Ashkenazy: Shostakovich – Piano Works (FLAC)

Performer: Vladimir Ashkenazy
Composer: Dmitry Shostakovich
Audio CD
Number of Discs: 1
Format: FLAC (image+cue)
Label: Decca
Size: 168 MB
Recovery: +3%
Scan: no

# Sonata for piano No. 2 in B minor, Op. 61
Composed by Dmitry Shostakovich
with Vladimir Ashkenazy

# Fantastic Dances (3), for piano, Op. 5
Composed by Dmitry Shostakovich
with Vladimir Ashkenazy

# Preludes (5) for piano (from collaborative work of 24 preludes with Clements & Feldt)
Composed by Dmitry Shostakovich
with Vladimir Ashkenazy

# Dances of the Dolls (7), suite for piano (arr. from the ballet suites for orchestra) Lyric Waltz
Composed by Dmitry Shostakovich
with Vladimir Ashkenazy

# Dances of the Dolls (7), suite for piano (arr. from the ballet suites for orchestra) Short Piece from The Gadfly, Op. 97
Composed by Dmitry Shostakovich
with Vladimir Ashkenazy

# Dances of the Dolls (7), suite for piano (arr. from the ballet suites for orchestra) Spanish Dance from The Gadfly, Op. 97
Composed by Dmitry Shostakovich
with Vladimir Ashkenazy

# Dances of the Dolls (7), suite for piano (arr. from the ballet suites for orchestra) Nocturne from The Limpid Stream, Op. 39
Composed by Dmitry Shostakovich
with Vladimir Ashkenazy

# Aphorisms (10), for piano, Op. 13
Composed by Dmitry Shostakovich
with Vladimir Ashkenazy

# Polka, version for piano solo or piano, 4 hands arranged from “The Golden Age”
Composed by Dmitry Shostakovich
with Vladimir Ashkenazy

Infrequently Heard Shostakovich Works for Piano

For those who are devoted to the symphonic works, the string quartets, the operas, and the concerti by Dmitri Shostakovich this album is a must for the collection. Not only are there excellent samplings of his works written expressly for the piano, bu there are also some fine piano arrangements of his orchestral works that give us another side of his personality.

Vladimir Ashkenazy is in top form for this collection. His technique is sure, finely sensitive to the difficult interplay of melody lines so often encounter in Shostakovich’s music, and the sound he produces is never less than extraordinary. Included on the album is the Sonata for piano No. 2 in B minor, Op. 61 that Ashkenazy plays better than any other pianist on recordings. It is a spectacular work beautifully executed. The works written expressly for the piano include the ‘Fantastic Dances’, Op. 5, five of the ‘Preludes (from collaborative work of 24 preludes with Clements & Feldt), and ‘Aphorisms’ Op. 13 .

Then Ashkenazy steps into the stage virtuoso ring with ‘Dances of the Dolls’ suite from the ballet ‘Lyric Waltz’, transcriptions from ‘The Gadfly’, Op. 97, and closes with an exuberant ‘Polka’ form ‘The Golden Age’. The balance of works selected makes for a perfect hour of listening, creating one of those CDs destined to be on the player frequently! Highly Recommended. Grady Harp