Contrapuntal Sketches, Op. 12 Jonathan Powell, piano Toccata Classics TOCC 0044 [TT: 78 mins]
The Skaza (after Medtner's) and Sonata-fantaziya are substantial, characterful works, the latter in memory of Goedicke appropriately 'sombre and stark' - [Powell, whose PhD was on early 20 C. Russian music]. The contrapuntal sketches are more overly didactic, some of the later ones very difficult to play. A disc for specialists, maybe, but of considerable general interest and presented with thorough background information prepared by the pianist, who is well recorded in a Kent studio, 2006. Powell plays all this music convincingly, helped by his choice of a Bosendorfer Phoenix piano for these recordings. Peter Grahame Woolf
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