Alexander Gavrylyuk's 2011 album of keyboard music by
Sergey Rachmaninov, Alexander Scriabin, and
Sergey Prokofiev is a tribute to these great Russian composers, and the selections provide insight into the youthful Ukrainian pianist's interests. Centrally placed in the program are Scriabin's Piano Sonata No. 5 and
Prokofiev's Piano Sonata No. 7 in B flat major, two potent works that most pianists regard as major challenges to their technical prowess and physical stamina.
Gavrylyuk plays with the authority of one who has thoroughly mastered their ferocious difficulties, notably in the lightning-fast chordal passages of the Scriabin and the incisively hammered Allegro inquieto and the Precipitato movements of the
Prokofiev. Yet in spite of his growing reputation,
Gavrylyuk is not all about flashiness and fire, for there are many brooding and rhapsodic qualities in the Moments Musicaux of
Rachmaninov, which provide a balance to the excitement of the rest of the program. The last two pieces, Scriabin's Etude in C sharp minor, and
Rachmaninov's Vocalise, serve almost as calming encores for this otherwise thrilling recital, and their ready appeal make the album a little more accessible for listeners seeking gentle, uncomplicated melodies. The sound quality is serviceable, insofar as it captures every note, but it's not especially enjoyable or distinctive for its own sake.