Shura Cherkassky – The complete 78-rpm Recordings 1923-1950

CD 1 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)
13. RACHMANINOV Cello Sonata in G minor Op 19 with MARCEL HUBERT cello – US Columbia recording, New York 1934/5

CD 2 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

1. LISZT Gnomenreigen S145/2
2. CHOPIN Polonaise Op 53
3. BEHR/RACHMANINOV Polka de W. R.
4. POULENC Toccata
5. MORTON GOULD Prelude and Toccata
6. MORTON GOULD Boogie Woogie Etude

CD 3 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

1. CHOPIN Nocturne Op 72/1
2. CHOPIN Mazurka Op 33/2
3. CHOPIN Etude Op 10/4
4. CHOPIN Fantasy Op 49
5. SAINT-SAËNS Prélude and Fugue Op 52/3
6. LISZT Consolation No 3 S172/3
7. 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.”

Reviews

Gramophone Magazine November 2023

“APR’s is the most comprehensive single collection and has, by a country mile, the best annotation, booklet (Jonathan Summers) and transfers (Seth B Winner)…evidence, if it were needed, of a keyboard charmer par excellence and one of the greatest pianists of the 20th century.