Alexander Scriabin: The Piano Sonatas Anna Malikova

• 1 Sonata No. 1 - I. Allegro con fuoco 09:34
• 2 Sonata No. 1 - II. 05:30
• 3 Sonata No. 1 - III. Presto 03:33
• 4 Sonata No. 1 - IV. Funèbre 05:46
• 5 Sonata No. 2 - Sonata-Fantasy - I. Andante 08:06
• 6 Sonata No. 2 - Sonata-Fantasy - II. Presto 04:06
• 7 Sonata No. 3 - I. Drammatico 05:49
• 8 Sonata No. 3 - II. Allegretto 02:30
• 9 Sonata No. 3 - III. Andante 04:25
• 10 Sonata No. 3 - IV. Presto con fuoco 05:49
• 11 Sonata No. 4 - I. Andante 02:45
• 12 Sonata No. 4 - II. Prestissimo volando 04:46
• 13 Sonata No. 5 - Allegro. Impetuoso. Con stravaganza 12:10
• 14 Sonata No. 6 - Modere 12:18
• 15 Sonata No. 7 White Mass - Allegro 12:11
• 16 Sonata No. 8 - Lento 14:42
• 17 Sonata No. 9 - Black Mass - Moderato quasi andante 08:25
• 18 Sonate No. 10 - Moderato 12:58
• Total Runtime 02:15:23

Info for Alexander Scriabin: The Piano Sonatas

In 2015, we celebrate the hundredth anniversary of Alexander Scriabin's death. To commemorate this occasion, Russian pianist Anna Malikova and the ACOUSENCE label is issuing a new complete recording of the composer's ten piano sonatas, which will surely be regarded as definitive.

Scriabin completed his piano studies at what is today the Tchaikovsky Conservatory and, starting in Moscow, went on to have an international career. He himself was the first champion of his music, followed by Vladimir Sofronitsky, Heinrich Neuhaus and his pupil Lev Naumov. Naumov in turn was Anna Malikova's mentor for a period of 15 years, so with this background, she brings a high level of authenticity to these works.

Anna Malikova masters these sonatas, which test the very limits of piano technique, with impressive technical prowess and exceptional virtuosity. Not only does she display her deep understanding for the composer's mystical world, but also presents the incredible development of Scriabin's unique compositional style in a fascinating way. In his early years, he was still interested in the romantic, virtuosic tradition of Chopin and Liszt, only to break almost every compositional rule over the course of his career and blaze new paths.

In the first sonatas, Anna Malikova especially highlights their virtuosic aspects. The listener is captivated right at the outset by the very first sonata. The first ascending runs furiously introduce the listener to Scriabin's sonata world. The contrast to the abyss-like death march of the last movement could not be greater. Malikova shows us here that she understands how to develop nervous tension and maintain it until the very end, even while greatly differentiating the dynamics. In the second sonata, Malikova already points to the beginning of the development of Scriabin's unique individual style, which departs from those preceding it in every aspect - in its form, technique and above all its concept of sound - more and more with each sonata. In the finale of the fourth sonata, Scriabin's virtuosic, post-romantic side emerges once more, but starting with the fifth sonata, the break with the past is complete. Malikova invites the listener to new harmonic dimensions of Scriabin's sound world. There are great contrasts between the dark sixth sonata and the seventh sonata with its exciting sonorities. Here, Malikova proves herself to be a performer who is exceptionally sensitive to Scriabin's 'Mysterium'. She easily overcomes the enormous technical challenges and forms every sonata into its own cosmos. At the same time, she traces a path from the meditative eighth sonata to the glowingly vibrant trills of the tenth, which conclude Scriabin's sound cosmos.

Anna Malikova, piano

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Anna Malikova
was born in Tashkent, Uzbekistan, where she received her first piano lessons from Tamara Popovich. She studied in Moscow with Lev Naumov at the Central Music School and at the Tchaikovsky Conservatory, where she graduated in 1991. Afterwards she held a teaching position at the Conservatory for several years. Her solo career began in the former Soviet Union, giving solo recitals in cities like Moscow, St Petersburg, Omsk, Baku, among others and also appearing as a soloist with orchestras including those of Ekaterinburg, Minsk, Nizhny Novgorod, Kazan and Tashkent.

As a prizewinner of important international competitions in Oslo, Warsaw (Chopin Competition) and Sydney, Anna Malikova began to perform more and more in the West. She was invited to play with the Australian Chamber Orchestra, the Sydney Symphony Orchestra, the Warsaw National Philharmonic, the Academy of St. Martin in the Fields and the Bavarian Radio Orchestra – among many others.

In 1993, Anna Malikova was awarded first prize at the ARD Competition in Munich - the only first prize for a pianist awarded over a twelve year period. This success established her in the international music scene. Today she gives solo recitals, performs chamber music and concertos all over Europe, South America, and the Middle and Far East. She is invited to sit on juries of international piano competitions including the Chopin Competitions in Moscow and Beijing, the Vianna da Motta in Lisbon, “Armenian Legacy” in Erevan and the Gyeongnam Competition in Korea.

In addition to her busy concert schedule, Anna Malikova continuously increases her output on record. To date she has recorded most of the important works of Chopin as well as works of Schubert, Liszt, Shostakovich, Prokofiev and Soler. She released an important new recording of the five piano concertos of Camille Saint-Saëns, accompanied by the WDR Symphony Orchestra Cologne under the baton of Thomas Sanderling. This production received an unusual amount international attention and has received the coveted Classical Internet Award in 2006, the culmination of countless international and enthusiastic reviews. In autumn 2010, a CD with piano works of Tchaikovsky was released. Projects in 2011 and beyond include appearances throughout Europe, Korea, Japan, China and South America. Anna Malikova is active as a recital and concerto soloist and sits on the jury of competitions such as the European Piano Competition in France, the Maria Canals Competition in Spain and the Chopin Youth Competition in Moscow.

Booklet for Alexander Scriabin: The Piano Sonatas