Great Pianists of the 20th Century - Shura Cherkassky Vol. I

Shura Cherkassky (Artist), Chopin (Artist) | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (January 12, 1999)
• SPARS Code: DDD
• Number of Discs: 2
• Label: Philips
• ASIN: B00000HY8B
• Average Customer Review: 4.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (13 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #380,668 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

Disc: 1

1. Etudes, Op. 10: No. 1 In C, Allegro

2. Etudes, Op. 10: No. 2 In A-Minor, Allegro

3. Etudes, Op. 10: No. 3 In E, Lento ma non troppo

4. Etudes, Op. 10: No. 4 In C-Sharp Minor, Presto

5. Etudes, Op. 10: No. 5 In G-Flat 'Black Keys,' Vivace

6. Etudes, Op. 10: No. 6 in E-Flat Minor, Andante

7. Etudes, Op. 10: No. 7 In C, Vivace

8. Etudes, Op. 10: No. 8 In F, Allegro

9. Etudes, Op. 10: No. 9 In F-Minor, Allegro molto agitato

10. Etudes, Op. 10: No. 10 In A-Flat, Vivace assai

See all 29 tracks on this disc

Disc: 2

1. Barcarolle In F-Sharp, Op. 60

2. Nocturne In F-Minor, Op. 55, No. 1

3. Preludes, Op. 28: No. 1 In C, Agitato

4. Preludes, Op. 28: No. 2 In E-Minor, Largo

5. Preludes, Op. 28: No. 3 In 3 In G, Vivace

6. Preludes, Op. 28: No. 4 In B-Minor, Lento assai

7. Preludes, Op. 28: No. 5 In D, Allegro molto

8. Preludes, Op. 28: No. 6 In B-Minor, Lento assai

9. Preludes, Op. 28: No. 7 In A, Andantino

10. Preludes, Op. 28: No. 8 In F-Sharp Minor, Molto agitato

See all 30 tracks on this disc

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

9 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Surpasses Most Recordings, January 28, 2001

By 

Daniel Johnson (Australia) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Great Pianists of the 20th Century - Shura Cherkassky Vol. I (Audio CD)

My Name is Daniel Johnson and I am an 18 yr old concert pianist that tours Australia. The Chopin Etudes are one of the corner stones of my piano playing and this is mainly because i enjoy coming back to them ever since i learnt my first at age 11. Therefore i like to hear many other interpretations by other pianists. Vladimir Ashkenazy is my inspiration and his recording of the Etudes of Chopin are as pure as they come but i started collecting the "Great Pianist" series and stumbled upon Cherkassies recording and to say the least I am absolutely stunned. Not only does he pull of these 27 feats of Virtuosity but does so with pique perfection, which at times, seems like no effort is required to play them. I was pleased that i purchased this cd. I always look forward to hearing interpretations of Opus 10 no 4. As it seems it was the only one i really had trouble with and since i used it on the opening night of my first performance, its a treasure to experience it again through other masterful hands.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The best Charkassky album extant, August 7, 2004

By 

madamemusico "madamemusico" (Cincinnati, Ohio USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Great Pianists of the 20th Century - Shura Cherkassky Vol. I (Audio CD)

I heard Shura Cherkassky play in person three times, and each time he blew me away, but his recordings were not always as warm or exciting as his live performances. This set is an exception. In the Etudes, especially, I can almost see Shura hunched over the keys, his feet working the pedals frantically if instinctively to produce those beautiful corruscating cascades of sound in which he enveloped us all. How magical his playing was, and how unique! I am so happy that this album exists so I can tell people, "THAT is what Shura Cherkassky sounded like."

6 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Listen to the Preludes, Barcarolle and Nocturne, February 6, 2002

By 

Robert L. Berkowitz (Natick, MA United States) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Great Pianists of the 20th Century - Shura Cherkassky Vol. I (Audio CD)

Most of the reviewers liked this recording for the Etudes. I pull this recording out for the Preludes, the outstanding Barcarolle and Nocturne Op. 55 No. 1. These recordings are my standards for these works. He caresses these works with such loving tenderness. His melodic line always sings, and he can be so magical in the way he turns a phrase.

I first dismissed this recording of the Preludes because Cherkassky doesn't have the same technical polish that younger artists are able to attain. But if you listen to the Preludes for a while, you discern Cherkassky's astonishing ability to create pianistic color. The Preludes are little tone poems and need to be played with that in mind. By comparison, most newer recordings now sound shallow and dry to me.

The B minor Sonata is a live performance and also shows Cherkassky at his most individual. Yet another performance to be cherished.

I was so taken by this recording that I went out and purchased another Cherkassky recording of Chopin. He has a unique way with Chopin that inspires repeated listenings.