Tchaikovsky: Piano Concerto No. 1 

Emil Gilels (2021 Remastered, Chicago 1955)

1 disc(s) - 3 track(s)
Total length: 00:33:38

The summit conference at Geneva in July 1955 undoubtedly helped to bring Soviet Russia's foremost pianist, Emil Gilels, to the United States three months later for a short but dazzling concert tour. Mr. Gilels proved to be a most extraordinary musician, one who could project all the power and poetry that is associated with the great Slavic pianists.

Whether in the first movement's bombastic cascades of octaves (which he performed with no slackening of tempo), or in the fleet, delicate arabesques of the second movement, Mr. Gilels demonstrated that his fingers were equal to the composer's cruelest demands. Another part of the miracle could be explained in terms of interpretative poetry. This pianist had fingers that were able to do more than send forth powerful volleys of notes; they could also enunciate a cantabile melody with sweet compulsion.

Emil Gilels arrived in Chicago to record the concerto with Fritz Reiner and the Chicago Symphony Orchestra. It was a cold, wet Saturday morning. At 9:30, when the orchestra men began to unpack their instruments and tune up, the microphones and recording equipment had already been installed in Orchestra Hall and the chief protagonists of the occasion—the pianist and the conductor—were busy thumbing through a score, exchanging opinions in German (the one language they have in common) on tempos and dynamics. (...)

After more than five hours of continuous recording and playback, Mr. Gilels and Dr. Reiner declared themselves satisfied. The orchestra was dismissed, the equipment was dismantled, and the reels of magnetic tape were packed for shipment to New York. Within a month this recorded memento of Emil Gilels' first American tour was available to the public.

Enjoy your listening

 1. Piano Concerto No. 1 In B flat minor, Op. 23: I. Allegro Non Troppo E Molto Maestoso, Allegro Con Spirito (2021 Remastered, Chicago 1955)
2. Piano Concerto No. 1 In B flat minor, Op. 23: II. Andantino Semplice (2021 Remastered, Chicago 1955)
3. Piano Concerto No. 1 In B flat minor, Op. 23: III. Allegro Con Fuoco (2021 Remastered, Chicago 1955)