Shura Cherkassky: The Ambassador Auditorium Recitals Pasadena, California 1981-1989

Contents

Chopin: Ballade No. 1 in G Minor, Op. 23, B. 66 (Remastered 2024)

Chopin: Nocturnes, Op. 9, B. 54: No. 2 in E-Flat Major (Remastered 2024)

Chopin: Nocturnes, Op. 55, B. 152: No. 1 in F Minor (1) (Remastered 2024)

Chopin: Andante spianato & Grande Polonaise, Op. 22

I. Andante spianato, B. 88 (Remastered 2024)

II. Grande polonaise brillante, B. 58 (Remastered 2024)

Chopin: Fantaisie in F Minor, Op. 49, B. 137 (Remastered 2024)

Chopin: Impromptu No. 2 in F-Sharp Major, Op. 36, B. 129 (Remastered 2024)

Chopin: Fantaisie-impromptu in C-Sharp Minor, Op. 66, B. 87 (Remastered 2024)

Chopin: Scherzo No. 2 in B-Flat Minor, Op. 31, B. 111 (Remastered 2024)

Chopin: Nocturnes, Op. 9, B. 54: No. 3 in B Major (Remastered 2024)

Chopin: Waltz in A-Flat Major, Op. 42, B. 131 (1) [Remastered 2024]

Lully: Suite de pièces

I. Allemande (Remastered 2024)

II. Air tendre (Remastered 2024)

III. Courante (Remastered 2024)

IV. Sarabande (Remastered 2024)

V. Gigue (Remastered 2024)

Mendelssohn: Scherzo à capriccio, WoO 3, MWV U 113 (Remastered 2024)

Tchaikovsky: Grand Sonata for Piano in G major Op. 37

I. Moderato e risoluto (Remastered 2024)

II. Andante non troppo quasi moderato (Remastered 2024)

III. Scherzo. Allegro giocoso (Remastered 2024)

IV. Finale. Allegro vivace (Remastered 2024)

Chopin: Polonaise-fantaisie in A-Flat Major, Op. 61, B. 159 (Remastered 2024)

Chopin: Ballade No. 4 in F Minor, Op. 52, B. 146 (Remastered 2024)

Józef Hofmann: Charakterskizzen, Op. 40: No. 4, Kaleidoskop (1) [Remastered 2024]

Liszt: Réminiscences de Don Juan, S. 418 (Remastered 2024)

Cherkassky: Prélude pathétique (Remastered 2024)

Chopin: Waltz in A-Flat Major, Op. 42, B. 131 (2) [Remastered 2024]

Franck, C: Prélude, Choral et Fugue, M21

I. Prélude (Remastered 2024)

II. Choral (Remastered 2024)

III. Fugue (Remastered 2024)

Schumann: Carnaval, Op. 9

No. 1, Préambule (Remastered 2024)

No. 2, Pierrot (Remastered 2024)

No. 3, Arlequin (Remastered 2024)

Rachmaninoff: Variations on a Theme of Corelli, Op. 42 (Remastered 2024)

Józef Hofmann: Charakterskizzen, Op. 40: No. 4, Kaleidoskop (2) [Remastered 2024]

Chopin: Nocturnes, Op. 55, B. 152: No. 1 in F Minor (2) [Remastered 2024]

Chopin: Barcarolle in F-Sharp Major, Op. 60, B. 158 (Remastered 2024)

Liszt: Valse de l’opéra Faust de Gounod, S. 407 (Remastered 2024)

Albéniz: España, Op. 165: No. 2, Tango (Arr. for Piano by Leopold Godowsky) [1] [Remastered 2024]

Rachmaninoff: Polka de W.R., TN ii / 18 (Remastered 2024)

Tchaikovsky: The Seasons, Op. 37a, TH 135: No. 10, Octobert. Autumn Song (Remastered 2024)

Handel: Keyboard Suite No. 5 in E Major, HWV 430: IV. Air & Variations “The Harmonious Blacksmith” (Remastered 2024)

Schumann: Fantasie in C Major, Op. 17: III. Langsam getragen (Remastered 2024)

Tchaikovsky: 6 Pieces, Op. 19, TH 133: No. 6, Thème original et variations (Remastered 2024)

Rachmaninoff: 7 Morceaux de salon, Op. 10: No. 3, Barcarolle (Remastered 2024)

Liszt: Hungarian Rhapsodies, S. 244: No. 2 in C-Sharp Minor (Remastered 2024)

Albéniz: España, Op. 165: No. 2, Tango (Arr. for Piano by Leopold Godowsky) [2] [Remastered 2024]

Chopin: Tarantella in A-Flat Major, Op. 43, B. 139 (Remastered 2024)

Shura Cherkassky (1909-1995) was a Russian-American concert pianist known for his performances of the romantic repertoire.

He was one of the last pianists to come from the Golden Age of Pianism, whose playing was characterised by a virtuoso technique and singing piano tone.

Cherkassky early on in his career earned a reputation for spontaneity, creativity, and technical perfection in his playing. His sound was unique and became almost instantly recognisable and was famous for never playing the same piece the same way.

In addition to the standard virtuoso repertoire, especially that of Chopin, Liszt, and Rachmaninov, Cherkassky also performed works by Hofmann, Hindemith, Morton Gould, Britten, Luciano Berio, Alban Berg, Stockhausen, Boulez and other 20th century/contemporary composers.

The stimulus of a live audience always produced a more compelling performance from Cherkassky than he would give in a recording studio. Presented here are all the recital performances, totalling over five hours, which he gave at the Ambassador Auditorium between 1981 and 1989, published for the first time.