Fabulous! The piano sonatas are the heart of Prokofiev for me. I have loved what I've heard by Raekallio, and this will be a great invitation to listen to all of it. Thanks, as always.
Raekallio is such a great artist! Too bad that he fell seriously ill some years ago. As far as I know he has recently focused mainly on teaching. P.S. Your pronounciation of his name was absolutely correct.
A fantastic cycle indeed, and a must-have for any Prokofiev fan! Raekallio has also made a disc of piano studies based on Paganini (by Liszt, Brahms and Friedman). It's very rarely mentioned, but I think it's absolutely stunning. This man is a great artist and he has a truly insane technique.
This Raekallio cycle was one of the first sets of piano music I ever bought, probably in the late 90's, when I was trying to branch out from big works like symphonies and concertos. As impressive as the War Sonatas are, I find myself coming back to #2 a lot. A really wonderful piece and Raekallio is so engaging. He really pulls you into the music and holds your attention, especially for someone like me who had struggled with solo piano music as too bare bones and colorless. Not Raekallio!
Just to add to some of the other comments. I just recently got this set on your recommendation. Thank you so much!! Raekallio's interpretations are phenomenal. Great pleasure from the whole box.
Allow me to mention the two volumes of the Gyorgy Sandor Plays Prokofiev (complete solo piano music) sets. It was recorded in the 1960s (released on Vox) and is outstanding. A comparison with Raekallio would be interesting.
Raekallio sure is excellent with Prokofiev, although my favorite Prokofiev sonatas (for me even more so than Richter) is the magnificent set by Nikolai Petrov.
If I may I'd like to point everyone to the lesser known in the west Russian Pianist Nikolai Petrov, at least lesser known to young people like me. If you only can listen to one recording, go for his Prokofiev 6th Sonata for truly mind bendingly aggressive and nasty interpretations of the first and last movements, very much what I think Prokofiev had in mind if Richter's interpretation is to be believed as authentic (I think yes).
That one ☝️ is a gem 💎. One always has to buy 3 to 5 cds 💿 to have all of them and in different recording qualities and different interpretations. Here we have a monolith of a quality recording and performance. Thanks Mr. Hurwitz. 🫵💎
I own this set by Raekallio - Absolutely excellent - He brings these pieces to life.
Fabulous! The piano sonatas are the heart of Prokofiev for me. I have loved what I've heard by Raekallio, and this will be a great invitation to listen to all of it. Thanks, as always.
Raekallio is such a great artist! Too bad that he fell seriously ill some years ago. As far as I know he has recently focused mainly on teaching. P.S. Your pronounciation of his name was absolutely correct.
A fantastic cycle indeed, and a must-have for any Prokofiev fan!
Raekallio has also made a disc of piano studies based on Paganini (by Liszt, Brahms and Friedman). It's very rarely mentioned, but I think it's absolutely stunning. This man is a great artist and he has a truly insane technique.
This Raekallio cycle was one of the first sets of piano music I ever bought, probably in the late 90's, when I was trying to branch out from big works like symphonies and concertos. As impressive as the War Sonatas are, I find myself coming back to #2 a lot. A really wonderful piece and Raekallio is so engaging. He really pulls you into the music and holds your attention, especially for someone like me who had struggled with solo piano music as too bare bones and colorless. Not Raekallio!
Just to add to some of the other comments. I just recently got this set on your recommendation. Thank you so much!! Raekallio's interpretations are phenomenal. Great pleasure from the whole box.
You're very welcome!
Even though this Raekallio is a truly remarkable traversal, I find more lights and shades, intimate and provocative the Bronfman’s cycle.
Allow me to mention the two volumes of the Gyorgy Sandor Plays Prokofiev (complete solo piano music) sets. It was recorded in the 1960s (released on Vox) and is outstanding. A comparison with Raekallio would be interesting.
Feel free to make it!
Raekallio sure is excellent with Prokofiev, although my favorite Prokofiev sonatas (for me even more so than Richter) is the magnificent set by Nikolai Petrov.
Petrov is excellent!
If I may I'd like to point everyone to the lesser known in the west Russian Pianist Nikolai Petrov, at least lesser known to young people like me. If you only can listen to one recording, go for his Prokofiev 6th Sonata for truly mind bendingly aggressive and nasty interpretations of the first and last movements, very much what I think Prokofiev had in mind if Richter's interpretation is to be believed as authentic (I think yes).
That one ☝️ is a gem 💎. One always has to buy 3 to 5 cds 💿 to have all of them and in different recording qualities and different interpretations. Here we have a monolith of a quality recording and performance. Thanks Mr. Hurwitz. 🫵💎