Search - Prokofiev, Nikolsky :: Piano Sonatas 5 7 & 8

Original, thought-provoking Sonata No.7; brilliant playing.

Jacob Opper | Montgomery Village, MD USA | 10/11/1999

(5 out of 5 stars)

"The highlight of this disc is Sonata No.7, perhaps Prokofiev's greatest. The last movement,"Precipitato" (misspelled "Precipato" on the disc), is here taken much more slowly than in other recordings. After getting over the initial shock of the slow tempo, one begins to understand Andrei Nikolsky's aim: clarification. What is lost in momentum is gained in the revelation of a wealth of detail unheard in other recordings. Nikolsky is to be lauded for his courage to re-think this work and to hear things differently (his untimely death is a great loss to the musical world). The final 2 1/2 minutes of the second movement ("Andante caloroso"), with its repeated notes, create an indescribable mood of eeriness and suspended time. They recall "Le Gibet" ("The Gallows"), from Ravel's "Gaspard del Nuit." I have not heard any other pianist capture this mood so convincingly. This is not a standard performance of Sonata No.7. But if you like this work, and it is one of the greatest Piano Sonatas of the 20th Century, you should have this recording for its special insights in addition to more traditional and excellent performances by such pianists as Maurizio Pollini, Yefim Bronfman, and Glenn Gould (the last perhaps not so traditional). Why not have two versions? Incidentally, the Sonata No.8, a great work in its own way, is played brilliantly by Nikolsky. Lastly, the low price of this CD, makes it a truly great bargain."

Enthralling interpretation of Prokofiev

Jacob Opper | 08/22/2002

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Nikolsky does a superb job playing these intriguing pieces, as the other reviewer noted, especially his handling of the 7th sonata. These rank up there with Boris Berman's recordings of the same material. A great CD and well worth the cost."