Album

Clarity and civility, strength and restraint, mind and heart, these are the words that best describe the playing of pianist Emil Gilels. In this wonderfully chosen two-disc set drawn from his catalog of recordings for Deutsche Grammophon, the selections showcase Gilels at his best and most characteristic. There is his refined and enlightened performance of Beethoven's E flat major Sonata, Op. 31/3, his warm and wise performances of Grieg's Lyric Pieces, as well as his insightful and inspired performance of Mozart's B flat major Sonata, K. 281. To be sure, there are also performances that present Gilels at his most passionate—his tempestuous Brahms Ballades, his ardent Chopin B minor Sonata, and especially his highly charged Schubert F minor Fantasy with his daughter Elena—but that's where his strength and his restraint come in. Instead of yielding to his passion and losing control, Gilels hews close to the score, controlling his performance the better to express the music's passions and not his own. These superlative transfers of Deutsche Grammophon's exemplary recordings make an excellent introduction to the artistry of Emil Gilels for those otherwise unfamiliar with him. For those who already know his standard discography well, the addition of the previously rarely available recording of Schubert's Fantasy will make this set mandatory listening.

© James Leonard, All Music Guide

CD 1 of 2
Ludwig van Beethoven Composer Piano Sonata No.18 in Eb, Op.31, No.3 ('The Hunt') Work 23:35 Emil Grigoryevich Gilels Piano
1	1.Allegro	9:02			$1.49
2	2.Scherzo: Allegro vivace	5:17			$0.99
3	3.Menuetto: Moderato e grazioso	4:54			$0.99
4	4.Presto con fuoco	4:22			$0.99
Franz Peter Schubert Composer Fantasia in F-, D.940, Op.posth.103 Work Emil Grigoryevich Gilels Piano
5	Fantasia in F-, D.940, Op.posth.103	18:25			$2.99
Nikolas (Nikolay) Medtner Composer Piano Sonata No.3 in G-, Op.22 Work 16:37 Emil Grigoryevich Gilels Piano
6	1.Tenebroso, sempre affettando	7:07			$1.49
7	2.Andante lugubre	3:52			$0.99
8	3.Allegro assai	5:38			$0.99
Johannes Brahms Composer 4 Ballades, Op.10 Work 11:41 Emil Grigoryevich Gilels Piano
9	1.Andante in D-	4:35			$0.99
10	2.Andante in D	7:06			$1.49
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart Composer Fantasia in D-, K.397 (fragment) Work Emil Grigoryevich Gilels Piano
11	Fantasia in D-, K.397 (fragment)	6:14			$0.99
CD 2 of 2
Frédéric François Chopin Composer Sonata No.3 in B-, Op.58 Work 29:32 Emil Grigoryevich Gilels Piano
1	1.Allegro maestoso	11:18			$1.99
2	2.Scherzo: Molto vivace	2:36			$0.99
3	3.Largo	10:06			$1.99
4	4.Finale: Presto, ma non tanto	5:32			$0.99
Edvard Grieg Composer 8 Lyric Pieces (ii), Op.38 Work Emil Grigoryevich Gilels Piano
5	1.Berceuse	2:54			$0.99
Edvard Grieg Composer 6 Lyric Pieces (iii), Op.43 Work Emil Grigoryevich Gilels Piano
6	1.Sommerfugl (Butterfly)	1:44			$0.49
Edvard Grieg Composer 7 Lyric Pieces (iv), Op.47 Work 5:06 Emil Grigoryevich Gilels Piano
7	2.Albumblad (Album Leaf)	3:32			$0.99
8	4.Halling	1:34			$0.49
Edvard Grieg Composer 6 Lyric Pieces (v), Op.54 Work Emil Grigoryevich Gilels Piano
9	4.Notturno	4:04			$0.99
Edvard Grieg Composer 6 Lyric Pieces (ix), Op.68 Work 5:07 Emil Grigoryevich Gilels Piano
10	2.Bestemors menuett (Grandmother's Minuet)	2:04			$0.99
11	3.For dine føtter (At Your Feet)	3:03			$0.99
Edvard Grieg Composer 7 Lyric Pieces (x), Op.71 Work 6:18 Emil Grigoryevich Gilels Piano
12	1.Det var engang (Once Upon a Time)	4:39			$0.99
13	3.Puck	1:39			$0.49
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart Composer Piano Sonata No.3 in Bb, K.281 Work 21:15 Emil Grigoryevich Gilels Piano
14	1.Allegro	7:55			$1.49
15	2.Andante amoroso	8:24			$1.49
16	3.Rondeau: Allegro	4:56			$0.99