Spellbinding virtuoso and poetic artist, Boris Berezovsky is one of the quintessential Russian pianists of our day—which makes him an ideal candidate to take on an all-Russian program like this one, recorded in 2017 at Paris's Fondation Louis Vuitton! The renowned pianist begins with Prokofiev's Piano Sonata No. 8, brimming with rich harmony and captivating melody. He continues with a series of works by the singular Scriabin: Piano Sonata No. 8, a moody and melancholic masterpiece that Richter called the most difficult in the piano repertoire, and the twelve Études of Op. 8. Berezovsky's widely lauded talent and unique sensibility cast these challenging pieces in a new light, including the furious No. 12 in D-Sharp Minor, a favorite of Horowitz and one of the composer's best-known creations.