L. Godowsky: Complete Piano Works

 


Acclaimed as one of the greatest pianists of all times, «The Pianist’s Pianist» Leopold Godowsky (1870-1938) assured himself of a place among the great keyboard artists in history. Less known but nonetheless important is his prodigious output of well over 300 compositions for the piano, both original works and arrangements of works by other composers.

Godowsky's music has achieved a legendary status among piano enthusiasts. Few areas of the repertoire have such a notorious reputation for technical difficulty and audacious compositional invention. Far from being disrespectful Godowsky's elaborations aim was to extend the limits of modern piano technique.

There have been a few attempts to record the complete piano works by Godowsky. The most successful of them all remains the «Marco Polo» project which Konstantin Scherbakov launched some twenty years ago. Nearing its completion, this monster recording project is missing just the last two volumes featuring the 54 arrangements of Chopin Studies.

 

«Scherbakov began the unprecedented task of recording Godowsky’s complete work nearly two decades ago. The end is in sight… Scherbakov is up with the best (Hamelin, Freire, Moiseiwitsch)… and has to compete with Cherkassky for charm and pianistic finesse: he comes up smelling of roses.» Gramophone, Jeremy Nicholas

 

«…Eine massstabsetzende Demonstration pianistischen Virtuosentums im besten Sinne… Scherbakovs kluge Sensibilität, seine fein abgestimmte dynamische Skala und die bewunderswert saubere Stimmführung lassen diese … Petitessen über sich selbst hinauswachsen.» Klassik heute, Peter Cossé

 

«Scherbakov's keyboard facility, his pinpoint articulation, his unerring sense of rhythmic drive and security, his weaving together of the many layers and voices and his sense of colour and phrasing are all a joy to listen to.» Gramophone

 

«Im Godowsky-Katalog ist Scherbakov ab jetzt eine fixe Grösse.» Peter Cossé, Fono Forum

 

http://scherbakov.ch/godowsky-series

 

preis der Deutscher schallplatten1

2006

Leopold Godowsky
Piano Music, Vol. 7
J. S. Bach Cello Suites (Transcriptions)
Konstantin Scherbakov, piano
Marco Polo 8.225267

preis der Deutscher schallplatten1

2001

Leopold Godowsky
Piano Music, Vol. 5
Sonata in E Minor
Konstantin Scherbakov, piano
Marco Polo 8.223899