“Everything gradually blossoms … from the fog to the blinding light!"

A intrepid recording by pianist Valery Kastelsky. Some highlights:

2:00 — He ignores the sforzando, turning a typically menacing spot into something more melancholic. Also, coming out of the first repetition of that chord (1:50), he voices in the left hand E → F → F#, but out of the second repetition (2:03), he voices the G → F# in the right hand.

3:22 — Kastelsky is one of very few pianists I've heard that is able to create the "stuttering" detail in the tied tremolos, while actually retaining enough momentum to pull it off convincingly.

3:54 — He brings out the left hand accompaniment and incorporates it into the phrase.

4:40 — He holds back a little bit, and then creates a colossal sound when we finally reach the extended E major harmonies (4:49).

5:00 — He accelerates through the final system, and the music sort of flies away.