BaL 19.02.2022 - The Piano Music of Alexander Scriabin

[Joseph K]

As an addition to Szidon and Ugorski (plus Arcadi Volodos etc), a bargain at only 9,99€ from JPC at the moment. Postage from Germany to France is reasonable so it works out at about £12.00. Thanks, both, for the enthusiastic recommendation.

Sorry HD, what is the addition to Szidon and Ugorski?

[Bryn]

Sorry HD, what is the addition to Szidon and Ugorski?

https://www.jpc.de/jpcng/classic/detail/-/art/Alexander-Scriabin-1872-1915-Das-Solo-Klavierwerk/hnum/7186327

However, don't overlook https://www.qobuz.com/gb-en/album/op.../4015372820404

[Joseph K]

https://www.jpc.de/jpcng/classic/det...k/hnum/7186327

However, don't overlook https://www.qobuz.com/gb-en/album/op.../4015372820404

[Belgrove]

Such a broad brush survey must necessarily end up being rather cursory. Some of the sonatas surely deserve a full programme, and certainly have a comprehensive discography to explore. But in the spirit of the game, I’d opt for Sudbin as library choices for sonatas 2 5 and 9, and Ashkenazi (a pianist I don’t usually like) in 4 (and the piano concerto). Alexeev for an overall collection. But there’s Horowitz, Hamelin, Melnikov… in addition to those already mentioned in other posts. Scriabin’s solo piano music is a box of jewels that brings out the best in pianists.

[Dave2002]

As an addition to Szidon and Ugorski (plus Arcadi Volodos etc), a bargain at only 9,99€ from JPC at the moment. Postage from Germany to France is reasonable so it works out at about £12.00. Thanks, both, for the enthusiastic recommendation.

To the UK - currently 14.62 Euros - around £12.36 but YMMV if you have to pay any credit card fees on top.

https://www.jpc.de/jpcng/classic/detail/-/art/Alexander-Scriabin-1872-1915-Das-Solo-Klavierwerk/hnum/7186327

[gurnemanz]

I was about to mention Scriabin and synaesthesia and a concert I attended while a student when I remembered I had already posted something in a Scriabin thread a few years ago. Link in case anyone is interested.

[Belgrove]

I was about to mention Scriabin and synaesthesia and a concert I attended while a student when I remembered I had already posted something in a Scriabin thread a few years ago. Link in case anyone is interested.

I’m blessed being a ‘sufferer’ of synaesthesia, which is probably a reason why I’m a Scriabin enthusiast. But mine does not work the way he envisaged.

[Darloboy]

BaL previously did a survey of Scriabin's piano music back in November 1991, when David Murray chose a basic library consisting of: (1) the Szidon 3-CD box of the complete sonatas + (2) Horowitz's RCA recordings of Sonatas 3 & 5 & various Preludes & Etudes + (3) Horowitz's CBS/Sony disc of recordings from 1962, 1966 & 1972 (Vers la flamme + excerpts from Etudes opp. 8 & 42; Pieces Opp. 2 & 45; & Poèmes Opp. 32 & 69).

Further listening recommendations consisted of: Joseph Villa (Etudes Op, 42, Mazurkas Op. 3, Pieces Opp. 57 & 59; Poemes Opp. 63, 69, 71, Feuillet d'album Op. 58); Sviatoslav Richter on DG (Sonata 5); Graham Scott (Sonatas 3 & 9 + Pieces & Preludes); Mikhail Rudy (2 separate Calliope CDs consisting of Sonatas 6-10; Poemes Opp. 63, 69 & 71; Preludes Opp. 67 & 74; Danses Op. 73; Poemes Opp. 69 & 71); Vladimir Sofronitzki (Etudes Op. 8 + Preludes Op. 11); Marta Deyanova (Sonata 5, Poemes Op. 32 + various Etudes & Pieces); & Morton Estrin (Etudes Op. 8).

Am I the only person who finds David Owen Norris's mad professor style of presentation unbearably irritating?

[Wolfram]

Am I the only person who finds David Owen Norris's mad professor style of presentation unbearably irritating?

No.

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

POSSIBLE ERROR ALERT

According to the BBC Radio 3 website, this BaL will be broadcast on 19th February, but in today's Record Review, Andrew MacGregor stated that it would be next Saturday (12th February).

[HighlandDougie]

BaL previously did a survey of Scriabin's piano music back in November 1991, when David Murray chose a basic library consisting of: (1) the Szidon 3-CD box of the complete sonatas + (2) Horowitz's RCA recordings of Sonatas 3 & 5 & various Preludes & Etudes + (3) Horowitz's CBS/Sony disc of recordings from 1962, 1966 & 1972 (Vers la flamme + excerpts from Etudes opp. 8 & 42; Pieces Opp. 2 & 45; & Poèmes Opp. 32 & 69).

Further listening recommendations consisted of: Joseph Villa (Etudes Op, 42, Mazurkas Op. 3, Pieces Opp. 57 & 59; Poemes Opp. 63, 69, 71, Feuillet d'album Op. 58); Sviatoslav Richter on DG (Sonata 5); Graham Scott (Sonatas 3 & 9 + Pieces & Preludes); Mikhail Rudy (2 separate Calliope CDs consisting of Sonatas 6-10; Poemes Opp. 63, 69 & 71; Preludes Opp. 67 & 74; Danses Op. 73; Poemes Opp. 69 & 71); Vladimir Sofronitzki (Etudes Op. 8 + Preludes Op. 11); Marta Deyanova (Sonata 5, Poemes Op. 32 + various Etudes & Pieces); & Morton Estrin (Etudes Op. 8).

Am I the only person who finds David Owen Norris's mad professor style of presentation unbearably irritating?

No, you are not! I have no doubt that he is hugely knowledgeable but I often wish that he wouldn't be quite such an overt clever clogs. Can one wear one's learning heavily? I very much like Scriabin/Skryabin's piano music so will gird my loins to listen and hope that he isn't too insufferable (and sing - aargh!).

[Darloboy]

No, you are not! I have no doubt that he is hugely knowledgeable but I often wish that he wouldn't be quite such an overt clever clogs. Can one wear one's learning heavily? I very much like Scriabin/Skryabin's piano music so will gird my loins to listen and hope that he isn't too insufferable (and sing - aargh!).

I shan't be complaining about the twofer format on this occasion. More Andrew McGregor = Less DON.

[RichardB]

Once again I am disappointed to see Russian badly transliterated. There are only 2 syllables, not 3, in the composer's name, so the systematic "Skryabin" is more appropriate. having got that out of the way, I will look forward to this as I need to add to my collection, although a more focussed BAL might have been more welcome for the sesquicentenary, say the Poem of Exstacy or Prometheus.

You complain about Russian transliteration (and Scriabin is the standard one in English whether it's accurate or not), and then you misspell "ecstasy"!

[Alison]

I used to enjoy the late David Murray’s reviews in the FT.

[Retune]

To the UK - currently 14.62 Euros - around £12.36 but YMMV if you have to pay any credit card fees on top.

https://www.jpc.de/jpcng/classic/det...k/hnum/7186327

I noticed they knock off VAT for UK orders, which leaves the purchaser liable on import. Does anyone know what courier they use? The VAT itself is fine, but some couriers charge silly processing fees. Royal Mail isn't as bad as some (£8, I think, which with the VAT puts this in the same range as some of the Amazon UK offers at the moment).

Also, does anyone have any thoughts on Lettberg vs Alexeev? 7digital UK has the latter cycle as an £8.99 download for 320k, £11.99 for FLAC. A £7.99 link at Amazon doesn't seem to work.