MEDTNER: Piano Sonata, Op. 22 / KABALEVSKY: Piano Sonata, Op. 46 (Moiseiwitsch, Vol. 7) (1928-1948)

Producer’s Note

 

During the 78rpm era, Benno Moiseiwitsch recorded exclusively for His Master’s Voice. Although some of his records were issued by Australian HMV and Victor, many were available only in England on the company’s budget priced labels. These English pressings often contain a high crackle content that makes them unsuitable for remastering. Fortunately, Victor and Australian HMV pressings are often quieter than their English counterparts and these have been used whenever possible throughout this series. In the case of recordings issued only in England, I have had the good luck to locate most of Moiseiwitsch’s discs on English pressings that are astonishingly crackle free. The material contained in this volume was transferred primarily from such pressings since only six sides were issued in Australia or America. One of these sides is Rachmaninov’s Prelude in B minor. In comparing various pressings of this recording, I realized that Victor had issued take one, whereas HMV had used take four. These two performances are remarkably similar considering that they were recorded several months apart. One notable difference, however, is the extra low B that concludes take 1. This take was probably rejected by the pianist and how it got issued by Victor is anyone’s guess. Incidentally, two other alternate Moiseiwitsch takes were issued by Victor during the acoustic period which will be presented in future volumes.