Piano Sonatas (No.2 "Sonata Fantasy" ∙ No.7 "White Mass" ∙ No.10 Op.70 / Quatre Morceaux Op.56 ∙ Deux Poèmes Op.32 ∙ Two Dances Op.73)

Released by Decca in 1979, this recording features Vladimir Ashkenazy performing a selection of Alexander Scriabin’s late-period piano works, including the technically demanding Seventh and Tenth Sonatas. By the late 1970s, Ashkenazy had established himself as a preeminent interpreter of Scriabin’s complex, mystical harmonic language, moving away from the more traditional interpretations of the mid-20th century to emphasize the composer’s structural intensity and shifting tonal colors.

The album is noted for its high-fidelity production, characteristic of the SXL series, which sought to capture the nuance of Ashkenazy’s playing style. Critics of the era frequently praised the recording for its clarity and the pianist's ability to navigate the transition between the ethereal, impressionistic textures of the 'Deux Poèmes' and the more aggressive, dissonant architecture of the 'White Mass' Sonata. It remains a significant entry in the discography of both the artist and the label's focus on Russian repertoire.