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Skryabin's Late Sonatas: Warm Dark Semisweet (and Semiotic).

Sébastien Melmoth | Hôtel d'Alsace, PARIS | 06/27/2010

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Skryabin's Late Sonatas: Warm Dark Semisweet (and Semiotic)...

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The search for revelations of Skryabin's late Piano Sonatas continues apace with this fine 2003 issue by Russian professor of piano Yakov Kasman, recorded in Paris and released on the French Calliope (Harmonia Mundi) label [TT 62'35]. Dr. Kasman performs on an Hamburg Steinway D.



Skryabin was a symbolist-mystical character, and this aura of mystery tends to obscure understanding of his rich oeuvre; and though this dark star may generate curiosity, clear light reveals reason. So let us separate the light from the darkness and attempt to grasp the late Sonatas, for Skryabin's art is surely no more deep nor mysterious than say for example that of Sebastian Bach (e.g., the solo Violin Sonatas and Partitas, Art of Fugue, etc.).

Moreover, Skryabin's music does not stand alone in some singular netherworld: there are zeitgeist aural correlations with contemporaneous composers such as Schönberg and Debussy.

And so it may be simply a matter of familiarization via sympathetic recordings to bring us towards an approach of Skryabin's visions.



Happily in this instance Kasman provides an excellent venue towards understanding, for he clearly has a perspicuous perception of Skryabin's musical architecture and this he conveys with lucid precision: Kasman affords us a bird's-eye view of Skryabin's edifice--which, in its own way, is absolutely comparable to say, Bruckner's `cathedrals' of sound.

Kasman definitely understands this music; feels a great spiritual and aesthetic empathy with it--actually has a communion with its message; and he has the technique to execute this revelation for our enlightenment.

Kasman's understanding and realizations comprise some of the clearest late Skryabin on record--and this takes into account the readings of Szidon, Hamelin, Laredo, Ogdon, Glemser, and Rudy--(not to mention those of Jablonski or Eckardstein). (Sadly, Glenn Gould did not live to complete his projected Skryabin cycle, leaving us platinum readings of Sonatas Nos. 3 & 5 only.)



And so to Skryabin's late Sonatas.

In the late Sonatas Skryabin is working with the same musical material derived from his `mystic chord' which he himself termed `the Chord of the Pleroma', and which he considered to be a doorway unto apprehension of a Divine revelation more direct and fundamental than the Logos--(though we must add, this is obviously more particular and subjective).

In the late Sonatas unending permutations of the `Pleroma Chord' lend an organizational uniformity effectual in a manner similar to that of Schönberg's 12-tone technique.

Furthermore, Skryabin's use of the `Pleroma Chord' in tandem with consideration of his synesthesia gives the late Sonatas a consonance of colours comparable with say Picasso's `Rose' or `Blue' periods.

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The Sonata No. 6 is really the beginning of the cycle (although No. 5 forms the bridge from the early Sonatas).

Kasman's reading of No. 6 is probably the best on record: his pearly trills are the very epitome of Skryabin's looking-glass insects' transparent crystalline fluttering wings.

Sonata No. 6 (1912):

Kasman 13'24

Szidon 11'30

Hamelin 11'08

Laredo 12'48

Ogdon 12'32

Glemser 12'29

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Skryabin felt a great affinity with the mythos of Íkaros the hero who with man-made wings flew in ecstasy till he drew too near the Sun ultimately falling too with dizzying intensity towards oblivion: this is all reflected in his Sonata No. 7 with its suggestions of shimmering light, fluttering flight, celestial voluptuousness, radiant ecstasy and dissolution: these are essential Skryabin topoi expressed in his Poem of Ecstasy (1906) which speaks of wingéd flighty rapturous ecstasy between menacing waves of oblivion.

Here Kasman's reading is highly admirable yet the palm d'or must ultimately go to Szidon; still, Laredo and Ogdon have something to add as well.

Sonata No. 7 (1912):

Kasman 12'31

Szidon 13'38

Hamelin 11'24

Laredo 11'28

Ogdon 11'11

Glemser 10'15

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Skryabin supposedly incorporated concepts of primitive elements earth, air, fire, water, and ether into his Sonata No. 8 which aurally suggests a close affinity with Schönberg's First Klavierstücke (Op. 11, 1909) and hearkens back to his own `bridge' Sonata No. 5.

With No. 8 Kasman and Szidon are tied in excellence with Rudy and Laredo.

Sonata No. 8 (1913):

Kasman 14'57

Szidon 14'28

Hamelin 12'09

Laredo 14'42

Ogdon 11'35

Glemser ----

Rudy 14'49

Eckardstein 14'13

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The Sonata No. 9 is the most Debussyan of the set recalling the French Maître's late Études.

Again this is virtually a three-way split between Kasman, Szidon, and Rudy--though Ogdon is respectable.

Sonata No. 9 (1913):

Kasman 08'27

Szidon 09'50

Hamelin 08'40

Laredo 07'19

Ogdon 08'31

Glemser 08'12

Rudy 08'30

Jablonski 08'32

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In the Summer of 1913--the last peaceful summer of the Long Nineteenth Century--Skryabin relates during country walks, `I see these birds fluttering up above and I feel very clearly their symbolic identity with my own inner movement--a kiss with wings poised inside me ready to take flight. My Tenth Sonata is a sonata of insects. Insects are born from the Sun--they are the Sun's kisses. How unified world-understanding is when you look at things this way.'

Szidon may be preferable with No. 10, but Kasman's reading here is very unique and insightful, and Ogdon's brevity is refreshing.

Sonata No. 10 (1913):

Kasman 13'14

Szidon 13'38

Hamelin 11'42

Laredo 13'26

Ogdon 10'10

Glemser 13'09

Rudy 12'32

* * *

Szeryng Bach Bach: Sonatas & Partitas for Solo Violin

Nikolayeva Bach: Die Kunst der Fugue

Karajan Bruckner Bruckner: 9 Symphonies [Box Set]

Gould Skryabin Glenn Gould Edition: Chopin / Mendelssohn / Scriabin / Prokofiev

Gould Skryabin Sta #1 / Prokofiev # 7

Gould Schönberg Op. 11 Berg: Sonata for Piano, Op. 1; Schoenber

Pollini Debussy Études 12 Etudes / Sonata Opus 1

Szidon Skryabin Piano Sonatas; Fantaisie Op. 28; 2 Early Sonatas

Szidon Skryabin Complete Piano Sonatas

Ogdon Skryabin Piano Music



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