Vladimir Sofronitsky Plays Scriabin Etude Op.42 No.5 (Live)

[murakisadao]

I like Sofronitsky so much. However, I still prefer the 1953 Carnegie Hall Live Recording by Horowitz, specially because he held the melodic line absolutely free and never get trapped by the heavy chords of the piece. Of course his later recording in the seventies fall against Sofronitsky. But the 1953 aproach of Volodya is still my favorite Scriabin Etude recording.

[oneginee]

I have the complete Scriabin piano recording

[cashkenazipiano]

where is the melody in the mid sections? all this talk of "HOROWITZ RULES" or "SOFRONITSKY IS KING" is silly in my opinion. I've delved into Scriabin's works and throughout have preferred Horowitz sometimes AND Sofronitsky sometimes.

[FlyingMelbournite]

wow

[ingute1992]

great interpretation... I'm playing this etude at the moment and i think it's one of the most beautiful pieces ever written...

[Varese52]

For Sofronitisky, it is not merely a matter of mastering the text of the music, which he does. He is far more interested in the ethos of the music he is playing: its meaning in the most profound sense of the word. So what may sound "banging and unsubtle" or "lacking in noblesse"(an assertion I find shocking), is actually the febrile and tormented nature of the music down to its last detail. It may not be to everyone's taste, but it is true to the composer's intention.

[IndependentClassical]

Music is great but the performance does not make it justice, IMHO. I find it lacking coherence, coarse and banging. Partially this is recording quality, but also the pianist is lacking nobless and subtlety. If you do not agree with me, listen to Sergio Fiorentino, also on youtube. The recording quality is also sub-par but the interpretation leaves Sofronitsky's in the dust.

[banaliltes]

@IndependentClassical Are you insane? Have you no idea who Sofronitsky was, and that he was considered, among his peers and among virtually every great pianist since, from Cortot to Horowitz, to be the 20th century's greatest interpreter of Scriabin's music? Your opinion is is as ludicrous as it is uninformed, and what you don'tt know about Scriabin would fill the Library of Congress and then some. .Even Fiorentino, a marvelous pianist, adored Sofronitsky and recognized him as such.

[RabidCh]

@banaliltes

People have a right to a different opinion, as crazy as they are.

I don't find it incoherent or lacking subtlety at all, he is right in saying there's "banging" (except it serves a purpose) but some people prefer less interesting lives...

[banaliltes]

@RabidCh @RabidCh Of course, he has a right, as anyone does, to an opinion, no matter how ill informed. But you can be sure that Sofronitsky never "banged", which is a demonstrably specious accusation. The very concept, and physical approach to the piano that would define banging, was not even relevant to, nor part of his pianistic vocabulary. However, it is unfortunate that he was recorded terrible conditions, and often on an old, out of tune Bechstein at the Scriabin Museum in Moscow.

[ibclappin]

@IndependentClassical you have no idea what scriabin wanted people to hear. if we sat a monkey at the piano and told you it's fiorentio playing scriabin you would wave a lighter in the air.

people are entitled to their opinions unless they have absolutely no clue what the hell they're talking about

[banaliltes]

@ibclappin Well truth is, along with the late Sergio Fiorentino, a great artist who I knew well, you can rest assured that I know exactly what I am talking about, especially where Scriabin is concerned. If you had any idea at all about my relationship to Scriabin, his family, and his music, you would be a bit more circumspect., and probably ashamed about challenging me. You are making a meal of your ignorance. If you were smart, you'd be well advised to pay attention and learn something.

[banaliltes]

@ibclappin As far as what it is that Scriabin wanted his listeners to hear, well, I'd be happy to point you in the direction where you can find out all about that, in detail, in the composer's own words (preferably in the original Russian), in the words off his friends, colleagues, and contemporaries, and in deference to the studies of the leading Scriabin authorities and scholars, including me,, who can set you straight. Once you've done your homework, come back and we'll talk reasonably.

[ibclappin]

@banaliltes as far as a reasonable conversation between us would go, after saying you don't like sofronitsky's scriabin (which is the greatest by far, even if it were to be my personal opinion only), i have no respect for what you say in the subject matter, whoever you are

[banaliltes]

@ibclappin As for "whoever I am:, well let's just say I am a friend of the Sofronitsky family for years, and endorsed by them, as well as the Scriabins, as well. OK?

[banaliltes]

@ibclappin Excuse me, but you are confusing me for someone else. I never wrote any such thing. I adore Sofronitsky, and in fact defended him on these pages against someone else here who disparaged him. Perhaps you confused that person's message with mine. Sofronitsky is indeed the greatest Scriabin interpreter of all You might want to go back and read through the messages, which I find confusing too when the screen name of the respondent keeps showing up at the beginning of a mesage!

[banaliltes]

@ibclappin Mystery solved. You confused me with someone whose screen name here is IndependentClassical. It is he who can't stand Sofronitsky, and disparaged him here. I came out in defense of Sofronitsky, but for someone of that IndependentClassica;s ilk, it won't matter. Ignorance, after all, is bliss.

[Picatalastrophe]

Dr. Scriabin: The crazy badass who will beat your problems out of you. PRESCRIPTION IS TWO BOTTLES OF BEAUTIFUL MUSIC, GTFO MY SCRIABIATRY CLINIC

[Picatalastrophe]

think of your one problem that torments you the most, and hold that in mind as scriabin takes you through how to remove that festering parasite from your whole life, turning you back out the door with your soul cleansed in the tonic and dominant.

[gerardbedecarter]

Thanks for posting !!!!!

[cpdavidzas]

beautiful b section.

[Nielsbeertsen]

Really nice interpretation!

[Lukecash12]

My favorite recording of this piece. Sofronitzky sure had the most direct, refreshing, sensitive, powerful interpretations.

[kempff95]

enthusiastic!!

Finally i hear a true scriabin man!

[lovesGenet]

Sofronitsky is really interesting here. Different from everyone else. Keeps a line but actually puts light into all that boxing punches.First listen kinda shocked me bad recording even at this late date!

[coolchampagne]

I love Sofronitsky's recordings of Scriabin so much! Is there a way I can get a copy of his op.42 etudes?

[suzettegm]

This rOcks as well, thanks! A high five from Suzette, great upload!

[Lukecash12]

I just noticed that Scriabin is the only composer i know who wrote absolutely every piece with at least a minor feel to it. Not as if i like him any less or that he is one dimensional(lord knows he doesn't even inhabit a dimension!), but did he ever write any things like a major piece by Schumann(besides his piano sonata opus 2 no 19 that still ends in a mainly minor feel)?

His white mass was in c major technically but in all reality that piece goes beyond any classification of a scale.

[Marcomedina]

4th sonata is pretty "happy" I guess, there's a few other pieces that certainly aren't sad, but not "major" in the sense of the word...enigma has always made me laugh.

[rman91]

@Lukecash12 etude op. 8 no. 5 is very major

several of the other 12 etudes are also in a mostly major modes and i believe quite a few of the preludes are?

[jubulalau]

OH MY GOD!!!

THX A LOT!!!

SOFRONITSKY PLAYING SCRIABIN'S BEST PIECE!!!

LUV U chigsrOck!!!!!!

[hatake16]

Thank you for the video!!