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Label:
  Decca Classics - http://www.deccaclassics.com/
Serial:
  470 649-2
Title:
  Shostakovich: Piano Works - Vladimir Ashkenazy
Description:
  Shostakovich: Sonata No. 2 Op. 61, 3 Fantastic Dances Op. 5, 5 Preludes, Lyric Waltz from "Dances of the Dolls", Short Piece & Spanish Dance from "The Gadfly" Op. 97, Nocturne from "The Limpi", Aphorisms Op. 13, Polka from "The Golden Age" Op. 22

Vladimir Ashkenazy (piano)
Track listing:
  Total time: 68:14
Genre:
  Classical - Instrumental
Content:
  Stereo/Multichannel
Media:
  Hybrid
Recording type:
  PCM
Recording info:
 

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Reviews: 1

Review by canonical March 1, 2009 (2 of 3 found this review helpful)
Performance:   Sonics:  
1. Sonics: The Decca recording is splendid (SACD stereo).

2. Repertoire: The works of interest/substance here are the Second Piano Sonata from 1942 (in particular, the third movement), and the earlier Aphorisms from 1927. The rest of the disk is of lesser interest: various bits of lighter film/ballet music, and 5 early pre-preludes from 1921 when Shostakovich was just 15 (not of much interest, alas).

3. Performance: Ashkenazy's playing here is much like that of his Shostakovich 24 Preludes and Fugues (also on Decca, but not SACD). The sound is clean, purposeful and thoughtful. I sometimes feel a bit more sturm und drang would be appropriate ... a bit more uber violence on the keyboard ... but, by any measure, it is an excellent performance.

Recommended.

End-note:
A minor point, but nevertheless an irritating one: the rear cover of the SACD box AND the booklet both fail to provide or list or itemise the track numbers of the various pieces on the CD ... so you have to open the box, remove the booklet, and then open it up to the appropriate page just to find out what you are listening to. ???????? Please: Function before form.

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Works: 7  

Dmitri Shostakovich - 3 Fantastic Dances Op. 5
Dmitri Shostakovich - Aphorisms Op. 13
Dmitri Shostakovich - Lyric Waltz from "Dances of the Dolls"
Dmitri Shostakovich - Nocturne from "The Limpi"
Dmitri Shostakovich - Piano Sonata No. 2
Dmitri Shostakovich - The Age of Gold (ballet suite), Op. 22a
Dmitri Shostakovich - The Gadfly Suite, Op. 97