Piano Masters: Earl Wild

On this CD:

1. Suite for keyboard in D minor, BuxWV 233
Composed by Dietrich [composer] Buxtehude
Performed by Earl Wild

2. Piano Sonata No.3, in B flat major
Composed by Paul Hindemith
Performed by Earl Wild

3. Pavane pour une infante défunte, for piano (or orchestra)
Composed by Maurice Ravel
Performed by Earl Wild

4. Un sospiro, for piano in D flat major (Grande études de concert No. 3), S. 144/3 (LW A118/3)
Composed by Franz Liszt
Performed by Earl Wild

5. Chants Polonais (6), transcription for piano (after Chopin Op. 74), S. 480 (LW A193)
Composed by Franz Liszt
Performed by Earl Wild

6. Waltz for piano in E minor, KK IVa/15, CT 222
Composed by Fryderyk Chopin
Performed by Earl Wild

7. Etude for piano in G flat major, Op. 10/5, CT 18
Composed by Fryderyk Chopin
Performed by Earl Wild

8. Etude for piano in C minor ("Revolutionary"), Op. 10/12, CT 25
Composed by Fryderyk Chopin
Performed by Earl Wild

9. Etude for piano in A flat major, Op. 25/1, CT 26
Composed by Fryderyk Chopin
Performed by Earl Wild

10. Etude for piano in G flat major, Op. 25/9, CT 34
Composed by Fryderyk Chopin
Performed by Earl Wild

11. Waltz for piano in E minor, KK IVa/15, CT 222
Composed by Fryderyk Chopin
Performed by Earl Wild

12. Waltz for piano in G flat major, Op. 70/1, CT 217
Composed by Fryderyk Chopin
Performed by Earl Wild

13. Prelude for piano No. 24 in D minor, Op. 28/24, CT 189
Composed by Fryderyk Chopin
Performed by Earl Wild

Tracks:

-12. Tchaikovsky: The Seasons Opus 37b
Medtner: Improvisation in B-flat minor Opus 31,No.1
-28. Mussorgsky: Pictures at an Exhibition

Amazon.com

Except for the Medtner, which seems to be previously unreleased, these recordings were made for Reader's Digest: the Tchaikovsky in 1976, Mussorgsky in 1966. In the Tchaikovsky series (here, as usual, mislabeled The Seasons), Wild plays beautifully, characterizing each piece with complete conviction and his usual range of pianistic resources. The Medtner is also very well played. Unfortunately, the Mussorgsky performance is a disaster. Most of the sections are sluggish and uninteresting, except where Wild tries to whip up some excitement by rewriting the music and adding meretricious effects. Stick with Richter for Pictures. Otherwise, this is a very fine CD. --Leslie Gerber

Album Description

Earl Wild is the last living link to the grand tradition of piano playing. Called by his peers, "The Romantic Master", Wild's interpretations of Russian piano masterpieces are second to none. Gramophone magazine praised Wild's performance of Tchaikovsky's music: "Relatively few pianists, past, present or future, could play like this." Mussorgsky's monumental score is equally stunning. This extraordinary Russian recital by Wild also contains the rarely heard, virtuoso Improvisation, Opus 31, No.1 by Nikolai Medtner. For lovers of great Russian piano music -- this is the choice! Remastered by Ivory Classics using 24-bit HDCD technology.