Kabalevsky - 24 Preludes, op 38 - Yakov Flier, p (1955) [Philidor; FLAC]

Dmitri Kabalevsky was a contentious musical figure in the Soviet Union. A composer of prowess in children's music and erratic quality elsewhere, a fine teacher, he was also a party ideologue who angered many with his dogmatic political stance. Friends of Shostakovich loathed the man for his willingness to condemn composers who strayed outside of officially sanctioned lines; but at the same time, it wasn't his political connections alone that secured him triumphs in the concert hall. He was a variable, but sometimes good, and occasionally excellent, composer.



That's Emil Gilels on the left, with his friend Yakov Flier, on the right. Both were celebrated pianists, though Flier ran into political issues that nearly brought him before the secret police. (And ironically, the man who may tried to end his career ended up losing his life a few years later in the Kremlin, instead.) Flier was one of the many pianistic greats that the Soviet Union produced. Richter and Gilels were the ones that got invited abroad; most of the others were not issued travel visas. But recordings demonstrate that Flier was their equal: a phenomenal technician, a player of great drama, fine line, and clarity. This 1955 studio recording isn't the finest for sound, but the energy is electric, and Kabalevsky's short preludes make for an interesting and diverse score.

Two bios of Flier enclosed.


You can find all my classical uploads by searching on Philidor, or by checking this thread:

http://kickasstorrents.ee/community/show/philidor-s-classical-stuff/?page=5#post15723647