Search - Alexander Nikolayevich Scriabin, Piers Lane :: Scriabin: The Complete Etudes / Piers Lane

Excellent! If you see sheet music of these works..

Dace Gisclard | 02/19/2001

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I am sure that I know much of Scriabin's music, since I have listened many recordings and played some easy pieces. We can part Scriabin's works into two groups. The first group is about Chopin-like works, and the second group is about his own mysterious works. These etudes belongs to the first group, except 4 last etudes. Another noticeable fact about these works - all etudes are very very difficult to play! I wanted to play some of them, so, I bought a sheet music of these etudes. Before seeing the sheet music, I thought they would not be very difficult. But I soon realized that I was wrong. I couldn't believe my eyes and ears. They were much more difficult than any of Chopin's etudes. (even more difficult than some notorious Liszt's works.) The main melody was simple, but there were various effects that helps the melody. So actually playing them requires the highest technics. (Sciriabin Sonatas are much easier than etudes). I have an absolute pitch, but I couldn't catch all things at the first listening. So, this recording needs very careful listening. You would be happy if you catch all subtle things of these etudes. The pianist Piers Lain: Great. Some etudes excel Horowitz's playings. The true winner of Scriabin's etudes. There are some more recordings of "Complete Scriabin Etudes", but I am sure that this one is the best. In other words, this recording is the best recording of complete Scriabin etudes in the world."

The inner voices demand to be heard! Get Lettberg's complete

Dace Gisclard | Houston, TX | 06/11/2008

(1 out of 5 stars)

"I have played a fair amount of Scriabin's piano music, and have heard all of his works played by great Scriabin interpreters (Hamelin, Horowitz, Ogdon, Richter, Ponti, and Scriabin himself--there are a few cylinder recordings of the composer's playing).



Those seeking a really excellent recording of these pieces should investigate Maria Lettberg's 8-CD set of the piano music on Capriccio--definitely worth seeking out. It includes all of the works with opus numbers--i,e, most of Scriabin's works solo piano. For the early pieces she doesn't play, one can supplement with Ponti's (very cheap) set or Coombs' somewhat less complete CD of the Early Scriabin on Hyperion/Helios.



Piers Lane plays the notes, to be sure, but he is definitely a "top voice" player. Unfortunately, Scriabin is very much a composer of inner voices--that is, the middle and bottom lines are important too, and often MORE important than the top! Lane neglects these inner voices, thereby giving a very false impression of the texture as Scriabin conceived it. Look elsewhere-even Ponti, despite bad sound and sloppy playing, conveys more of Scriabin's voicings and sylistic essence. Of course, it's a pity that Horowitz and Richter never recorded the complete Scriabin. Maybe Marc-Andre Hamelin can be coaxed into the studio to supplement his sonata set with more Scriabin. In the meantime, Lane, although he does technically outclass Paley on NAXOS (which isn't saying much) is merely a very unsatisfactory stopgap.



Do yourself a tremendous favor and look up Lettberg's set. The playing is FIERY, and she lets the inner voices sing!"