Chopin: Sonata In B/Rachmaninov: Polka On A Theme By WR/Preludes/Three Nocturnes/Liszt: Sonata In B

1. Sonata for piano No. 3 in B minor, Op. 58, CT 203
Composed by Fryderyk Chopin
with Agustin Anievas

2. Polka W.R., for piano in A flat major, TN ii/18
Composed by Sergey Rachmaninov
with Agustin Anievas

3. Nocturnes (3,) for piano, TN ii/13
Composed by Sergey Rachmaninov
with Agustin Anievas

4. Sonata, for piano in B minor, S. 178 (LW A179)
Composed by Franz Liszt
with Agustin Anievas

5. Morceaux de fantaisie (5), for piano, Op. 3
Composed by Sergey Rachmaninov
with Agustin Anievas

6. Preludes (10) for piano, Op.23
Composed by Sergey Rachmaninov
with Agustin Anievas

7. Preludes (13) for piano, Op.32
Composed by Sergey Rachmaninov
with Agustin Anievas

Tracks:

Son in b, Op.58: I. Allegro maestoso
Son in b, Op.58: II. Scherzo (Molto vivace)
Son in b, Op.58: III. Largo
Son in b, Op.58: IV. Finale (Presto, ma non tanto)
Polka on a Theme by WR
Three Nocturnes: I. f sharp
Three Nocturnes: II. F
Three Nocturnes: III. c
Son in b

Tracks:

Prld in c sharp, Op.3 No.2
Prld, Op.23: I. f sharp
Prld, Op.23: II. b flat
Prld, Op.23: III. d
Prld, Op.23: IV. D
Prld, Op.23: V. g
Prld, Op.23: VI. e flat
Prld, Op.23: VII. c
Prld, Op.23: VIII. a flat
Prld, Op.23: IX. e flat
Prld, Op.23: X. g flat
Prld, Op.32: I. c
Prld, Op.32: II. b flat
Prld, Op.32: III. E
Prld, Op.32: IV. e
Prld, Op.32: V. G
Prld, Op.32: VI. f
Prld, Op.32: VII. F
Prld, Op.32: VIII. a
Prld, Op.32: IX. A
Prld, Op.32: X. b
Prld, Op.32: XI. B
Prld, Op.32: XII. g sharp
Prld, Op.32: XIII: d flat

Customer Reviews:

Superb Liszt/Chopin/Rachmaninov by Anievas at Budget Price.......2004-04-07

This budget twofer is practically self-recommending for those of us who have, over the years, admired the playing of American pianist, Agustin Anievas, the long-time head of the piano department at the Brooklyn College (CUNY) conservatory of music. I shall never forget a spectacular recital I heard perhaps forty years ago which included his burnished traversal of Chopin's Op. 10 études, which he later recorded brilliantly along with the Op. 25 études. The present recordings, made in the early 1970s, were reissued in 1996 in remastered sound that seems to me to be an improvement over that of their earlier incarnation. And the performances are vintage Anievas. He has always been known for a suavity of tone coupled with technical brilliance and musical insight, and that certainly is the case here. And what repertoire we have here! The two big romantic piano sonatas in B minor - Liszt's and the Third of Chopin - along with a large serving of Rachmaninov, including his treasurable 'Polka on a Theme by W. R.' ('W. R.' being his father Vassily [or Wassily in the German spelling]), the three rarely heard 'Nocturnes', and the Préludes, Opp. 23 & 32 as well as the super-famous C sharp minor, Op. 3, No. 2.

For me, his Rachmaninov Préludes are on a par with those of Constance Keene, long my benchmark for these works. (And why do we never hear of her anymore?) They are elegant, natural, not overly romantic but still able to sweep one along. He tends to use rather more pedal than some, but it is not only not obtrusive but it never obscures the inner workings of Rachmaninov's sometimes dense textures.

As to the Chopin Third, I can only say that the final movement is itself worth the price of this budget release. Talk about sweeping one along!

But don't get me started on the Liszt B minor. I've recently been defending attacks on this sonata by some who consider Liszt to be the ultimate Philistine. I contend that this sonata is one of the high points of 19th-century pianistic writing. I've been listening to numbers of recordings of it and have to say that Anievas's account is among my favorites. Somehow he manages to convey its rather histrionic rhetoric without going over the top, something that others cannot seem to avoid. This balance of Dionysian fervor with Apollonian restraint speaks directly to me.

There is not a weak moment in this 2+ hour program and I recommend it eagerly.

Scott Morrison

Anievas at his finest.......2003-09-24

I purchased this CD in order to have Anievas' recording of the Rachmaninov Preludes on CD. I own them on LP and was very pleased to see them available in CD format.

I did not realize at the time what a find this recording would be. Anievas' Chopin B minor sonata and his recording of the Liszt sonata both rank among my favorites now.

More than in his recording of the Rachmaninov concertos, also available from EMI, Anievas shows a greater attention to the musical climax. In some of his recordings (like the Rachmaninov concertos) I sometimes find myself wishing that he had just breathed a little more at certain points and highlighted certain climactic moments. He doesn't miss it here, and even will take some liberty, for example in the Chopin sonata, to add a deeper octave to bring the point home. I find that refreshing and exhilirating.

Anievas has a unique sound world. He uses a little more pedal than other pianists, but rarely loses important detail. There is a pleasant wash of sound that he creates. His recording of the Chopin Etudes was my first complete set, and I return to them often to hear what he does.

This album is available at a budget price and I would recommend it even at full price.

Music Review: