COMPOSERS: Prokofiev/Liszt
LABELS: Decca Ovation
WORKS: Piano Sonatas No. 7; Piano Sonata No. 8; Two pieces from Romeo and Juliet
PERFORMER: Vladimir Ashkenazy (piano)
CATALOGUE NO: 425 046-2 ADD (1968)
Outstanding performances from Ashkenazy, who displays superb control throughout these complex but classically structured sonatas. He identifies totally with Prokofiev’s unique blend of dynamism, dissonance and modern lyricism, giving real weight to the first movement of the Eighth, without making it monumental, and producing playing in the more virtuosic Seventh to rival Pollini (on DG). The excellent, full piano sound belies the recording date. David Michaels
Prokofiev/Liszt
Outstanding performances from Ashkenazy, who displays superb control throughout these complex but classically structured sonatas. He identifies totally with Prokofiev’s unique blend of dynamism, dissonance and modern lyricism, giving real weight to the first movement of the Eighth, without making it monumental, and producing playing in the more virtuosic Seventh to rival Pollini (on DG). The excellent, full piano sound belies the recording date. David Michaels
Our rating
5
Published: January 20, 2012 at 2:36 pm