Episode 297 of the ASCAP Deems Taylor Virgil Thomson Award winning program Between the Keys centers upon the art of Vladimir Sofronitsky, a pianist who amassed a cult following in his native Russia, yet whose Western reputation remains somewhat shadowy.
The Classical Network’s Artist-in-Residence Jed Distler has put together a program featuring a wide range of Sofronitsky’s recordings, including works by Borodin, Chopin, Schumann, Schubert, Rachmaninov, Liadov and, of course, Alexander Scriabin.
“Scriabin was Sofronitsky’s main obsession,” explains Distler. “The pianist discovered Scriabin’s music when he was around eight years old, and he went on to marry Scriabin’s eldest daughter, in fact. So he’s both spiritually and personally connected to this repertoire. Because Sofronitsky was a spontaneous kind of performer, the recordings greatly vary in quality, and many come from poorly engineered recitals. I tried to find a good mix of artistically excellent and sonically passable items that showcase this fascinating pianist at his best.”
Tune in this Tuesday March 2nd at 10 PM for Between the Keys, with a rebroadcast Wednesday March 3rd at noon, exclusively on The Classical Network and WWFM.org.