Scriabin - 24 Preludes, Sonata No .4 Opus 30 in F Sharp (reference recording: Andrei Gavrilov)

Alexander Nikolayevich Scriabin Александр Николаевич Скрябин (1871-1915) Click to activate the English subtitles for the presentation (00:00​-01:25) 00:00 Prelude No.1 C major, Maestoso In broad chordal style. 02:36 Prelude No.2 A minor, Allegro A swift, single sentence in the manner of a study for the right hand. 03:12 Prelude No.3 G major, Andante Sweet and dreamy, with a flowing left hand. 04:52 Prelude No.5 C sharp minor, Andante The style is more progressive and chromatic, with a texture like the opening of the Fourth Sonata: a beautifully balanced form. 06:13 Prelude No.1 A major, Andante The five-note turn recurs in nearly every bar, more frequently as the piece approaches its close. 07:57 Prelude No.2 G sharp minor, Allegro A similar five-note figure recurs here, but the delicate opening gives way to an aggressive close. 09:07 Prelude No.4 E flat minor, Lento A model of simplicity and brevity, each phase of three bars being in perfect balance. 10:44 Prelude Op.9 No.1 C sharp minor, Andante 1894 (For the left hand alone) A highly expressive melody, ingeniously accompanied in Chopin’s manner. 13:22 Prelude No.2 A minor, Allegretto Another (like op. 15 no. 5) revealing a glimpse into the future with chromatic harmony and a strange sense of space. 15:12 Prelude No.4 E minor, Lento By far the earliest of these Preludes (1888), and the most reminiscent of Chopin. It was adapted from a Ballade in B flat minor. 17:19 Prelude No.5 D major, Andante cantabile A serene slow-moving melody over a flowing bass. 18:59 Prelude Nos.6 B minor, Allegro, 8 F sharp minor, Allegro agitato 6-Another very early piece fast, compressed and violent. 8-An intriguing alternation of two upward leaps and a falling tumble, mostly soft and subdued despite its pace. 20:42 Prelude No.9 E major, Andantino Simple and touching, especially at the end. 22:31 Prelude C sharp minor, Andante One of the best of the set, like the eternal wailing of the Russian people. 23:53 Prelude B major, Allegro assai A warm and swift-flowing piece, reaching repose. 25:00 Prelude G sharp, Andante An exercise in textures with much use of the wide-spread left hand. 27:07 Prelude G flat major, Lento A ravishing piece in Scriabin’s favourite key, with much delicate chromaticism. 28:39 Prelude E flat minor, Presto Inspired by a mountain river at Bastei pounding against the rocks, this short and violent Prelude is in the unusual time signature 15/8. 29:37 Prelude B flat minor, Misterioso The left and right hands are an octave apart throughout. The bars alternate five and four pulses, rising to a climax and back to the piece’s sombre quiet. 32:05 Prelude F minor, Allegro agitato Pounding octave triplets in a tremendous surge of power. 32:49 Prelude C minor, Appassionato Both hands are in octaves again, but the passion of the opening is gradually tamed. 33:40 Prelude Prelude G minor, Lento In pure, rubato style, like a sentimental improvisation. 34:47 Prelude Prelude D minor, Presto A pulse of eleven with repeated right-hand chords leading to a magnificent climax to close the op. 11 set. Bonus: 35:33 Sonata No.4 in F sharp Andante Prestissimo volando The Sonata is still in a key (Scriabin’s favourite F sharp major) , despite frequent chromatic excursions, and it is nominally in two movements despite the sense of oneness created by the recurrence of the opening idea at salient points in the swift and compact fast movement. The final pages offer a magnificent example of Scriabin’s assertive and confident piano style, yet unlike so many of his contemporaries he never allowed his music to sprawl. 43:03 Etude No.5 in C sharp minor 1903 also saw the publication of an important set of eight Etudes, probably composed over a period of some years. No. 5 is the longest and strongest of the set with its relentless surge of semiquavers and its tremendous keyboard power. There twice appears a melody that seems to float over the agitation as Chopin’s melodies often do. One can well understand why Scriabin — like many later pianists — made it a regular item in his recital programmes. Piano : Andrei Gavrilov Recorded in 1984 🔊Find CMRR’s recordings on Spotify : 🔊Download CMRR’s recordings in High fidelity audio : Bach - Keyboard Concertos Nos.1,2,3,4,5,6,7 BWV 1052-1058 Presentat° (ref. rec. : Andrei Gavrilov) : Chopin by Éric Heidsieck - 24 Préludes , Prélude , 4 Ballades (recording of the Century) :