This 4 CD set has been released in anticipation of the forthcoming
centenary of the birth of Emil Gilels in 2016. Melodiya have collected
'unreleased recordings from original tapes' of collaborations the pianist
had with other Russian artists. Piano duets, instrumental duets and chamber
works comprise this valuable anthology. The recordings were made over a
thirteen year period between 1946 and 1959. Melodiya states in the booklet
that this is the beginning of an 'expanded edition' of the pianist's legacy
- an exciting prospect.
Born in Odessa, now part of Ukraine, in 1916, Gilels did not hail from a
particularly musical family, but they had a piano. The young Emil took to
the instrument and underwent strict musical training in his formative years,
as was the way in Russia in those days. After graduating from the Odessa
Conservatory in 1935, he went on to study with the great Soviet pianist and
pedagogue Heinrich Neuhaus in Moscow. His conscientiousness and early
grounding in scales and arpeggios formed the foundation of his magnificent
technique. Gilels was to become a keyboard titan. This reputation was
founded not just on a fabulous technique; his tremendous gifts were
dedicated to the service of the music he was playing. He did not let his
virtuosity stand in the way of good taste and style, and his interpretations
were always free of mannerisms and eccentricities.
CD 1: What better opening to the set than the electrifying and
scintillating Busoni arrangement for two pianos of Mozart's Overture to The
Magic Flute. Here Gilels is joined by Yakov Zak. Zak was also born in Odessa
and, like Gilels, studied with Heinrich Neuhaus. Two other Busoni
arrangements of Mozart (Fantasia in F minor and Duettino concertante) are
likewise dispatched with precision, accuracy and a like-minded approach. The
Saint-Saens, a piece new to me, is a rarity that will be welcomed. Despite
the ageing sound the Concerto for two pianos K 365, conducted by Kondrashin,
is a warm, vibrant and compelling performance. The contents of CD 1 have
previously been released in 2007 by APR, but LP transfers were used in that
instance rather than the original tapes here. I have never heard their
transfers to compare.
CD 2: In Haydn's Violin Sonata No. 1, Emil Gilels partners his sister
Elizaveta Gilels. I am not overly enamored by this less-than-inspired work -
not one of Haydn's best. It would have been better to hear them in one of
the Mozart or Beethoven sonatas. Whilst Emil Gilels makes the best of a bad
job, Elizaveta isn't inspired by this lacklustre music and gives a
pedestrian account characterized by monotony and dullness. The Beethoven
Horn Sonata fares better, with an ardent performance in which the horn
soloist is Yakov Shapiro. The other Yakov (Zak) is the pianist in the
two-piano version of Brahms' Haydn Variations. This is alluring and is in
good sound. This is not the case with the two Cui pieces which are somewhat
sonically compromised. These works are completely new to me but enjoyable
though, with Gilels being partnered by yet another Yakov, this time
Flier.
CD 3: Once again Gilels is joined by Yakov Zak, and first up is the Suite
No. 2 Op. 17 by Rachmaninov. Here each brings his virtuosic technique to a
performance notable for its energy and power. The lyrical moments are
allowed to express themselves. Leonid Nikolayev won't be that well-known but
his Suite Op. 13 is an easy and pleasurable listen. Full of memorable tunes,
I can't understand why it isn't programmed more often. The disc is completed
by Chopin and Liszt in versions distinguished by a sense of shared
purpose.
CD 4: Here we have two chamber works recorded in the Small Hall of the
Moscow Conservatory. The Brahms is a live recording and suffers from dated
thin sonics and some audience bronchial participation. Nevertheless, what a
terrific performance. The first movement is delivered with great commitment
and passion. I have never heard the slow movement played with so much warmth
and feeling. In the Hungarian gypsy rondo, the quartet up the pace in a
rhythmically charged and briskly accelerated finale. An indication as to the
excitement of the occasion is shown in the appreciative applause that
follows. The Babayev Trio is obviously from a different concert, and no date
is given. I would strongly suspect that this was not recorded live as the
sound is almost studio quality with no background noise. Again, it is
something of a rarity but a pleasing listen.
A plus point with this box, aside from the superlative music-making, is
the number of unusual and rare items this set has to offer. As we have come
to expect from Melodiya the documentation is illuminating - in Russian with
English and French translations.
A worthy tribute to a great pianist.
Stephen Greenbank
CD 1 [68.43]
Wolfgang Amadeus MOZART (1756-1791) - Ferruccio
BUSONI (1866-1924)
1.Overture to The Magic Flute, K. 620 [6.18]
2.Fantasia in F minor, K. 608 [9.31]
3.Duettino concertante, K. 459 [6.57]
Wolfgang Amadeus MOZART
4.Fugue in C minor, K. 426 [4.09]
Camille SAINT-SAENS (1835-1921)
5.Variations on a Theme by Beethoven, Op. 35 [17.39]
Wolfgang Amadeus MOZART
Concerto No. 10 for two pianos and orchestra in E flat major, K.
365/316a
6.I Allegro [9.46]
7.II Andante [7.38]
8.III Rondo. Allegro [6.40]
Emil Gilels, piano
Yakov Zak, piano
USSR State Academic Symphony Orchestra/Kirill Kondrashin (6-8)
Recorded in 1948-1952.
CD 2 [60.00]
Joseph HAYDN (1732-1809)
Sonata No. 1 for violin and piano in G major, Hob. XV:32
1.I Andante [7.31]
2.II Allegro [9.35]
Ludwig van BEETHOVEN (1770-1827)
Sonata for horn and piano in F major, Op. 17
3.I Allegro moderato [7.50]
4.II Poco Adagio quasi Andante [1.33]
5.III Rondo. Allegro moderato [4.56]
Johannes BRAHMS (1833-1897)
6.Variations on a Theme by Haydn, Op. 56 [16.22]
Cesar CUI (1835-1918)
Three Pieces for two pianos, Op. 69
7.No. 1 Intermezzo [2.36]
8.No. 2 Nocturne [9.33]
Emil Gilels, piano
Elizaveta Gilels, violin (1-2)
Yakov Shapiro, horn (3-5)
Yakov Zak, piano (6)
Yakov Flier, piano (7-8)
Recorded in 1951 (1-5), 1946 (6), 1949 (7-8).
CD 3 [62.54]
Sergei RACHMANINOFF (1875-1943)
Suite No. 2 for two pianos in C major, Op. 17
1.Introduction [3.47]
2.Waltz [5.26]
3.Romance [6.12]
4.Tarantella [5.45]
Leonid NIKOLAYEV (1904-1934)
Suite for two pianos in B minor, Op. 13
5.Prelude [4.8]
6.Intermezzo [3.37]
7.Melody [3.2]
8.Fugue [2.24]
Frederic CHOPIN (1810-1849)
9.Rondo for two pianos in C major, Op. 73 [9.16]
Franz LISZT (1811-1886)
Concerto pathetique for two pianos in E minor, S. 258
10. Allegro energico - Andante sostenuto -Allegro agitato assai
[18.41]
Emil Gilels, piano
Yakov Zak, piano
Recorded in 1946 (1-4), 1951 (5-8), 1950 (9), 1949 (10).
CD 4 [53.09]
Johannes BRAHMS
Piano Quartet No. 1 in G minor, Op. 25
1.I Allegro [10.39]
2. II Intermezzo. Allegro ma non troppo - Trio. Animato [6.41]
3.III Andante con moto [8.30]
4.IV Rondo alla Zingarese. Presto [7.35]
Andrey BABEYEV (1923-1964)
Trio for piano, violin and cello in C sharp minor
5.I Allegro [7.12]
6.II Scherzo [2.13]
7.III Moderato [5.59]
8.IV Finale [4.15]
Emil Gilels, piano
Dmitri Tsyganov, violin
Vadim Borisovsky, viola (1-4)
Sergei Shirinsky, cello
Recorded at the Small Hall of the Moscow Conservatory on 3 January 1959
(1-4).
Recorded in the 1950s (5-8).
