Not much of a career - but free MP3s

"You don't have so much of a career now," I say, when I meet the Russian pianist Andrei Gavrilov. In 1974 Gavrilov (left) was the youngest ever winner of the prestigious Tchaikovsky piano competition, aged just 18. He was a protege of the great Russian pianist Sviatoslav Richter, and a superstar in the 1980s. In 1990 he had a recording deal with Deutsche Grammophon and the world at his feet - or, rather, his fingertips.

That was then. It's been all downhill since - a story of abandoned concerts, loss of confidence, the end of the DG deal, a broken marriage. It was a personal and artistic implosion, though which fed which is hard to say. I asked a friend, who knows his musical onions, what Gavrilov meant to him. Nothing. He was too young. Gavrilov hasn't made any recordings since the mid-90s, and he hasn't played many concerts either. He was history.

From today's Guardian interview with fallen superstar Andrei Gavrilov, and the article allows you to download new recordings by him of seven Chopin Nocturnes.

* If you don't know Gavrilov's recording of Handel's Keyboard Suites made with Sviatoslav Richter in 1982 when Gavrilov was an EMI superstar you are missing something seriously beautiful - two double CDs at mid-price here and here.

But now follow this link and read about The Real Piano Man
Any copyrighted material on these pages is included as "fair use", for the purpose of study, review or critical analysis only, and will be removed at the request of copyright owner(s). Report broken links, missing images and other errors to - overgrownpath at hotmail dot co dot uk

Comments

Gary said…
It's been just over two years since you posted this, but I'm so glad I found this post, along with the link to the Guardian interview.

I have always held Gavrilov in the highest esteem. In fact, I had the privilege of hearing him play in the early 80s at Carnegie Hall.

Knew of his "break down", but still so regretful at his fitfull return to recording - I appreciate these links!
4:27 pm
Alun Severn said…
It's now five years on from this post -- and yet it is still enabling people like to me to find this glorious recording and revel in it. Many thanks.
1:25 pm
Matthew Conroy said…
His Chopin Etudes and Schumann were amazing as well. Sad that his career never took off after the initial hype. I don’t get it.
10:41 pm
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