Search - Liadov, Medtner, Goltz :: Vladimir Sofronitsky (recordings:1937-1953)

A great interpreter, unjustly forgotten

Úlfur Sveinbjarnarson | Mid-Atlantic | 12/11/2007

(5 out of 5 stars)

"In my opinion, Vladimir Sofronitsky has not been done justice in the west. As he was an incredible interpreter, and indeed the definitive interpreter of Scriabin, the few available recordings of Vladimir Sofronitsky are a great find.

From his recordings, one can see in him the hallmark of a great interpreter, the ability to make a piece "whole", an interesting experience from the beginning to the end, no matter how often one may have heard that particular "war-horse" before.

But it does not end there.

It can be seen in contemporary written sources, as well as heard in his recordings, that Sofronitsky typically had ready several complete interpretations of a piece, all of them well thought out and intelligent while at the same time hot-blooded and romantic. Such a feat is not seen often, and indeed indicative of a great artist with a sharp mind.

This 2-disc set contains works that are infrequently played, by e.g. Liadov and Goltz as well as the all-too-neglected Petite Suite by Borodin. This set, and indeed all of his recordings, is highly recommended for any curious connoiseur of quality pianism."