Track Listing

Disc 1:

1. Polonaise for piano No. 1 in C sharp minor, Op. 26/1, CT. 150
2. Waltz for piano No. 9 in A flat major ('L'adieu') Op. 69/1, CT. 215
3. Waltz for piano No. 12 in F minor, Op. 70/2, CT. 218
4. Waltz for piano No. 13 in D flat major, Op. 70/3, CT. 219
5. Impromptu for piano in G flat major, Op. 51, CT. 45
6. Barcarolle for piano in F sharp major, Op. 60, CT. 6
7. Nocturnes (2) for piano, Op. 27, CT. 114-115: Nocturne in C sharp minor, Op. 27, No. 1
8. Nocturnes (2) for piano, Op. 27, CT. 114-115: Nocturne in D flat, Op. 27, No. 2
9. Mazurka for piano No. 26 in C sharp minor, Op. 41/1, CT. 76
10. Mazurka for piano No. 27 in E minor, Op. 41/2, CT. 77
11. Mazurka for piano No. 40 in F minor, Op. 63/2, CT. 90
12. Mazurka for piano No. 24 in C major, Op. 33/3, CT. 74
13. Mazurka for piano No. 25 in B minor, Op. 33/4, CT. 75
14. Mazurka for piano No. 49 in F minor, Op. 68/4, CT. 99
15. Mazurka for piano No. 19 in B minor, Op. 30/2, CT. 69
16. Mazurka for piano No. 20 in D flat major, Op. 30/3, CT. 70
17. Mazurka for piano No. 21 in C sharp minor, Op. 30/4, CT. 71
18. Mazurka for piano No. 32 in C sharp minor, Op. 50/3, CT. 82

Disc 2:

1. Piano Sonata No. 3 in F sharp minor ('Etats d'�me'), Op. 23: Drammatico
2. Piano Sonata No. 3 in F sharp minor ('Etats d'�me'), Op. 23: Allegretto
3. Piano Sonata No. 3 in F sharp minor ('Etats d'�me'), Op. 23: Andante
4. Piano Sonata No. 3 in F sharp minor ('Etats d'�me'), Op. 23: Presto Con Fuoco
5. Piano Sonata No. 9 ('Black Mass'), Op. 68
6. Piano Sonata No. 2 in G sharp minor ('Sonata-Fantasy'), Op. 19: Andante
7. Vers la flamme, po�me for piano, Op. 72
8. Dances (2) for piano, Op. 73: No. 1, "Garlands"
9. Dances (2) for piano, Op. 73: No. 2, "Dark Flames"
10. Prelude for piano in B flat minor, Op. 11/16
11. Prelude for piano in B flat major, Op. 35/2
12. Prelude for piano in B flat minor, Op. 37/1
13. Po�mes (2) for piano, Op. 32: No. 1, in F sharp major
14. Po�mes (2) for piano, Op. 32: No. 2, in D major
15. Etude for piano in F sharp major, Op. 42/3
16. Piano Sonata No. 4 in F sharp major, Op. 30: Andante
17. Piano Sonata No. 4 in F sharp major, Op. 30: Prestissimo volando

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #231102 in Music
• Released on: 1999-05-11
• Number of discs: 2

Customer Reviews

A legend
Talking about Sofronitsky is talking about a legend almost unknown in the west. Richter called him a God, and Gilels said he was the best among pianists. According Gavrilov, Richter and Gilels were nothing compared to Sofronitsky. For me, Nikolayeva and Sofronitsky are the most spiritual and poetic russian pianists of this century, more metaphisical Tatyana, more romantic Sofronitsky. Chopin and Scriabin were two of his most beloved composers ( i especially regret the lack of Schumann on these cds since Vladimir was at his best playing Schumann). I wasn't a Scriabin fan until i knew Sofronitsky . His presentation of Scriabin is far from those of Richter and Horowitz. Sofronitsky understands Scriabin in a very romantic way, almost byronian, and he makes clear all the nightmares and horror that exists in that music. Sometimes it sounds like the music of solitude, sometimes like in Vers la Flame yoyu can feel the mephistophelic smell, all the dumb dangers of the romantics.I'm just guessing but i think our pianist was a solipsist and you Scriabin was also a solipsistic. Ok, i agree all this is very subjectiv. What it's not subjectiv at all, is the beauty of the sound, full of armonics, the extraordinary pianissimi, the personal use of the rubato, and the steamy quality of his romantic performance. A must for any piano or Scriabin-lover

Scriabin! Scriabin! Scriabin!
There is very little to say about music such as this. This is what music is all about; stepping beyond ordinary thoughts and saying in tone what cannot be said in words. In Sofronitsky, Scriabin had the greatest gift a composer could ask for. A performer who transforms your creation into a language ALL can understand, and translates in such a way as to create a statement so definitive, that other performances immediately pale in comparison. If you've ever had the slightest inclination toward the torrid, claustraphobic world of Scriabin, heres the place to begin. And end.

spiritual greatness
One of the glories of Philips' Great Pianists series is the opportunity to discover previously unfamiliar artists. So it is with me and this set of performances by Sofronitsky. These are truly remarkable interpretations. The Scriabin is simply without peer and the Chopin, while not as universally acclaimed, burns with a quiet intensity. I cannot recommend this set highly enough.