Cherkassky: "Kaleidoscope" (rec. 1974) - L'Oiseau Lyre DSLO7, lovely copy

$

30

redgarnett Store ITEM DESCRIPTION:

This lovely LP from L’Oiseau-Lyre (DSLO7, English Decca pressing, pink label, stereo, booklet included) entitled “Cherkassky · Kaleidoscope” features one of the great solo piano albums ever recorded, 13 selections set down at All Saints Church, Petersham on 20-21 May 1974 (producer: Peter Wadland / engineer: Philip Wade).

The exact contents are as follows, with timings shown in parenthesis:

Johann Strauss, Jr. (arr. Leopold Godowsky): Wine, Women & Song (9:00)

Camille Saint-Saëns (arr. Leopold Godowsky): The Swan (3:00)

Jean-Philippe Rameau (arr. Leopold Godowsky): Tambourin (2:50)

Leopold Godowsky: Waltz-Poem IV, for left hand alone (2:20)

Isaac Albeniz (arr. Leopold Godowsky): Tango Op. 165 No. 2 (3:10)

Leopold Godowsky: Alt Wien (2:15)

Josef Hofmann: Kaleidoscope Op. 40 (4:25)

Anton Rubinstein: Melody in F Op. 3 No. 1 (4:15)

Peter Ilyich Tchaikovsky: Nocturne Op. 19 No. 4 (3:40)

Alexander Glazunov: Waltz in D Major Op. 42 No. 3 (3:10)

Cecile Chaminade: Autrefois Op. 87 (4:15)

Moritz Moskowski: Caprice espagnol Op. 37 (5:45)

Wrote the outstanding critic Jed Distler for ClassicsToday:

“For years I've hoarded an LP copy of Shura Cherkassky's "Kaleidescope", a 1974 studio recital of Romantic encores and transcriptions, in hopes that one day it might turn up on CD. That day has come, although I wish that Eloquence also had reprinted the irrepressible notes Cherkassky himself penned for the original release (not to disparage Raymond Tuttle's excellent, newly commissioned annotations). Cherkassky's sumptuous tone, ravishing legato touch, and propensity for bringing out inner voices (real and imagined) thrive like crazy in this repertoire. What relaxed authority and effortless textural differentiation he brings to Godowsky's garish rewrites of Saint-Saëns' The Swan, Rameau's Tambourin, Schubert's F minor Moment Musical, and the Albéniz Tango! Rubinstein's once-hackneyed-now-ignored Melody in F rarely has sounded so eloquent and dignified.

“The composer of the title track is Cherkassky's one-time teacher and mentor Josef Hofmann, and I slightly prefer the latter's leaner, more propulsive live performance over Cherkassky's softer-grained mastery. However, another Hofmann specialty, Moszkowski's Capriccio espagnole, showcases Cherkassky's repeated-note technique at its effortless best. He also keeps Godowsky's overly transcribed paraphrase on Johann Strauss II's Wein, Weib, und Gesang afloat and moving forward, making judicious and (to my mind) justifiable cuts along the way.

“For keyboard mavens with a sweet tooth, Shura Cherkassky was the Jacques Torres of the piano, and who wouldn't want to indulge?”

Included is the original full-size, 4-page fold out insert with wonderful liner notes by Bryce Morrison, printed in English, French, and German. The striking cover design is uncredited.

CONDITION:

The gradations of condition I use are as follows: MINT, Near-Mint, Excellent, Very Good, Good, Fair, Poor.

The condition of the jacket is EXCELLENT. There is a minor bump/crease to the upper-left corner and light edgewear, but that is all. There are no seamsplits, bends, owners’ markings, or other defects and the jacket remains solid, bright, glossy, and attractive – an excellent collector's copy.

The condition of the insert is near-MINT. Really, no flaws to speak of – a fine copy.

The condition of the LP is near-MINT and playback is superb – overall, a truly fine collector's copy.