Schumann: 4 Klavierstücke op. 32, Brahms: 4 Ballades op. 10, Chopin: Polonaise No. 2, Piano Sonata No. 3

Gilels, Emil

ICAC 5108

Like all in Soviet artists of his era, Emil Gilels' appearances in the UK were sporadic. But 1979 he made two visits here in quick succession, appearing as soloist in Beethoven's Fourth Concerto at the Royal Festival Hall and then returning a few weeks later with a recital programme that he played in London and at Abbotsholme School in Shropshire. This disc is taken from the BBC tapes of the Abbotsholme concert. As well as including a majestic performance of Brahms's Four Ballades, and typically forthright ones of Chopin's C minor Polonaise Op 40 and the B minor Sonata which serve as reminders that Gilels' keyboard muscularity was always complemented by a wonderfully even, silvery delicacy when required in this perfomance he also plays Schumann's rarely heard Op 32, four pieces composed at the same time as Kreisleriana and the Humoreske, which he took into his repertory late in his career. The encore is Mozart's D minor Fantasy, a bit over-emphatic for my taste, but the pianism is, as ever, masterly --Guardian, 12/09/13

CD

Muzyka klasyczna

ICA Classics

23-08-2013

5060244551084