3CDs
COMPACT DISC 1 (63’05) Victor recordings, Camden, New Jersey 1923–1928
1. BEETHOVEN Ecossaises WoO 83 (acoustic version)
2. MENDELSSOHN Prelude Op 35/1 (acoustic)
3. MENDELSSOHN Scherzo Op 16/2 (acoustic)
4. SHURA CHERKASSKY Prelude Pathetique (acoustic)
5. MENDELSSOHN Song Without Words ‘Hunting Song’ Op 19b/3
6. CHOPIN Waltz in E minor Op posth
7. RAMEAU/GODOWSKY Tambourin
8. MANNA-ZUCCA Prelude Op 73
9. BEETHOVEN Ecossaises WoO 83 (electric version)
10. MENDELSSOHN Prelude Op 35/1 (electric)
11. MENDELSSOHN Scherzo Op 16/2 (electric)
12. SHURA CHERKASSKY Prelude Pathetique (electric)
US Columbia recording, New York 1934/5
13. RACHMANINOV Cello Sonata in G minor Op 19 with MARCEL HUBERT cello
COMPACT DISC 2 (66’28) US Vox recordings 1946–1947
1. GLINKA Tarantella
2. REBIKOV Waltz Op 21/1
3. TCHAIKOVSKY October Op 37b/10
4. LIADOV A Musical Snuffbox Op 32
5. SCRIABIN Prelude for the left-hand Op 9/1
6. MEDTNER Skazka (Tale) Op 34/2
7. PROKOFIEV Suggestion diabolique Op 4/4
8. KHATCHATURIAN Toccata
9. SHOSTAKOVICH Prelude Op 34/10; Prelude Op 34/5
11. LISZT Hungarian Rhapsodies Nos 5, 6, 11 & 15 S244
Swedish Cupol recordings 1949
15. LISZT Gnomenreigen S145/2
16. CHOPIN Polonaise Op 53
17. BEHR/RACHMANINOV Polka de W. R.
18. POULENC Toccata
19. MORTON GOULD Prelude and Toccata
21. MORTON GOULD Boogie Woogie Etude
COMPACT DISC 3 (65’32) Concert Hall Society recording 1946
1. TCHAIKOVSKY Piano Concerto No 2 Op 44
JACQUES RACHMILOVICH / SANTA MONICA SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA
HMV recordings, Abbey Road studio 3, London 1950
4. CHOPIN Nocturne Op 72/1
5. CHOPIN Mazurka Op 33/2
6. CHOPIN Etude Op 10/4
7. CHOPIN Fantasy Op 49
8. SAINT-SAËNS Prélude and Fugue Op 52/3
10. LISZT Consolation No 3 S172/3
11. CHAMINADE Autrefois Op 87/4
In his later years, SHURA CHERKASSKY (1909–1995) was regarded as one of the last ‘Romantics’ – a throwback to the so-called ‘golden age’ of pianism in the first decades of the 20th century. As a pupil of Josef Hofmann, he had an impeccable pedigree, but we tend to forget his long career meant he was already playing and recording in that ‘golden age’. Here then are these early recordings, complete for the first time, starting in the acoustic era with the young prodigy’s 1923 Victor discs. Much of the repertoire is unique in his discography, including his only recording of chamber music – the Rachmaninov cello sonata. The Tchaikovsky 2nd Concerto, Cherkassky’s earliest concerto recording, has never previously been reissued and reveals the 36-year-old artist at his virtuoso peak.
GRAMOPHONE Editor's Choice, November 2023
APR7316 Available on Compact Disc, as a Digital Download and to Stream