Kabalevsky: Piano Sonata No. 3 in F major, Op. 46

Artur Pizarro gives critically acclaimed performances of Kabalevsky’s Piano Sonatas 1-3 and the Four Preludes, Op.5

Dmitri Kabalevsky was born in St. Petersburg, a contemporary of Prokofiev and Shostakovich. Embracing social realism as dictated by the Soviet regime, he was highly regarded by the government. His musical language is not as daring and revolutionary as his fellow Soviet composers, nevertheless his music radiates a vigorous and infectious energy, inspired by rich Russian folklore. As you would expect, Artur Pizarro gives full blooded and highly athletic performances of these attractive works, which are underrepresented in the CD catalogue.

The 24 Preludes and the last Sonatas of Dmitri Kabalevsky figure amongst the finest piano works of the 1940s, ranking with those of Prokofiev and Shostakovich. The first Sonata is reminiscent of the first Scriabin, whereas the second and the third are ‘war pieces’ with frankly virtuosic pages. Gilels, to whom the work was dedicated, was the first to play the second (1946), Yakov Zak, his senior and alter ego, newly rediscovered on PRD350054, the third in 1947. Christoph Deluze has become well known for his interpretation of the 24 Preludes: here he groups the 3 Sonatas and confirms their impressive stature, their intense lyricism and rythmic vigour. A demonstrative programme for those fond of spectacular and symphonic piano.

This release is the first in a projected series exploring Russian Piano Music. This recording gathers together four Russian composers who were contemporaries and also Britain’s leading composerpianist, Ronald Stevenson, who is highly revered by Russian piano scholars (his piece Recitative and Air was commissioned by the Union of Soviet composers, and in fact became an ‘In memoriam’ elegy on the sudden death of the Soviet master).

Of the six featured pieces, those by Myaskovsky, Stevenson and Shchedrin are otherwise unavailable elsewhere in the catalogues. The booklet contains highly informative notes by Murray Mclachlan.

As a concert artist Murray McLachlan has received outstanding critical acclaim for intelligent and sensitive interpretations and superb technical ability. His prolific discography, mostly for Divine Art, Olympia and Dunelm, has received long-standing international recognition and includes over thirty commercial recordings, including the complete sonatas of Beethoven and Prokofiev and many rarities.

Murray McLachlan has given first performances of works by many composers, including Martin Butler, Ronald Stevenson, Charles Camilleri, Michael Parkin and even Beethoven! He is Head of keyboard at Chetham’s School of Music and tutor at the Royal Northern College of Music in Manchester, as well as Artistic Director both of the Chetham’s International Summer School and Festival for Pianists, an event which attracts outstanding musicians annually from all over the world, and the Manchester International Concerto Competition for Young Pianists, which began in 2007.

Performed on this recording by Alexandre Dossin, First Prize and Special Prize winner at the 2003 Martha Argerich International Piano Competition, Kabalevsky’s highly virtuoso Piano Sonata No. 2 represents the peak of the composer’s writing for solo piano.

It is coupled with the early Sonata No. 1, in which the influence of Prokofiev is seldom far away, the bitter-sweet Sonata No. 3 and the two crisply neo-classical Sonatinas.

Kabalevsky’s Piano Concertos Nos. 1 and 2 (8557683) and No. 3 (8557794) are also available on Naxos.

“Alexandre Dossin is an accomplished musician and a wonderful pianist. I had the opportunity to hear him play solo, chamber music and concertos. His performances are magnificent, with very pure musical insight and an extreme sensitivity, together with real virtuosity and a very personal way of unfolding interesting ideas. The feeling that there is always more coming makes his performances a very strong experience.” Martha Argerich