Elisso Virsaladze

[ccar]

Elisso Virsaladze was born in Tiflis, Georgia in 1942. Studied first with her grandmother and pianist Anastasia and then with Heinrich Neuhaus and Yakov Zak.  Professor at the Moscow Conservatory and at the Munich Musikhochschule, she is probably one of the greatest piano-interpreters of her generation. She can still be heard at some international concert houses or music festivals but for many she is almost unknown, because she absolutely refuses the music marketing rules that promote most of the big names and the big recording contracts.     
 
Elisso Virsaladze was included in the BMG Melodiya Russian Piano School edition with a Chopin selection (including a fabulous B minor sonata) but most of her recordings come from "Live Classics" - a small amateur independent label with an impressive catalog of live recordings, mostly with Richter, Kagan, Gutman and Virsaladze.

If you have a security belt in your listening chair you may try her live Chopin Etudes (Live Classics, Moscow 1985). And if you don't believe she can actually play like the giant artist she is, you may want to see her in a recent DVD from the 2004 Roque D'Anteron Festival, featuring one of the most shivering performances of the Prokofiev D minor sonata, a beautifully sculpted Kreisleriana and a magic Tchaikovsky's Natha-Valse. 
                 
   

[Herman]

I have several of her cd's, and I would really like to like her, but she sounds so... hard. Her Chopin and Schumann seem to lack the requisite soft heart.

[Holden]

I was introduced to Wirrsaladze by a fellow mmber of this board and have a number of recordings of hers as a result. (I've just put on the Chopin Etudes). While the Etudes recording doesn't rate in my top 6 there is a frisson there that makes it memorable. A much better Chopin recording by her is this one



her recordings of Schumann are also exceptionally good.

[Brahmsian]

her recordings of Schumann are also exceptionally good.

This is the one I have too, which includes the first two Piano Sonatas and the Waldszenen.  Lukewarm overall, but I enjoy certain movements.

[ccar]

Some live chamber music recitals with Elisso Virsaladze on Live Classics (including Oleg Kagan, Natalia Gutman and Sviatoslav Richter).

Mendelssohn - Lied ohne Worte op 109; Piano Trio op 66
Schumann - Novelleten op 21; Violin Sonata op 105; Piano Trio op 63
Beethoven - Cello Sonatas     

[Herman]

So who's playing what on that Schumann disc above? Is Richter doing the Noveletten, perhaps?

[ccar]

So who's playing what on that Schumann disc above? Is Richter doing the Noveletten, perhaps?

Noveletten op 21 (n.1,2) - Virsaladze 1998
Sonata Violin & Piano - Kagan & Virsaladze 1988
Trio Piano - Richter, Kagan, Gutman 1985

The Violin & Piano Sonata is a particularly beautiful performance.

Other less Known Schuman recording by Virsaladze includes the Etudes Symphoniques and the Fantasia op17 - Vogue VG 651.

     

[Mandryka]

Other less Known Schuman recording by Virsaladze includes the Etudes Symphoniques and the Fantasia op17 - Vogue VG 651.

   

Hmmm. Tasty. I'd quite like to hear that Vogue recording if anyone knows where it is.

Tell me -- did she record the Chopin Op 28 Preludes? Someone said that it was on Vogue but I have never been able to find it.

She's growing on me -- I like her Chopin Etudes, her Schumann sonatas and Waltzenen.

And the DVD with Kinderszenen hopefully will arrive soon.

Anyone here heard her Mozart?

[springrite]

Love her playing. Saw a DVD of her playing the Ravel left hand concerto, in which the orchestra and conductor were clueless (sounded nothing like Ravel) but no matter, the pianist stole the show.

[Verena]

If you have a security belt in your listening chair you may try her live Chopin Etudes (Live Classics, Moscow 1985). And if you don't believe she can actually play like the giant artist she is, you may want to see her in a recent DVD from the 2004 Roque D'Anteron Festival, featuring one of the most shivering performances of the Prokofiev D minor sonata, a beautifully sculpted Kreisleriana and a magic Tchaikovsky's Natha-Valse. 

I really like that DVD

[Bulldog]

This is the one I have too, which includes the first two Piano Sonatas and the Waldszenen.  Lukewarm overall, but I enjoy certain movements.

I find her Waldszenen among the best on record.  Her hushed and tender playing of the Eusebius movements is fantastic; at the same time, she delivers great intensity in movements such as "Place of Evil" where she is the epitome of dread.

Her Shostakovich Op. 34 Preludes are also wonderful.

[ccar]

Hmmm. Tasty. I'd quite like to hear that Vogue recording if anyone knows where it is.

Tell me -- did she record the Chopin Op 28 Preludes? Someone said that it was on Vogue but I have never been able to find it.

The Virsaladze Vogue CDs were published around 1991-1992 and are OOP for years. AFAIK there were only 2 issues: the Schumann program (as I mentioned before this one includes wonderful live performances of the Etudes Symphoniques - 15.3.1979 - and the Fantasia Op.17 - 8.2.1963) and the Chopin program (Vogue 651060) which includes the Etudes Op.10 and Op.25. These Moscow Etudes (12.4.1985) were also included in the Live Classics edition (LCL 382).
There are many other Chopin recordings by Virsaladze, but unfortunately I never heard of the Preludes.   

Anyone here heard her Mozart?

Yes. The Mozart I heard from Virsaladze includes Concertos (KV 242, 365) some Sonatas (KV 310, 330, 331, 332, 333, 457), Fantasias (KV 396, 475) Romanze KV 205, Variations KV 264 and Rondos (KV 485, 511).
Contrary to what you may expect from her Prokofiev or Tchaikovsky, Virsaladze's Mozart is fluent and colorful, beautifully phrased but also very intimate and relaxed.         

[Mandryka]

Yes. The Mozart I heard from Virsaladze includes Concertos (KV 242, 365) some Sonatas (KV 310, 330, 331, 332, 333, 457), Fantasias (KV 396, 475) Romanze KV 205 and Rondos (KV 485, 511).
Contrary to what you may expect from her Prokofiev or Tchaikovsky, Virsaladze's Mozart is fluent and colorful, beautifully phrased but also very intimate and relaxed.       

So can you recommend a Mozart CD (preferably solo) for me to try ?

[ccar]

So can you recommend a Mozart CD (preferably solo) for me to try ?

Mandryka, if you want to try 1 CD I would suggest the A minor Sonata KV 310 and 2 Rondos - D major and A minor. And this Live Classics CD (LCL 303) also includes a wonderful Tchaikovsky Grand Sonata.

You can taste ...    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nhBTX022kwo&feature=related

And you can buy ...    http://www.jpc.de/jpcng/classic/detail/-/art/Peter-Iljitsch-Tschaikowsky-Klaviersonate-op-37/hnum/8102766

[George]

Gotta love that cover.