Istomin’s solo piano repertoire can be defined as broad in its diversity of composers but restricted in the number of works.
The demands by numerous American orchestras (he once gave a hundred concerts with orchestra in a single season) and the intense activity of the Istomin-Stern-Rose Trio in the 1960s and 1970s left little time for recitals. In addition to his extremely busy concert schedule, his involvement in numerous musical activities (Prades Festival, Marlboro, Jornadas Casals in Mexico, William Kapell Competition) and other non-musical ones (most notably in the field of politics and literature) did not allow him to set aside time towards the preparation of new repertoire.
Moreover, his desire to perform only those works in which he had something really personal to say contributed to the restriction of his repertoire, and led to his preparation of numerous pieces which he ultimately gave up playing in public. Last but not least, Oppenheim’s resignation and the break with Columbia deprived him of any motivation to tackle new works in order to record them.
From the 1980s, after the disbanding of the Trio, Istomin gave more recitals and began to significantly expand his solo repertoire. This was even more pronounced in the late 1980s and early 1990s when he made extensive tours of the United States with a truck carrying his own pianos.
Here is the list, as complete and precise as possible, of the works for solo piano that Istomin played during his career, with mention of all known recordings.
J. S. BACH
Well-Tempered Clavier, Preludes and fugues in D minor BWV 851 & D major BWV 850 (Book 1): 1946 – mid-1950s
Partita No. 2 in C minor BWV 826: 1950
Studio recording: June 1950. Columbia. Unissued at the artist’s request. Tapes lost.
Toccata in E minor BWV 914: 1950 – 1995
Official recording: June 1950 Columbia.
Live recordings:
- August 14, 1976. Prades, Abbey of Saint-Michel-de-Cuxa.
- November 2, 1993. Paris, Théâtre des Champs-Elysées. Issued on a private CD.
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BARTÓK
Mikrokosmos, excerpts: mid 1950s
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BEETHOVEN
Fantasy in G minor Op. 77: 1971 – 1994.
Live recordings:
- September 20, 1989. Festival de Montreux. Video.
- October 30, 1991, Paris, Théâtre des Champs-Elysées.
Sonata No. 14 in C sharp minor Op. 27 No. 1 “Moonlight”: 1948 – 1992.
Official recordings:
- April 1960 (1st movement only). Columbia (unpublished on LP, issued on CD by Sony in 2015).
- June 1991. CD Reference Recordings.
Live recording: October 30, 1991. Paris, Théâtre des Champs-Elysées.
Sonata No. 21 in C Major Op. 53 “Waldstein”: 1944 – 2000.
Official recordings:
- December 14-15, 1959. Columbia (unpublished on LP, issued on CD by Sony in 2015).
- Columbia (probably incomplete).
- June 1991. CD Reference Recordings.
Studio recording: February 23, 1979. French Radio ORTF.
Live recordings:
- August 14, 1976. Prades, Abbey of Saint-Michel-de-Cuxa
- September 20, 1989. Martigny, Montreux Festival. Video.
- October 30, 1991. Paris, Théâtre des Champs-Elysées.
- November 2, 1993. Paris, Théâtre des Champs-Elysées.
- March 27, 1999. University of North Carolina.
Sonata No. 24 in F sharp Major Op. 78 “A Thérèse”: 1947 – 1965
Studio recording: April 1960. Columbia (unpublished on LP, issued on CD by Sony in 2015).
Sonata No. 31 in A flat Major Op. 110: 1989 – 1995
Official recording: June 1991. CD Reference Recordings.
Live recording: October 30, 1991. Paris, Théâtre des Champs-Elysées.
Variations in C minor WoO 77: 1946 – early 1950s
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BERNSTEIN
Anniversaries: 1961 – 1970
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BRAHMS
Ballade Op. 10 No. 1, Fantasy Op. 116 No. 3: 1971 – 1974
Intermezzi Op. 117: 1946 – 1974
Official recording: September 1957. Columbia
Variations on a Theme by Handel Op. 24: 1946 – 1979
Official recording: March 16, 1951. Columbia
Video recording in studio: February 17, 1974. French Television ORTF.
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BROWN Harold
Four Preludes: 1944 – 1956
BUSCH Adolf
Suite for Piano Op. 60: 1946 – 1948
CASALS Pablo
Prelude: 1965 – 2001
Live recordings:
- August 14, 1976. Prades, Abbey of Saint-Michel-de-Cuxa.
- November 2, 1993. Paris, Théâtre des Champs-Elysées. Issued on private CD.
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CHASINS Abraham
Preludes: 1956 – early 1960s
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CHOPIN
Andante spianato et Grande Polonaise brillante Op. 22: 1946 – 1976
Ballade No. 1 Op. 23: 1944 – mid 50s
Ballade No. 4 Op. 52: 1944 – 1980
Video recording in studio: March 5, 1973, French Television ORTF.
Private recording: 1970s, at home.
Etudes Op. 10 No. 7 & 9: 1940s
Fantaisie-Impromptu Op. 66: 1946 – 1980
Studio recording: March 5, 1973. French Television ORTF.
Live recording: May 11, 1950. Paris, RTF studio.
Impromptu No. 2 Op. 36: late 80s
Live recording: September 20, 1989. Montreux Festival. Video.
Impromptu No. 3 Op. 51: late 90s
Mazurka Op. 7 No. 1: late 1940s and 1999
Nocturnes: 1955 – 1997
Official recording: Complete 19 Nocturnes. January to September 1955. Columbia.
Studio recording: Op. 15 No. 2. March 1966. Columbia (unpublished on LP, issued on CD by Sony in 2015).
Live recording: Op. 15 No. 2. September 20, 1989. Montreux Festival. Video.
Polonaise No. 6 Op. 53 “Heroic”: 1944 – early 70s
Studio recording: April 10-11, 1967. Columbia (unpublished on LP, issued on CD by Sony in 2015).
Preludes (10): 1947 – early 60s. No. 24: 1999
Scherzos Nos. 1 to 4: 1944 – late 90s
Live recording: Scherzo No. 1. September 20, 1989. Montreux Festival. Video.
Tarantelle Op. 43: 1950 – mid-1950s
Valse Op. 18: mid-50s
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DEBUSSY
Images, Book I: 1986 – 1992
Official recording: 1987 Adda
Images, Book II, Poissons d’or: 1940s
Préludes: Voiles, Les sons et les parfums tournent dans l’air du soir, Les collines d’Anacapri, La fille aux cheveux de lin, La sérénade interrompue, Minstrels, ‘General Lavine’ – Eccentric, La terrasse des audiences du clair de lune: 1946 – 1997
Studio recording: La fille aux cheveux de lin. March 18, 1968 Columbia (unpublished on LP, issued on CD by Sony in 2015).
Video studio recording: Voiles; La sérénade interrompue. March 5, 1973 Paris ORTF.
Private recording: Les sons et les parfums tournent dans l’air du soir; Les collines d’Anacapri; La fille aux cheveux de lin; La terrasse des audiences du clair de lune. 1970s
Live video recording: ‘General Lavine’ – Eccentric. September 1989. Festival de Montreux.
Suite Bergamasque, Clair de lune: 1948 – 1970
Studio recording: March 18, 1968.Columbia (unpublished on LP, issued on CD by Sony in 2015).
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DUTILLEUX
Prélude “Le jeu des contraires”: 1996
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FALLA
The Three-Cornered Hat, The Miller’s Dance: late 40s and early 50s
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HAYDN
Sonata in A Major Hob.XVI:12: 1956 – 1992
Live recording: July 22, 1969. Stratford (Canada)
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LISZT
Hungarian Rhapsody No. 6: late 40s – early 50s.
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MEDTNER
Sonata in G minor Op. 22: 1992-1994
Live recording: November 2, 1993. Paris, Théâtre des Champs-Elysées. Private CD.
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MENDELSSOHN
Song without Words Op 62 No. 1 in G major, ‘May Breezes’: 1962 – 2000
Studio recording: 1966 Columbia (unpublished on LP, issued on CD by Sony in 2015).
Live recordings:
- September 20, 1989. Montreux Festival. Video.
- October 30, 1991. Paris, Théâtre des Champs-Elysées.
- November 2, 1993. Paris, Théâtre des Champs-Elysées. Private CD.
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MOZART
Fantasy and Fugue in C major, K. 394: 1944 – 1957
Fantasy in D minor K. 397: 1973 – 1999
Live recording: March 27, 1999. University of North Carolina
Rondo K. 485: 1956 – 1960
Sonata in G Major K. 283: 1989 – 1999
Live recordings:
- November 2, 1993. Paris, Théâtre des Champs-Elysées. Issued on a private CD.
- March 27, 1999. University of North Carolina.
Sonata in C Major K. 330: 1946 – early 50s
Sonata in D Major K. 576: 1950 – 1985
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NAPOLITANO Emiliano
Gato: 1955 (South American tour)
RACHMANINOFF
Preludes: 1948 – early 1950s
Prelude Op. 32 No. 7; Oriental Sketch; Lullaby; Etude-Tableau Op. 39 No. 9: 1987 – 1991
Official recording: 1987 Adda
Chopin Variations Op. 22
Private recording: 1977
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RAVEL
Gaspard de la nuit: 1947-1965
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REGER
Pieces Op. 82: 1946
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ROREM
Burlesque: 1950s
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SCARLATTI
Sonata K. 30 in G minor (Cat’s Fugue): 1944 – early 50s
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SCHUBERT
Impromptus Op. 90 No. 2 and 3: 1944-2000
Studio recording: 1967. Columbia (unpublished on LP, issued on CD by Sony in 2015).
Video recording: Opus 90 No. 2 & 3. September 20, 1989. Montreux Festival (live).
Live recordings:
- Opus 90 No. 2. October 30, 1991. Paris, Théâtre des Champs-Elysées.
- Opus 90 No. 2. November 2, 1993. Paris, Théâtre des Champs-Elysées.
Sonata in A Major D. 664: 1946 – 1955
Sonata in D Major D. 850: 1968 – 1980
Official recording: 1969 Columbia
Live recording: August 14, 1976. Prades, Abbey of Saint-Michel-de-Cuxa.
Studio recording: March 2, 1979, French Radio ORTF.
Video studio recording: 1974, French Television ORTF.
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SCHUMANN
Abegg Variations Op. 1: 1944 – 1967
Carnaval Op. 9: 1946 – 1954
Etudes Symphoniques Op. 13: 1940s
Fantasiestücke Op. 12 (excerpts): 1940s and 1994
Papillons Op. 2: 1940s
Sonata No. 1 in F sharp minor Op. 11: 1987 – 1990
Official recording: 1987. CD Adda
Private recording: January 24, 1986. Steinway basement.
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STRAVINSKY
Sonata (1924): 1963 – 1985
Studio recording: 1967 Columbia (unpublished on LP, issued on CD by Sony in 2015).