Rachmaninov: Prelude Op. 23 No. 4 in D major

For modern audiences the name of Sergei Rachmaninov, who was born in 1873, conjures up great memorable tunes primarily from his second piano concerto (used in the film Brief Encounter) and second symphony; he was indeed the last flowering of Russian late Romanticism. For his contemporaries, however, he was one of the greatest pianists and who was an expert in expressing moods in the briefest time scale – he was a brilliant miniaturist. He wrote 17 Etudes-Tableaux and 26 Préludes, this collection provides all of the former and 5 of the latter including the one (in C# minor), written when was only 19, which became so popular that it haunted him as he was known to the general public by that piece alone. The Second Sonata is in one movement but three distinct sections, with the slower central movement providing some respite from the turbulence of the outer movements. The Variations on a theme of Corelli was Rachmaninov’s last work for solo piano and is based on the traditional tune La follia which Corelli used in his twelfth violin sonata. The Variations are skilfully wrought as they are in the Rhapsody on a theme of Paganini, the work that immediately followed it; the tune on which the Variations are made is the 24th Caprice for solo violin by the brilliant violinist-composer Paganini.

This CD is the third release from Challenge Classics to showcase the talents of the Russian pianist Alexei Volodin. It features a wide ranging selection of pieces by his compatriot Sergei Rachmaninov, including the “Variations on a theme of Corelli”, 5 of his Preludes, the 2nd Sonata (second version), and four of his Etudes-Tableaux.

Alexei Volodin was born in St. Petersburg in 1977, and began taking piano lessons there at the age of nine. A year later he moved to Moscow, and in 1994 he enrolled at the Moscow Conservatoire. During 2001 and 2002 he studied at the Theo Lieven International Piano Foundation in Como. He has won several prizes at different international competitions, including First Prize at the Concours Géza Anda in Zurich in 2003. Alexei Volodin’s debut recording for Challenge Classics (CC72354), released in March 2010, was devoted to the music Chopin, and his second CD which was issued in May 2011 (CC72508) brought together works by Schumann, Ravel, and Scriabin.

Recorded 1951-1954

It is with some pride that Cornwall-based Magdalen is releasing several recordings of Saltash-born Dame Moura Lympany (others will surely follow in due course). Lympany had a clear affinity with Russian music and with Rachmaninov in particular: she was the first artist to record the Preludes complete (the recordings in this collection date from 1951) and her performances of Piano Concertos 1 – 3 under Malko and Collins, made between 1952 and 1954 and among the first to appear on LP, have always been treasured by critics and public alike. Space does not allow for all 24 Preludes but we have chosen eighteen of the finest to accompany the concertos. Quite simply, this is music-making to wallow in and to marvel at!

The meteoric ascent of Vassily Primakov's international career has resulted from a series of competition victories, prizes in honour of his artistry, and his award-winning recordings. Winner of First Prize in the Young Concert Artist International Auditions and the Audience Prize of the Gina Bachauer International Competition, Primakov was named the Classical Recording Foundation's “Young Artist of the Year” in 2007.

His much-heralded recordings have garnered National Public Radio's “CD of the Year” (Chopin Mazurkas, 2010), American Record Guide's “Best of the Year” (Schubert Impromptus; and Dvorak Piano Concerto, 2011) and BBC Music Magazine's Music Choice (Chopin Ballades, Brahms Intermezzi, and Scriabin Sonata No. 4, 2010).

This new recording presents Primakov's renditions of some of Rachmaninoff's most beloved works, played on a superb Bechstein Concert Grand.

"This live recording of Rachmaninoff Piano Concerto no.3 was made on November 13, 1992 at the Bolshoi Hall of Moscow Conservatory during a concert to honour the memory of Jacob Flier (1912-1977) with whom Pletnev and I both studied. Flier was one of the greatest teachers in Moscow Conservatory who brought up several generations of prominent pianists. It was a very special and emotional occasion for Pletnev and myself and we did our best to pay a worthy tribute to our teacher." Vladimir Feltsman

The solo pieces which accompany the Piano Concerto were recorded at the Wyastone Concert Hall in November 2010.

The piano music of Rachmaninov explores the registral capabilities of the modern piano in a fascinating manner. Rachmaninov’s artistic idiom is rich in references to traditional Russian music. It is, however, counter-pointed by a progressive chromaticism set in a neo-classical framework. Rachmaninov incorporates haunting melodies, thick chordal textures and distinct rhythmic patterns – all of which are held in a musical architecture marked by astounding economy.

Rachmaninov was a remarkable artist: he excelled in the fields of composing, performing and conducting. His playing indeed, along with the size of his hands, has become legendary. As a composer Rachmaninov is famous for his symphonies, concerti and instrumental music. In addition, his songs and sacred music have recently gained recognition as important areas of his oeuvre.