liszt
Performer: Shura Cherkassky (Piano)
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Polonaise No. 6 in A-Flat, Op. 53, "Heroic"
Composer: Frédéric Chopin
Performer: Shura Cherkassky (Piano)
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Lachtäubchen, Op. 303, "Polka de WR"
Composer: Franz Behr
Performer: Shura Cherkassky (Piano)
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Pieces (3), FP 48: No. 3. Toccata
Composer: Francis Poulenc
Performer: Shura Cherkassky (Piano)
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Prelude and Toccata
Composer: Morton Gould
Performer: Shura Cherkassky (Piano)
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Boogie Woogie Etude
Composer: Morton Gould
Performer: Shura Cherkassky (Piano)
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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
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Nocturne No. 19 in E Minor, Op. 72, No. 1
Composer: Frédéric Chopin
Performer: Shura Cherkassky (Piano)
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Mazurka No. 23 in D, Op. 33, No. 2
Composer: Frédéric Chopin
Performer: Shura Cherkassky (Piano)
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Etude No. 1 in C, Op. 10, No. 1
Composer: Frédéric Chopin
Performer: Shura Cherkassky (Piano)
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Fantasy in F Minor, Op. 49
Composer: Frédéric Chopin
Performer: Shura Cherkassky (Piano)
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Études (6), Op. 52 (excerpts)
Composer: Camille Saint-Saens
Performer: Shura Cherkassky (Piano)
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Consolations, S172/R12, "Pensées poétiques": No. 3 in D-Flat: Lento placido (2nd version)
Composer: Franz Liszt
Performer: Shura Cherkassky (Piano)
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Pieces humoristiques (6), Op. 87: 6 Pieces humoristiques, Op. 87: No. 4. Autrefois
Composer: Cecile Chaminade
Performer: Shura Cherkassky (Piano)