Prokofiev - Piano Works and Transcriptions

An essay in Viennese contrasts, persuasively played, but interleaving works that are probably best kept separate

Record and Artist Details

Composer or Director: Franz Schubert, Arnold Schoenberg

Label: ECM New Series

Media Format: CD or Download

Media Runtime: 64

Mastering:

DDD

Catalogue Number: 465 136-2

Tracks:

Composition Artist Credit
(3) Klavierstücke Arnold Schoenberg, Composer
Arnold Schoenberg, Composer
Thomas Larcher, Piano
(6) Klavierstücke Arnold Schoenberg, Composer
Arnold Schoenberg, Composer
Thomas Larcher, Piano
Allegretto Franz Schubert, Composer
Franz Schubert, Composer
Thomas Larcher, Piano

Composer or Director: Johann Pachelbel

Label: Centaur

Media Format: CD or Download

Media Runtime: 58

Mastering:

DDD

Catalogue Number: CRC2418

Tracks:

Composition Artist Credit
Toccata and Fugue Johann Pachelbel, Composer
Johann Pachelbel, Composer
Joseph Payne, Organ
Allein Gott zu dir, Herr Jesu Christ Johann Pachelbel, Composer
Johann Pachelbel, Composer
Joseph Payne, Organ
Allein Gott in der Höe sei Ehr Johann Pachelbel, Composer
Johann Pachelbel, Composer
Joseph Payne, Organ
Ciacona Johann Pachelbel, Composer
Johann Pachelbel, Composer
Joseph Payne, Organ
Alle Menschen müssen sterben Johann Pachelbel, Composer
Johann Pachelbel, Composer
Joseph Payne, Organ
(95) Fugues on the Magnificat, Movement: Magnificat octavi toni in G (13 fugues) Johann Pachelbel, Composer
Johann Pachelbel, Composer
Joseph Payne, Organ
Ricercar Johann Pachelbel, Composer
Johann Pachelbel, Composer
Joseph Payne, Organ

Label: Claves

Media Format: CD or Download

Media Runtime: 76

Mastering:

DDD

Catalogue Number: 50 9904

Composer or Director: Jeremy Filsell, Sebastian Wolff

Label: Herald

Media Format: CD or Download

Media Runtime: 63

Mastering:

DDD

Catalogue Number: HAVPCD229

Tracks:

Composition Artist Credit
(19) Organ Works, Movement: Fantasia and Fugue in D Sebastian Wolff, Composer
Jeremy Filsell, Composer
Sebastian Wolff, Composer
(19) Organ Works, Movement: Advent Chorale Sebastian Wolff, Composer
Jeremy Filsell, Composer
Sebastian Wolff, Composer
(19) Organ Works, Movement: Prelude: O come, O come Emmanuel Sebastian Wolff, Composer
Jeremy Filsell, Composer
Sebastian Wolff, Composer
(19) Organ Works, Movement: Trio: Lo, he comes with clouds descending Sebastian Wolff, Composer
Jeremy Filsell, Composer
Sebastian Wolff, Composer
(19) Organ Works, Movement: Prelude on the Somerset Carol Sebastian Wolff, Composer
Jeremy Filsell, Composer
Sebastian Wolff, Composer
(19) Organ Works, Movement: Chorale Partita: Unto us is born a Son Sebastian Wolff, Composer
Jeremy Filsell, Composer
Sebastian Wolff, Composer
(19) Organ Works, Movement: Chorale on a melody by Orlando Gibbons Sebastian Wolff, Composer
Jeremy Filsell, Composer
Sebastian Wolff, Composer
(19) Organ Works, Movement: Prelude: Our Father, which art in heaven Sebastian Wolff, Composer
Jeremy Filsell, Composer
Sebastian Wolff, Composer
(19) Organ Works, Movement: Nocturne Sebastian Wolff, Composer
Jeremy Filsell, Composer
Sebastian Wolff, Composer
(19) Organ Works, Movement: Prelude: Come, Holy Ghost Sebastian Wolff, Composer
Jeremy Filsell, Composer
Sebastian Wolff, Composer
(19) Organ Works, Movement: Prelude: Most ancient of all mysteries Sebastian Wolff, Composer
Jeremy Filsell, Composer
Sebastian Wolff, Composer
(19) Organ Works, Movement: Processional Sebastian Wolff, Composer
Jeremy Filsell, Composer
Sebastian Wolff, Composer
(19) Organ Works, Movement: Adagio and Fugue on Liebster Immanuel Sebastian Wolff, Composer
Jeremy Filsell, Composer
Sebastian Wolff, Composer
(19) Organ Works, Movement: Chorale: O Sacred Head sore wounded Sebastian Wolff, Composer
Jeremy Filsell, Composer
Sebastian Wolff, Composer
(19) Organ Works, Movement: Fanfare for Easter Day Sebastian Wolff, Composer
Jeremy Filsell, Composer
Sebastian Wolff, Composer
(19) Organ Works, Movement: Processional: Jesis Christ is risen today Sebastian Wolff, Composer
Jeremy Filsell, Composer
Sebastian Wolff, Composer
(19) Organ Works, Movement: Trio: At the Lamb's high feast Sebastian Wolff, Composer
Jeremy Filsell, Composer
Sebastian Wolff, Composer
(19) Organ Works, Movement: Chorale Partita: Christ the Lord is risen again Sebastian Wolff, Composer
Jeremy Filsell, Composer
Sebastian Wolff, Composer
(19) Organ Works, Movement: Carillon (Hommage à Mulet et Vierne) Sebastian Wolff, Composer
Jeremy Filsell, Composer
Sebastian Wolff, Composer

Composer or Director: Sergey Prokofiev

Label: CdM Russian Season

Media Format: CD or Download

Media Runtime: 75

Mastering:

DDD

Catalogue Number: RUS288161

Tracks:

Composition Artist Credit
Sonata for Piano No. 2 Sergey Prokofiev, Composer
Alexander Guindin, Piano
Sergey Prokofiev, Composer
(10) Pieces from Romeo and Juliet Sergey Prokofiev, Composer
Alexander Guindin, Piano
Sergey Prokofiev, Composer
March and Scherzo from The Love for Three Oranges Sergey Prokofiev, Composer
Alexander Guindin, Piano
Sergey Prokofiev, Composer
Waltz Sergey Prokofiev, Composer
Alexander Guindin, Piano
Sergey Prokofiev, Composer
Fantasia Improvisation on themes from Rimsky-Korsa Sergey Prokofiev, Composer
Alexander Guindin, Piano
Sergey Prokofiev, Composer
Schubert and Schoenberg are the chalk and the cheese at either end of Viennese romanticism. Schoenberg was well aware of the symmetry, and paid his great predecessor homage around the time of his centenary in the String Quartet No. 3 (1927), alluding to the A minor Quartet, D804 - though without direct quotation. ECM's strategy is to relish the contrasts highlighted by juxtaposition, and despite the efforts of the booklet essays, I don't sense any subtle subtext. The main point is that most piano recitals on CD are very different from this one.
In terms of minutes, there is almost twice as much Schubert as Schoenberg, and Schubert's leisurely transitions and literal da capos (in the second D946 piece, in particular) certainly stand out. Thomas Larcher is a sensitive player, the recorded sound has excellent presence and definition, and although he risks overdoing the more reflective aspects of Schoenberg's music in places (especially in Op. 11 No. 1), perhaps in order to suggest a degree of shared poetic tone with Schubert, the programme as a whole scarcely makes out a cast-iron case for significant common ground.
The most questionable feature of the disc is the decision to alternate the three Op. 11 pieces with the D946 pieces - though with Nos. 2 and 3 of D946 coming between Nos. 2 and 3 of Op. 11: we then have Schoenberg Op. 19 complete, and the relatively brief D915 to conclude. Obviously, if you insist on separation, you can programme your listening accordingly, and I suspect that, for repeated hearing, separation will prove more appealing than alternation.'

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