Scriabin: Symphony No. 2, Piano Concerto – Kirill Gerstein

   in Piano International (Jan, 2018)
Scriabin’s Piano Concerto is an early work (1896). A clear product of the Romantic piano concerto tradition, it seems to speak a similar language as Rachmaninov but with further nods to Chopin in particular. Its earlier recordings featured great pianists (Neuhaus, Solomon) but it seems to have fallen out of favour. This is a pity, and Gerstein makes a strong case for it, his fluent technique reveling in the post- Chopinesque arabesques. The fragrant harmonies alongside the achingly Romantic melodies propel the first movement inexorably; the central Andante takes us to a place of great beauty, while holding a most intriguing digression. A recent entrant, Sudbin, with another Norwegian orchestra fell …