|  | | | Customer Reviews: | | | Average Customer Review:
Write an online review and share your thoughts with other customers.
1 of 1 found the following review helpful:
 Sensuous Interpretation of Scriabin's Sonatas Jun 17, 2008
Over the years I have heard live or have procured various pianistic performances of Scriabin's music played by the likes of Hamelin, Ashkenaszy, Horowitz, Richter; yet I have always preferred Ruth Laredo's sensuous, broad,subtle approach to Scriabin's masterpieces. I still believe her "Vers la Flamme" performance is the best for its unique passionate,even erotic persuasions. To be frank, I'm primarily interested in Scriabin's "late" period and have absorbed the beauty and "sensuosity" of sonatas 6 through 10. Listeners and critics vary in their recommendations, their approval or otherwise of the increasing performances of the sonatas now available to the interested listener. Almost all the masters have dominated the bravura format,as Scriabin's works are developed within extraordinary technical demands and exigencies. Hamlin probably reigns supreme, at least,according to most of the reviewers I've read. Opinions will vary, to be sure; reviews may be tendered by professional, musical critics; or, they may simply be reflections, opinions, and reactions of individual listeners intensely focused on Scriabin's inordinately complex music. A problem with the Laredo recording unfortunately, is that it's a"carry over' from an earlier performance recorded in the 1970's. Despite the audio problems, I still love the Laredo dedication to the inordinate, complex virtuosic demands. Her playing remains faithful, to a large extent, to the ever mysterious, subtle, if not lascivious, voluptuous, qualities which all too often haunt those demonic Scriabinesque harmonies. The performances are smooth and not overly percussive,as I have noted in later recorded performances.
6 of 11 found the following review helpful:
 Way too much praise for a very average set of performances May 15, 2007
This set is mostly valuable for being comprehensive as the performances are somewhat wan. Laredo also experiences technical difficulties here and there. Finally, the sound quality of the performance is below average. That said, I'm glad to own it because it includes some unusual pieces and brings all of these wonderful sonatas together.
Not to throw stones, but I really have to wonder whether any of the reviewers giving this set 5 stars are familiar with Scriabin and the many excellent performances of his piano works that have been made. This is a fallback CD set.
11 of 13 found the following review helpful:
 Solid performances, compressed sound Apr 08, 2006
I have the following complete sets: Laredo, Taub, Ashkenazy, Hamelin, Mikhailov, Szidon, Ponti, and Ogdon. I have two discs of Glemser and Horowitz, and one disc of: Sofronitsky, Pletnev, Kocyan, Bogdonov, Florentino, Coombs, Trpceski, and Richter.
Here is my list of suggested performances of the sonatas, taken from those I've heard. They are ranked from left to right:
G#m posthumous: Hamelin.
Ebm posthumous: Glemser.
No. 1: Kocyan, then Ashkenazy, then Taub. Kocyan tells a story. Ashkenazy is passionate. Taub is darker.
No. 2: Kocyan, then Glemser or Sofronitsky, then Ashkenazy. Kocyan's fluidity takes it, but Sofronitsky is artistic. Glemser's first movement is beautiful.
No. 3: Laredo or Horowitz. Then Glemser or Taub. Then Ashkenazy or Sofronitsky.
No. 4: Taub or Sofronitsky. The latter has more artistry, the former a more coherent and appropriate tone.
No. 5: Horowitz or Taub. The former has electric genius, the latter has wonderful refinement. Hamelin's is excellent (definitely his best Scriabin performance). I've heard that Richter's is great, but I don't have it.
No. 6: Richter (genius but bad sound quality), then Taub. Hamelin's is athletic and precise, although not mysterious.
No. 7: Glemser, then Laredo. The former brings out all the complexity with precision, the latter is sharp and clear. I have not heard Richter's.
No. 8: Ashkenazy. Then Szidon or Laredo. I've read that Sofronitsky's is good, but I don't have it.
No. 9: Sofronitsky, then Horowitz (all versions), then Glemser, then Szidon and Taub.
No. 10: Horowitz or Taub. Same contrast of styles between the pianists as the fifth sonata. Like the fifth, this is Taub's other brilliant performance.
Other pieces:
Fantasy in B minor: Glemser
Vers la flamme: Sofronitsky or Horowitz, then Laredo.
Piano concerto: Ugorski/Boulez, then Ashkenazy/Maazel. Both are excellent, but I give the edge to Ugorski.
Poem of Ecstasy: Maazel
Prometheus: Ashkenazy/Maazel
Regrettably, the posthumous sonatas are not included and not every performance is outstanding, but it does offer a top-notch third sonata, a great seventh, and solid performances of the first, sixth, eighth, op. 42 etudes, and Vers La Flamme. The 5th sonata is not well-performed here. The 4th has a bouncy feel in the second movement, and the 9th begins with no mystery. The tight (not spacious) analog sound should be braved by Scriabin aficianados, but those new to his music should stick with Taub's complete set (also missing the posthumous sonatas, regrettably), at least at first.
1 of 1 found the following review helpful:
Provocative, enlightening Jan 05, 2006
I have recently discovered the music of Scriabin. Rather, shall I say re-discovered, as I have up until recently been only familiar with his orchestral music and not his works for piano. This is a splendid recording of some of the most interesting piano music ever written.
The first four sonatas are very much Romantic era music, with the 1st sonata being my favorite. The last six sonatas are extremely complex, yet moving and embody a great sense of mystery within them. It is clear to see how Scriabin was truly light years ahead of his time. These compositions beautifully illustrate the power of music to transfix the listener into experiencing nothing less than blissful paradise.
8 of 9 found the following review helpful:
Masterful technique Mar 04, 2003
Alexander Scriabin was one of the last of the great Russian Romantic school who became a leader of the modern vanguard. This recording traces that musical evolution brilliantly. Many have associated Laredo with the Baroque or Classical genre but with this CD she proves that there are apparently no areas in which she is not proficient.The sounds produced here are nothing short of stupendous - from the loudest fortissimo to the quietest pppppp (that is a true marking). The technique is so completely masterful that one almost takes the devilish fingering, concorted chortds and fluttering dynamics for granted. The other outstanding feature of Scriabin's music is the continual "lift" as the music is in a constant state of key changes and transforming "rises". This is an important CD in that it traces the development of an enormously talented yet ultimately irrational artist. One item of note is that his son, who was remarkably gifted, drowned as a young lad. Otherwise we might have had a father-son musical continuum, the maturation of which we can only surmise. Liked other commentators, I enjoyed the dark, stark cover. To understand Scriabin one must understand the Sonatas and his reaction to them. One way to understand the Sonatas is by listening to this recording.
|
| |
|
![Up (4 Disc Combo Pack with Digital Copy and DVD) [Blu-ray]](http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51V%2Beipy8-L._SL75_.jpg "Up (4 Disc Combo Pack with Digital Copy and DVD) [Blu-ray]")
![Across the Universe [Blu-ray]](http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51T24FuHPEL._SL75_.jpg "Across the Universe [Blu-ray]")
![Underworld Trilogy (Underworld / Underworld: Evolution / Underworld: Rise of the Lycans) [Blu-ray]](http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51F27VzUl%2BL._SL75_.jpg "Underworld Trilogy (Underworld / Underworld: Evolution / Underworld: Rise of the Lycans) [Blu-ray]")
![Shakira: Oral Fixation Tour [Blu-ray]](http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51RQUEopdlL._SL75_.jpg "Shakira: Oral Fixation Tour [Blu-ray]")
