Nikita Magalov

Nikita Magaloff is known, among other things, for his complete Chopin recordings. This programme, recorded some eighteen months before his death, shows his very mature pianism.

Nikita Magaloff was one of the more interesting and charismatic keyboard figures of the twentieth century. Many of his recordings are still available and in modern sound; yet here was a man who was a friend of Rachmaninov, Prokofiev, from whom he took composition lessons, and Ravel, who was an enthusiastic admirer. Magaloff concertized with the most important conductors and orchestras of the day and at the most prestigious festivals. He also collaborated with the leading string players, like violinist Joseph Szigeti.

Pianist Nikita Mndoyants devotes this recording to Prokofiev, whose music has accompanied him since his early days. Here he brings together the Fourth Sonata 'From Old Notebooks' and the Eighth, an integral part of the so-called 'War Sonatas', as well as an arrangement of the scherzo from the Fifth Symphony.