Discography by Sophia Agranovich
12 albums, EP and Singles
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This album expresses the heart of Romanticism that celebrates Robert Schumann at his most visionary, intimate, and electrifying. It features some of Schumann’s most beloved works, revealing the full spectrum of his poetic imagination and virtuosic fire. The Piano Sonata No. 2 surges with restless energy and dramatic contrasts, where heroic gestures collide with moments of haunting introspection. In the Symphonic Études, dazzling virtuosity meets profound emotional depth, each variation unfolding like a character in a psychological drama—bold, lyrical, and relentlessly inventive.
Balancing this grandeur are two jewels of Romantic character writing. Arabeske, tender and songful, offers a moment of luminous reflection, its delicate lines infused with quiet longing. Papillons, inspired by masked dances and fleeting encounters, whirls with charm and fantasy, capturing Schumann’s playful spirit and dreamlike elegance.
Together, these works form a compelling portrait of Schumann’s inner world—passionate, poetic, and unpredictable. This album is an invitation to experience Romantic piano music at its most vivid: a journey from stormy intensity to whispered intimacy, brought to life through virtuoso brilliance and deep musical storytelling.
More Information / Track List / Booklet & Liner Notes / 9 Reviews / Awards / Live Performance Videos
“Impeccable musicianship and beauty… Five stars.This is a Schumann recital to treasure.Very strongly recommended.” -Jerry Dubins, Fanfare Magazine Full Review
“This is Sophia Agranovich’s twelfth album. Each has revealed a virtuoso of uncommon technical accomplishment and a unique interpretive perspective. Many earlier releases have been reviewed here and critics have been unanimous in their positive reactions,, a fairly uncommon situation…”
“Agranovich is a high energy player who displays great intensity and is able to balance local detail with the long line to a degree fairly rare among contemporary pianists. Local rubato is applied generously, but a large-scale piece like the Symphonic Variations also reveals a carefully plotted overall narrative.“
“This is often thought to be one of the most difficult to play of Schumann’s piano works, but one would never guess that here; Agranovich is in complete control at all times. The theme is handled with great sensitivity. The fast sections, such as Variation 1 and Etude 3, feature superb clarity and crisp articulation. Variation 4 has a wonderfully light touch. Not all is powerful extroversion. Variation 9 really sings in its longer lines. The repetitious material in the Finale is nicely varied through control of dynamics and articulation.The G-minor Sonata receives a highly-charged interpretation, emphasizing contrast in the opening movement through imaginative phrasing. This is again in evidence in the second movement; the central section is beautifully done.”
“The Prestissimo Coda of the final movement is a real tour de force... The early Papillons is a work in a similar vein. The playfulness and fantasy of the piece are brought to the fore with an impressively wide gradation of touch. Phrasing is highly flexible throughout; bar lines simply disappear.“
“This is great Schumann playing. It belongs in the company of interpreters like Richter, Nat, Perahia—name your favorites.…. Highly recommended. Five Stars: a superb new entry in Agranovich’s expanding discography of Romantic masterworks.” –Michael Vaillancourt, Fanfare Magazine Full Review
“Supremely performed…the keystrokes are gloriously textured...Her touch here is exquisite, and is to be respected in its consistency…Stunning…incredibly intimate.”
“She has crafted her presentation of, A Reverie of the Soul: Piano Works by Robert Schumann to such a high standard, that the word glorious is simply not enough, this halcyon manifestation of brilliance shines light a beacon of hope on the horizon of modern classical piano performances.” -Steve Sheppard, OneWorld Music Radio Full Review
“A Reverie of the Soul is a release well worth having. Sophia Agranovich is an excellent Schumann pianist who makes her case for the bolder, more openly Romantic side of Schumann eloquently and well. Highly recommended. Five stars: Excellent collection of Schumann’s bolder, more impassioned piano pieces.” –Mark Gabrish Conlan, Fanfare Magazine
“A Reverie of the Soul: Piano Works by Robert Schumann is another brilliant work of art from Sophia Agranovich… Very highly recommended to classical music lovers and those who appreciate incredible piano performances!” -Kathy Parsons, MainlyPiano Full Review
“Agranovich’s gorgeous and eloquent rendering of the opening movement’s lyrical second theme is pure gold.… Agranovich plays beautifully, with each Étude accorded its individuality, all the while maintaining a sense of proportion and flow throughout the work…
The Arabeske and Papillons exude delicacy and songful poetry… Agranovich’s flexibility of phrasing, and willingness to linger over passages, evoke a bygone golden age of pianism. May there always be a place for this kind of music-making. On balance, a most lovely Schumann recital.” -Ken Meltzer, Fanfare Magazine
“Dazzling virtuosity meets profound emotional depth… Agranovich balances local detail with large-scale narrative thrust… Her approach to this technically demanding work suggests complete command without displaying mere virtuosity… The 19 pieces suggest literary allusion and psychological complexity characteristic of Schumann’s mature imagination. Agranovich’s flexibility of phrasing and willingness to linger over passages evoke golden-age pianism without sacrificing contemporary technical standards.
The recording captures keyboard tone with warmth and impressive clarity. This album establishes itself as significant contribution to Schumann interpretation. Agranovich’s commitment to technical integrity alongside emotional authenticity creates rewarding encounter with demanding Romantic repertoire.” – Prince Iwundu, AllMusic Full review
“This Schumann program is titled A Reverie of the Soul. It begins “as fast as possible” and ends with the fluttering of butterflies. Agranovich has a dozen CDs to her credit and more awards than imaginable, along with performances at most of the world’s major concert venues. Her Schumann is both brilliant and beautiful… incredible technical command… an outstanding performance.”
“Agranovich plays this beautiful rondo with a sense of “intimacy and emotional depth” as she writes in her excellent program notes… I have never heard this work played with as much imagination as here. Many, many Schumann piano recitals are in my library and it seems that more appear for nearly every issue. This one is special and will remain in my active listening stack for some time to come.”
Five stars: world-class performances of several of Schumann’s greatest piano works. -James Harrington, Fanfare Magazine Full Review
Sophia Agranovich is a featured artist on Symphonina No. 3: Four Days in the Life of the Princess
Performed by The International Symphonina Orchestra
Available on all the streaming platforms worldwide
“Lush, beautiful, deeply emotional and ultimately thrilling”
“A genius, transformational idea whose time has come”
“Sophia brings a joyful, plucky and freewheeling sense of sparkle, wonder and graceful yet energetic dance to the piece”
***
“Sophia Agranovich’s joyful performance in a lively waltz-time expresses euphoria and absolute delight! Both masterful and fun, it’s a great performance!”
“Symphonina No. 3 (Four Days in the Life of the Princess) is a charming musical fairy tale for “kids” of any age. Very highly recommended!”
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Album Leaf: Piano Works by Felix Mendelssohn
Felix Mendelssohn Bartholdy was an illustrious composer, pianist, organist, conductor, teacher, and benevolent patron of musicians. He is the one who brought J. S. Bach back from oblivion. His contributions to the musical world were so profound that Robert Schumann hailed him as “the Mozart of the nineteenth century, the most brilliant musician, the one who most clearly sees through the contradictions of the age and for the first time reconciles them.”
The album presents a collection of rare and seldom-performed pieces, showcasing works of remarkable artistry. The compositions demand extraordinary virtuosity and resonate with profound emotional depth. Each piece captivates with its rich palette of tonal colors and textures, ranging from poetic introspection and serenity to intense tragedy and overwhelming drama. These works offer a powerful exploration of both intimately personal and universal human experience.
Label: Centaur Records | Catalog: 4038 | Release date: November 3, 2023
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Fantasia in F-Sharp minor, Op. 28 (Sonate ecossaise)
Albumblatt (Album Leaf) in E minor, Op. 117, “Lied ohne Worte”
Caprice in A Minor, Op. 33 No. 1
Variations Serieuses, Op. 54
Three Etudes, Op. 104b: No. 1 in B-flat minor – Presto sempre
No. 2 in F major – Allegro con moto
No. 3 in A minor – Allegro vivace
Etude in F minor, WoO 1 – Presto agitato
Rondo Capriccioso in E major, Op. 1
“Agranovich is the great tragedian of the piano; her feeling for tragedy makes the music sound almost overwhelming in its intensity.”
“Every note is imbued with feeling…you almost feel like crying“.
– Lynn René Bayley, Art Music Lounge
***
“Agranovich’s grasp of architecture and proportion, elegance and beauty of phrasing, and clear articulation provide considerable pleasure. A most enjoyable recital.”
– Ken Meltzer, Fanfare
***
“Performed to perfection… A wide range of emotions – from grief to exhilaration – a musical thrill ride for sure! Dazzling…powerful and inspiring!”
– Kathy Parsons, MainlyPiano
***
“Five stars: A wonderful Mendelssohn recital with a wide range of pieces, all in strong and exciting performances.”
– James Harrington, Fanfare
***
“Sizzling performance… Agranovich conjures up a memory palace of a performance with senses and flavours of the ethereal, in a passionate manifestation that exudes copious amounts of both warmth and love…”
“…Packed with mixed emotions, moods and feelings, as the moods are manifested in music and build upon a narrative of romance, passion and conflict.”
“A wonderful delight, perfectly played by the pianist…Agranovich feels each and every note played, with a sublime attractive and intelligent performance.”
“Album Leaf: Piano Works by Felix Mendelssohn by Sophia Agranovich is classically stunning. It’s a vast body of work that has been presented and played with such precision and craft by the artist. Sophia is without doubt one of the most accomplished classical pianists of her day, and here on this brand new collection of works by Mendelssohn, she shines like the midday sun. This album is guaranteed to be a sure fire hit with listeners and classical music aficionados alike the globe over”.
– Steve Sheppard, OneWorld Music Radio
***
Every note of every sweeping arpeggio across the keyboard and every note of every run is perfectly weighted and clear as a bell. This is remarkable playing…there’s some really “Gorgeous music on this disc… Shimmering beauty of tone… Played with consummate technical skill and artistry, this well-chosen program of Mendelssohn’s solo piano pieces can be unreservedly recommended to all audiences.”
– Jerry Dubins, Fanfare
***
“…Combination of excellent technique and strong musical personality…crystalline clarity of textures with a natural gift for shaping melodies…She is willing to take interpretive risks… The clarity of her fingerwork is breathtaking, exhibiting pinpoint control of dynamics.”
“She makes the keyboard sing with a pearly legato that belies the fact that the piano is basically a percussion instrument. ability to balance freedom and discipline.”
“The range of moods encompassed is enormous, Her performance has passion, humor, beauty, and above all, deep conviction. Five stars: A superlative recital of piano music by Mendelsohn.”
– Henry Fogel, Fanfare
Sophia Agranovich and Rupam Sarmah, featuring featuring GRAMMY® winners Lili Haydn and Hamid Saeidi (Opium Moon)
Proceeds are supporting One Little Finger Global Foundation and children of the world
Available everywhere at all the major distributors | Release date August 25, 2023
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Franz Liszt: Rhapsodies, Études and Transcriptions
Label: Centaur Records | Catalog:3955 | Release date: September 2, 2022
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Franz Liszt:
Hungarian Rhapsody No. 6 in D♭ Major, S. 244/6
Hungarian Rhapsody No. 13 in a minor, S. 244/13
Ständchen, S. 560/7 (from Schubert: Schwanengesang, D. 957/4)
Erlkönig, S. 558/4 (Schubert: D. 328)
Die Forelle, S. 554 (Schubert: D. 550)
Études d’exécution transcendante, S. 139: No. 9 in A♭ Major “Ricordanza”
and No. 4 in d minor “Mazeppa”
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“Peace and Joy (Mendelssohn/Mozart World)”
Sophia Agranovich, Rupam Sarmah, feat. Tamra Garrett
Release date: September 23, 2022
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“Peace and Joy” is a fundraiser for One Little Finger, an international organization that promotes “Ability in Disability”. It is also included in the ARISE TOGETHER album
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In Celebration of the 250th Anniversary of the Birth of
Label: Centaur Records | Catalog: 3828 | Release Date: February 12, 2021
Ludwig van Beethoven:
Fantasia in G minor/B Major, op. 77
Piano Sonata No. 8 in C minor, op. 13, “Pathétique”
Piano Sonata No. 14 in C minor, op. 27, no. 2, “Moonlight”
Piano Sonata No. 17 in D minor, op. 31, no. 2, “The Tempest”
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In Celebration of the 210th Anniversary of the Birth of Frédéric Chopin
Label: Centaur Records | Catalog: 3805| Release Date: October 2020
Sonata No. 2 in B♭ minor, Op. 35
Scherzo No. 1 in B minor, Op. 20
Scherzo No. 2 in B-flat minor Op. 31
Scherzo No. 3 in C-sharp minor, Op. 39
Scherzo No. 4 in E Major, Op. 54
Polonaise in A-flat Major, Op. 53 ‘Héroïque’
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Label: Centaur Records | Catalog: 3601| Release Date: February 2018
Frédéric Chopin:
Nocturne in C minor, Op. 48 no. 1
Polonaise-Fantaisie in A flat Major
Franz Liszt:
Sonetti del Petrarca 47, 123, 104 (complete)
Après une Lecture du Dante: Fantasia quasi Sonata
Hungarian Rhapsody #14 in F Minor
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Robert Schumann: Carnaval and Fantasie
Label: Centaur Records | Catalog: 3504 | Release Date: November 2017
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Robert Schumann: Carnaval, Op. 9 (Scènes mignonnes sur quatre notes);
Fantasie in C major, Op. 17
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Schubert: ‘Wanderer’ Fantasie; Chopin: 4 Ballades
Label: Centaur Records | Catalog: 3427 | Release Date: October 2015
Franz Schubert:
“Wanderer” Fantasie in C major, Op. 15, D. 760
Frederic Chopin:
Ballades No. 1 in G minor, Op. 23
No. 2 in F Major / F minor, Op. 38
No. 3 in A-flat Major, Op. 47
No. 4 in F minor, Op. 52
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Brahms, Schumann and Liszt: Works for Piano
Label: Centaur Records | Catalog: 3367 | Release Date: 10/14/2014
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Johannes Brahms: Variations on a Theme of Paganini, Op. 35, Books I and II;
Robert Schumann: Études Symphoniques, Op. 13;
Robert Schumann – Franz Liszt: Liebeslied “Widmung” (“Dedication”)
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Label: Roméo Records | Catalog: 7303 | Release Date: 06/10/2014
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Ludwig van Beethoven: Piano Sonata No. 23 in F minor, Op. 57, “Appassionata”
Frédéric Chopin: Fantaisie in F minor, Op. 49
Frédéric Chopin: Piano Sonata No. 3 in B minor, Op. 58
Franz Liszt – Bicentennial Tribute
Label: Sophia Agranovich | Catalog: 50144452 | Release Date: 12/01/2010
Ludwig van Beethoven: Sonata for Piano no 21 in C major, Op. 53 “Waldstein”
Frederic Chopin: Ballade for Piano no 1 in G minor, B 66/Op. 23
Franz Liszt: Liebesträume for Piano, S 541: no 3, O Lieb, so lang
Franz Liszt: Transcendental Etudes (12) for Piano, S 139: no 10 in F minor
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