Vladimir Sofronitsky plays Scriabin Sonata no. 2, Op 19

[moshiko7701]

compare kocyan to sofronitsky is really comparing appels to pears

[EliScorch]

2 people are deaf...

[BrackenClelk]

I have listened to both and I would side with Kocyan. His fluidity is absolutely incomparable.

I know it's a matter of personal taste, but I'd still say that learned ears should freely discuss preferences such as these. It makes music all the more enjoyable.

[fenderbender92]

@BrackenClelk That statement right there is one of the most elitist I've ever read. Only painters should freely discuss Jan Eyck. Only metaphyscians should freely discuss metaphysics. Only politicians should freely discuss politics.

[BrackenClelk]

@fenderbender92 My comment was to encourage people who have an opinion about a recording or performance to speak and discuss it freely. The original argument started out of an interpretive preference. Liking an interpretation, and expressing why you do, is not something restricted to the "elite". If every recording is "apples and oranges", then what's the point of listening to multiple artists? Or composers even?

[fenderbender92]

@BrackenClelk You've missed the point of what I said. "learned ears should freely discuss preferences such as these. It makes music all the more enjoyable." Do you feel that the music is unenjoyable when you speak with "untrained" ears?

[BrackenClelk]

@fenderbender92 No. Hence all the "more" enjoyable. Even outside the domain of classical music (which is where I assume the elitism is coming from), studying the context of any song or music will give you a deeper appreciation. Bob Dylan's "Hard Rain" for example, would make little sense if the listener did not know of its historical significance. Any piece of music can be deepened with study - and it is this study that makes music enjoyable. Not some snobbish attitude.

[fenderbender92]

@BrackenClelk Well, my mistake lies in the fact that I've taken your words entirely on how I read them.

[WAMEDJO]

This period in Scriabin's work certainly had a deep influence on Bill Evans. Around 2'45 for exemple, I thought I heard some Montreux Concert !

[FlyingMelbournite]

greatest interpretation of this movement on youtube....sensuous, ecstatic, beautiful

[libetta]

is this a repost from the other one you have?

[truecrypt]

@vcupiano

This is really Sofronitsky and please be assured that he could manage "dynamics and flow of tempo" quite well. Of course inability to hear it is completely different matter...

[vcupiano]

@truecrypt inability to hear... good one

[TRIXIE1001]

Thanks for this recording! He gives a very solid and thoughtful interpretation with a constant attention/priority to the beautiful melody. Every rest observed, great pedal technique. Masterfuly played. In my opinion a bit more compelling than even the great Pogorelich interpretation.

[Lukecash12]

The whole chord rings out every time he lets his hand fall on the keys. This piece was made for Sofronitsky to play.

[angel0exterminador]

Incomparable! Unbelievably beautiful!

[jcgalad]

Thank you for a beautiful post!

This piece brings tears into my eyes!

[YenaPrinskin]

It happens every time the same to me..

[annakoun]

Could you please give more info on the production of this recording? is there a date or other info on the cd case? I am a researcher on the Scriabin sonata and it would be valuable to know some details about it. Ex. which piano was it recorded on? Other circumstances?

[10151080w]

A very good recording. Surprisingly clear sound additionally.

From those recordings I know, the only recording that could match with this one is Pogorelichs.

[elcaballodecaligula]

Can you tell me where's the second movement please?

[truecrypt]

There is only 1st movement in this particular recording.

I posted another one WITH second movement (from Scriabin museum) - you find it in my Playlists -> Sofronitsky plays -> etc.

[towardtheflame]

Wow great collection, truecrypt, thanks.

You wouldn't happen to have Sofronitsky's Shostakovich recordings, would you?

[Barqu3ntine]

This is a good version, but also needlessly erratic in places I think. I still like Wojciech Kocyan's reading better.

[truecrypt]

There is nothing "erratic" in this performance.

I've never heard Wojciech Kocyan but can't imagine he plays Op. 19 better than Sofronitsky...

[Barqu3ntine]

Then you should definitely check it out. Kocyan recorded the 2nd alongside the 1st, and both are absolutely breathtaking. The 1st in particular should be regarded as definitive. Sofronitsky's 2nd is about as good as Kocyan's (this movement at least), but for instance around 4:30 I find his playing a little bit too harsh.

I'm not just plugging my own favourite pianist here :) I own lots of Scriabin recordings. It's fun to compare.

[truecrypt]

Dear Barqu3ntine;

Sofronitsky performance can't be "about as good as Kocyan's" - it's incomparable. I suspect you compare apples and oranges here...

[Lukecash12]

Couldn't agree more.

[zhangensprachen]

Wonderful.

[voolare]

This interpretation is art in the ultimate form; it's on of those rare intimate unions between composer, interpreter and listener: I feel like this is not Sofronitzky's interpretation anymore, not Scriabin's music and it's beyond the listener's objectivity... This is the sheer intimate beauty of art in its most sophisticated form: music. Please pardon ardon my delirium!

[nearenough3]

Many years ago I bought "Scriabin's Sonatas" by Sofronitsky on LPs. The set did NOT have the 2nd movement of the 2nd sonata. I was cheated.

[truecrypt]

This one (with second movement) was an unofficial private recording made in Scriabin museum. It was released relatively recently.

[bakwardEd]

Absolutely magnificent. Ephemeral, mysterious, passionate. How lucky for us to have this document of musical interpretation! In the face of such playing, my analytical mind just stops.... I am compelled to surrender to beauty and not to understand how it is made. How rare is the pianist who can create that kind of magic! As the saying goes... "preserve the mystery."

[axekat]

Wow. Thank you for this posting. Im found it to be so thoughtful. Just beautiful!

[dinoimeri]

Amazing work, amazing pianist.

Don't forget to check Pogorelich's performance too, it is equally amazing.

[STYLusPHANTasticus]

I AWARD THIS 5 GRYPHONS....

[larsnelissen]

Scriabin described this sonata as being situated on a medditerenean sea shore under a starry night sky, carried away by the warm sea waves one enters a subtropical sea storm in the 2nd mvt. In all we feel what Scriabin craved for during his entire creative life;

"I wished I was born as just a thought!" were his words.

[Lukecash12]

i have to agree with scriabin.

[larsnelissen]

Thanks for posting my favourite sonata of Scriabin played by this master, it's only a pitty I can't find the 2nd mouvement with Sofronitsky! Perhaps you could post it too, I would be double greatfull!

[georgecziffra]

Truecrypt, do you happen to have Scriabin's 6th sonata? I can't find a single performance of that sonata on youtube.

[truecrypt]

not by Sofronitsky though...

Ashkenazy or Fedorova - your choice ;)

[georgecziffra]

I haven't heard performances of the 6th sonata from either of them, but I heard that Ashkenazy's was quite good. But either one would be great

[truecrypt]

I just posted Ashkenazy. Had to cut (as always) since it's about 12 minutes, so listen both parts...

P.S. I'm going to post Scriabin 5th with Richter too. Don't miss! ;)

[phoxee]

At 4:30-4:35 as I listened to the bass, I was mentally looking into the abyss. It is, by far, the deepest sounding bass I've ever heard. This is magical music created by two wizards. Thanks for bringing them to us.

[elineangelica]

omg...

i'm all crying. this is upsetting.

[chad410]

this his most sincere workk

[yekhaty]

Fantastic tone

[angiolettiangela]

Dear 4Realrussianonly, i'm totally in agreement with you. I love Scriabin, in which music tears, dreams, love, allucination and desperate soul i find in high level. My god, in Scriabin i see either Debussy as well as Chopin. May be he was a unhappy guy, otherwise i cannot undertand how he should have relaised such music. I adore him believe me. He make me tears and breaking heart.

Dear Alexander many thanks and gratitude for your music; stay at the heaven togheter with our music Gods.

[rachm06]

Bel commento, anche io sono d'accordo! L'unica cosa che non capisco è come un autore così mirabile(che ha portato anche grande innovazione)sia così poco conosciuto, almeno in Italia.

[4realrussiansonly]

I suspect that Scriabin was the reincarnation of Chopin-just the continuation of a great spirit communicating with mortals through mediums like Sofronitsky. Scriabin, born on christmas and died on easter by the old calender, seems a bit more than (I think, hope) coincidence?! Correct me.

[SarrasaniPianoCircus]

Happy to see here this file.

He is my preferred pianist.

When I compare different interpretations (not

only in Scriabin) of the same pieces, my favourite (or at least in the first two-three

positions) is Sofronitzki.

Immense charism, introspection, concentration.

All best,

Sandro

[allegrissimo]

This is so full of fantasy and freedom...the most colourfuln and unique version of this sonata we will probably ever witness. Do you also have the second movement by any chance? I'm very curious!

[truecrypt]

allegrissimo;

No, I don't have it! I'm sure the recording was either destroyed by Sofronitsky's order or simply lost. I will continue to research though...

[smithsherman]

What an exquisite sound balance he has in this.What a beautifully luminescent & highly expressive compelling turn of phrase.He

captures the contradictory spiritual crux of this piece...being infatuated with life-hopeless-optimistic simultaneously.He also

gets the August full-moon Журавли Летать quality in there too.Will I ever hear a

Sofronitsky I don't love?

[pianopera]

Interesting to compare this with the Richter-version. Both are great, but I think this comes closer to Scriabin's ecstatic personality.