Shura Cherkassky – 1909-1995
By Roberta Pili | October 14th, 2009 | Category: Featured pianists “The Immortals” | 1 Comment »A terrific singing piano tone, a sublime technique, always serving the purpose of the musical message, and a perfect seducing interpretation.
Alexander Isaakovic Cherkassky, known as Shura Cherkassky, was one of the leading personalities among the generation of great pianists of the 20th century. He started his early piano education with his mother Lydia. Later on he became pupil of Jozéf Hofmann.
His concert career lasted through his long life, in fact he was actively performing until his death 1995.
What made his approach to the piano that singular?
He was able to focus on the keys with astonishing concentrating power, his interpretations were full of inventive musical atmosphere, he always created inspiring piano recitals for the audience.
Shura never played the same piece the same way. Spontaneity and freshness characterized his playing, the purpose of creating the music in every single moment drove this excellent artist to the highest level of musicianship.
One of the best recordings of Shura Cherkassky to be absolutely mentioned is Tschaikovsky Piano Concerto No.1 B-Flat minor. The best Maestoso of this concerto ( first movement ) ever played.
No other other pianist could reach this peak in this particular piece like Shura Cherkassky. Hard to believe, but true.
A tribute to his teacher Hofmann: Kaleidoscope
I join you in your admiration for Cherkassky, Roberta. He was not a happy man in the recording studio — he needed his audience and it shows in those studios recordings often, but blessedly many of his performances in the concert hall were captured on tape and are now on CD. I was very intrigued to learn from Bryan Crimp’s biography of Solomon that Cherkassky, after Solomon was incapacitated by a stroke and when Cherkassky was some 50 years of age, used to visit Solomon for advice, particularly anxious to learn how Solomon created his famously long lines. And so, one must think, a modest man, willing to say that he always had more to learn, as is true of us all.