BBC Legends: BBCL42312
Beethoven - Piano Concerto No.5 / Gershwin - Piano Concerto
Our Price: £10.95 (£9.32 ex VAT)
Format: CD
Number of Discs: 1
Genre: Orchestral
Artist(s): Shura Cherkassky (piano), BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra, BBC Symphony Orchestra
Conductor(s): Ronald Zollman, Vernon Handley
Release Date: 3rd March 2008
More Details on Beethoven - Piano Concerto No.5 / Gershwin - Piano Concerto
Shura Cherkassky (1909 – 1995), like Horszowski, has appeared frequently on BBC Legends (BBCL 4057-2, BBCL 4160-2, BBCL 4185-2, BBCL 4212-2) to outstanding reviews. However, Cherkassky has never recorded these two concertos before, so this is a great addition to his discography.
The present performance of Beethoven’s “Emperor” Concerto, which was given when he was in his eighties, finds him in a far less idiosyncratic mood than usual – some may want more? – but it is replaced instead with a powerful, controlled and ‘straight’ interpretation of the work. It is also a performance of biographical and historical interest.
The Gershwin was recorded in his mid-70s – subtle, colourful, characterful, and in this work in particular, rhythmically buoyant – bringing us very much closer to the ‘mercurial’ artist we know as well as adding another new and previously unrecorded Cherkassky performance for our collections. The Gershwin, an unusual choice for Cherkassky, was performed on the last night of the Proms.
Both recordings are superbly caught live and recorded in excellent stereo.
The present performance of Beethoven’s “Emperor” Concerto, which was given when he was in his eighties, finds him in a far less idiosyncratic mood than usual – some may want more? – but it is replaced instead with a powerful, controlled and ‘straight’ interpretation of the work. It is also a performance of biographical and historical interest.
The Gershwin was recorded in his mid-70s – subtle, colourful, characterful, and in this work in particular, rhythmically buoyant – bringing us very much closer to the ‘mercurial’ artist we know as well as adding another new and previously unrecorded Cherkassky performance for our collections. The Gershwin, an unusual choice for Cherkassky, was performed on the last night of the Proms.
Both recordings are superbly caught live and recorded in excellent stereo.
