VVCD-00091
ADD 51.24

Vladimir Sofronitsky
Plays
Rachmaninov

1 Prelude cis-moll, Оp.3 № 2. Lento 3.59
2 Prelude fis-moll, Оp.23 № 1. Largo 3.12
3 Prelude D-Dur, Оp.23 № 4. Andante cantabile 4.48
4 Prelude Es-Dur, Оp.23 № 6. Andantino 3.11
5 Prelude E-Dur, Оp.32 № 3. Allegro vivace 2.42
6 Prelude G-Dur, Оp.32 № 5. Moderato 3.07
7 Prelude gis-moll, Оp.32 № 12. Allegro 2.36
8 Moment musicaux es-moll, Оp.16 №2. Allegretto 3.10
9 Moment musicaux h-moll, Оp.16. №3Andante cantabile 4.44
10 Moment musicaux Des-Dur, Оp.16 №5.Adagio sostenuto 3.52
11 Etude-tableaux C-Dur, Оp.33 № 2. Allegro 2.24
12 Etude-tableaux g-moll, Оp.33 № 8. Grave 3.39
13 Etude-tableaux h-moll, Оp.39 № 4. Allegro assai 2.29
14 Etude-tableaux es-moll, Оp.39 № 5. Appassionato 4.39
15 Etude-tableaux a-moll, Оp.39 № 6. Allegro 2.45

Total: 51.24

Recorded: 1946 (2-5; 8-10); 1947 (12-13; 15); 1949 (1); 1951(11; 14); 1960 (6)
Restoration: Vista Vera, 2005.

Vladimir Sofronitsky ranks on a par with Rubinstein and Rachmaninov. He was admired by Prokofiev and Shostakovich. Horovitz recognized his unique talent and Glazunov named him "one of the outstanding Russian pianists". "There is a seal of something inexplicable, almost super-natural and mysterious in his performance" - Heinrich Neuhause wrote.

The Russian company Vista Vera has now embarked on its own Sofronitsky programme.
An individualist of powerful personality…
Uneven yes but unsettlingly human and with a technique still able to cope with most demands, Sofronitsky remains one of the troubling giants of post-War pianism.
Jonathan Woolf
The full text of the review see on www.musicweb.uk.net/classrev