Shura Cherkassky was born in Odessa, Ukraine in 1909 and died in London in 1995. He was initially taught by his mother who had played for Tchaikovsky, but when the family moved to the US in 1923, he studied with his long-time teacher and mentor, the legendary Josef Hofmann, before auditioning for Rachmaninov. Prior to World War II, he had made his name in the US but from 1945 he extensively toured Europe and settled in London in 1961. The last of the great Romantic tradition of pianists, Cherkassky was described by Bryce Morrison as a 'mercurial genius', a unique personality, blessed with an incredible technique, who delighted in defying convention as no performance was identical. For a musician reluctant to visit the studio, live performances were the showcase for his stunning virtuosity and creativity caught on the wing.

Tracklist:

Piano Concerto No. 2 in G minor Op. 22~Andante sostenuto
Piano Concerto No. 2 in G minor Op. 22~Allegro scherzando
Piano Concerto No. 2 in G minor Op. 22~Presto
Piano Concerto No. 1 in E flat S. 124~I. Allegro maestoso
Piano Concerto No. 1 in E flat S. 124~II. Quasi adagio / III. Allegretto vivace - Allegro animato
Piano Concerto No. 1 in E flat S. 124~IV. Allegro marziale animato
15 Variations and a Fugue (in E flat) Op. 35 'Eroica Variations'~Introduzione col Basso del Tema: Allegretto vivace - Tema
15 Variations and a Fugue (in E flat) Op. 35 'Eroica Variations'~Var. I
15 Variations and a Fugue (in E flat) Op. 35 'Eroica Variations'~Var. II
15 Variations and a Fugue (in E flat) Op. 35 'Eroica Variations'~Var. III
15 Variations and a Fugue (in E flat) Op. 35 'Eroica Variations'~Var. IV
15 Variations and a Fugue (in E flat) Op. 35 'Eroica Variations'~Var. V
15 Variations and a Fugue (in E flat) Op. 35 'Eroica Variations'~Var. VI
15 Variations and a Fugue (in E flat) Op. 35 'Eroica Variations'~Var. VII Canone all'ottava
15 Variations and a Fugue (in E flat) Op. 35 'Eroica Variations'~Var. VIII
15 Variations and a Fugue (in E flat) Op. 35 'Eroica Variations'~Var. IX
15 Variations and a Fugue (in E flat) Op. 35 'Eroica Variations'~Var. X
15 Variations and a Fugue (in E flat) Op. 35 'Eroica Variations'~Var. XI
15 Variations and a Fugue (in E flat) Op. 35 'Eroica Variations'~Var. XII
15 Variations and a Fugue (in E flat) Op. 35 'Eroica Variations'~Var. XIII
15 Variations and a Fugue (in E flat) Op. 35 'Eroica Variations'~Var. XIV Minore
15 Variations and a Fugue (in E flat) Op. 35 'Eroica Variations'~Var. XV Maggiore: Largo - Coda
15 Variations and a Fugue (in E flat) Op. 35 'Eroica Variations'~Finale. Alla Fuga: Allegro con brio - Andante con moto
Humoresques de concert Op. 14~No. 1 Minuet in G
Waltz in E minor

UPC: 5060244551688
Label: Ica Classics
Release Date: 9.23.22
Format: CD

Cherkassky / Mar - Piano Concerto 2 (CD)