Igor Zhukov plays Medtner Sonata in G minor Op.22 (1/2)

[scriabin007]

beeindruckende Interpetation....die mich berührt! Schade dass diese Sonate so selten zu hören ist!

[AndreiKrakovsky]

There is nothing lacking in Zhukov's fantastic performance, only in the closed ears of the unimaginative listeners! Zhukov, like the great Russian pianists, sees the score as organic and has something to say about it. These are not "mannerisms."

[iramoscow]

И почему лучшие люди уплывают на Запад? И власть переменилась и свобода кругом полная.

[ashleyohtori]

Thanks for this wonderful posting of the tragica. It will help me lots!

[chad410]

wow just found this:)

[pkarkivist]

zhukov was a scriabin specialist. medtner's writing didn't allow liberties, only when indications were written on the score. zhukov's version doesn't decline the architecture of the sonata, which what medtner wanted at first place.

zhukov shines with scriabin 10 sonatas, do you have his melodiya recordings ?? I think his versions are the best overall in this world right now. i'll post scriabin op. 19 soon...

[givemegreatmusic]

Thanks for your comment! If you get a chance to listen to his playing with the score you'll see what I mean. He allows criminal liberties while the silence (rests, length of the notes, fermatas) is a very important fabric of the music and cannot be cut the way he does it.

I think Medtner would be very upset to hear this performance, so many of his markings were ignored!

Thank you all the files you uploaded, I am a huge fun of Medtner, so I check your videos regulary and with lots of respect!

[weikko79]

For instance, in the bit beginning at 2:59 Zhukov succumbs to a terrible kind of mannerism. That bit just sounds wrong in his interpretation.

[chad410]

I hear only accented very rythmical playing at this bit Im not sure what you mean. Yes he clearly has a different charcter that does stick out but intentionally only.

[weikko79]

I'm sure it's intentional, but I don't like it nevertheless.

[chad410]

i am learning this for a long time and i will study what you say. only ever heard gilels and Moiseiwitsch so will be quite interesting. I have to say it is musically very challenging.

[givemegreatmusic]

This guy has serious problems with the rhythm and tempi. He seems to have a vertigo throughout the piece. Medtner took care of writing all markings very seriously. I feel sick when people they can rape the piece by playing with so little respect to the composer.

[nikolaimedtner]

hmm....i don't think he has any "problems", he plays exactely the tempi he wants to. tempo is a relative, free term, it can not be fixed. And i also think, Medtner wouldn't mind at all if an interpreter of the level and intelligence of Zhukov integrates his own thoughts in his work. This has nothing to do with disrespect, on the contrary.

[weikko79]

I think it's worth getting to know other recordings of this work, especially the ones by Gilels, Moiseiwitch and Hamelin. I believe they demonstrate better than any words ever could what is lacking in Zhukov's performance.

[Yoray7]

@givemegreatmusic

what is it - stupidity, ignorance, provocation?! Listen, be attentive! This is one of the best, poetic interpretation of the Sonata g-moll.