Nikolai Peyko: Complete Piano Music, Volume Two
The Russian composer Nikolai Peyko (1916-95) studied with Myaskovsky at the Moscow Conservatoire, where he later became Shostakovich's teaching assistant and then an important teacher in his own right. Peyko's piano music shares Shostakovich's fondness for irony and Prokofiev's for driving march-rhythms and playful good humour. Each of the two CDs in this complete recording of his piano music ends with one of Peyko's two works for two pianos, in this instance the wildly exciting Concert Variations — the first time that any of this music has been heard in its entirety.
Dmitry Korostelyov, piano; Maria Dzhemesiuk, second piano;
Listen To This Recording:
- Concert Etude
- Sonatina No. 1 in D major: I Allegro con spirito
- Sonatina No. 1 in D major: II Larghetto
- Sonatina No. 1 in D major: III Finale. Allegro
- Sonatina-Skazka in D minor
- Piano Sonata No. 3: I Toccata. Allegro molto
- Piano Sonata No. 3: II Intrada and Aria. Lamento. Andante
- Piano Sonata No. 3: III Scherzo
- Piano Sonata No. 3: IV Prelude and Fugue. Adagio
- Sonata for the Left Hand: I Allegro
- Sonata for the Left Hand: II Adagio
- Sonata for the Left Hand: III Moderato
- Sonata for the Left Hand: IV Sostenuto
- Concert Variations for two pianos
Fanfare Magazine :
‘This is exactly the sort of disc one hopes to encounter in a review pile: stimulating music that is of real historical as well as musical interest, well recorded and splendidly played. … The notes also achieve something invaluable: They inspire the listener to explore further, and to wish for further recordings (in the present writer’s case, Peyko’s First Symphony, the subject of much praise from Myaskovsky). …
The Concert Étude (dated as 1940 on the CD back cover but 1942 in the notes), intended as a “winter sketch,” is glorious in its sense of Russian poetry. Korostelyov, a graduate of the Moscow Conservatory, seems the ideal interpreter. His staccato touch, his lightness, and his way of phrasing music that clearly makes reference to the indigenous music of its territory, all speak of someone on home turf. His virtuosity, too, is beyond question. … This is a major, major release and one that, one hopes, will open the doors to many more recordings of this composer’s non-piano works. Were that to be the case, and on the present evidence, delights aplenty would be in store.’
—Colin Clarke, Fanfare Magazine, September 2015
MusicWeb International :
‘The performances on these two discs [vol. 1 and vol. 2] appear confident and feel convincing – indeed masterly. The engineers have secured full spectrum sound within which Peyko’s extremes of violence, harshness and tenderness are happily accommodated. Those curious about Soviet music of these unstable years and who wonder what there is beyond Shostakovich and Prokofiev but before Gubaidulina and Schnittke should seek out these two rewarding discs [vol. 1 and vol. 2].’
—Rob Barnett, MusicWeb International
Music & Vision Daily :
‘Performances are highly virtuosic and wholly committed, and both pianists know exactly how to convey the overriding shape with discernment and piquancy. Liner notes and sound are immaculate. Buy without hesitation.’
—Music & Vision Daily, June 2017
Music is Good :
‘Favourite classical albums of 2015 # 4
Nikolay Peyko (1916-1995) was an important figure in Russian musical life, though I’d not heard of him before this album. The music here ranges from 1942 to 1992 and is what you might expect (indeed, hope for) from someone who was once Shostakovich’s teaching assistant. Unfortunately little of Peyko’s music is available in recordings, but he might deserve a Weinberg-style revival.’
—Stephen J. Nereffid, Music is Good