These Rachmaninov works were all recorded at the Lugano Festival. Held
annually in Switzerland the festival is centred around the distinguished
Argentine pianist, Martha Argerich. Argerich has been playing these
Rachmaninov two piano works for years; music she can easily share with
friends. Recorded over a seven year span Warner has selected seven works
with Argerich and six invited friends, including her fellow countryman
renowned Nelson Goerner.
The first CD opens with the
Symphonic Dances - a glorious
masterwork full of nostalgia for the composer's Russian years. This
is the most substantial piece in the set and lasts here over half an hour.
Cast in three movements it was written in 1940 mainly at Orchard Point, nr.
Huntingdon, Long Island, New York and is the composer's final work. This two
piano version was written at the same time as the orchestral score.
Performed here by the Argerich and Goerner the playing is as inspirational
as I expected with utmost integrity accompanied by startling full and
colourful tones. Intense vitality is given to the stunning opening movement
with the duo conveying an unsettling undertow of anticipatory peril. In 1893
Rachmaninov had just turned twenty-one when he wrote his
Suite No.
1 for two pianos. The four movements are played here by Moscow-born
Lilya Zilberstein and Argerich and each is clearly attuned to the demands of
the score especially the chimerical mood-changes. This work together with
the
Suite No. 2 are really worth getting to know. In 1900/01 some
eight years after the
Suite No. 1 Rachmaninov composed his
Suite No. 2, another four movement piece. Argerich is joined here
by Gabriela Montero the Venezuelan/American pianist. They play so
persuasively and revealing a particularly instinctive feeling for colour and
nuance.
The second disc commences with the
Six Duets from 1894. This is a
considerable work here taking over twenty-four minutes. This is the oldest
recording on the release being from the 2003 festival. It is played by Lilya
Zilberstein and Argerich. Despite its trivial-sounding title this is a
sententious work of varying moods requiring concentration and expression
that in the hands of such accomplished performers is a joy from start to
finish. The following works were recorded at the 2009 festival. The two
pieces for piano six hands - the
Romance in A major and the
Waltz in A major - were written in 1890/91 whilst Rachmaninov was
still a student at the Moscow Conservatory. Rachmaninov wrote the pieces for
the three Skalon sisters: Natalia, Lyudmila and Vera. The delightful
Romance contains music later used in the
Piano Concerto No.
2 and it seems that Natalia Skalon wrote the theme on which the
Waltz is based. The sparkling playing is given by the trio of
Daniel Gerzenberg, Anton Gerzenberg and their mother Lilya Zilberstein.
Finally we reach the
Russian Rhapsody in E minor for two pianos
that Rachmaninov wrote in 1891. It is another student work of real character
and colour. In this rarely-heard two movement score the duo of Zilberstein
and Alexander Mogilevsky excel. This is compelling pianism.
The engineers have provided satisfactory sound. Add to this a reasonably
informative essay in the booklet. Overall this is a real treat, full of
strong characterful playing and vivid colours from Argerich and her Lugano
friends.
Michael Cookson
Details of performers and live recording information:
Lugano Festival, Auditorio Stelio Molo, Lugano, Switzerland:
Symphonic Dances, Op. 45 (1940) (arr. for two pianos by Rachmaninov)
pianos: Martha Argerich, Nelson Goerner
rec. June 2009
Suite No. 1 in G minor for two pianos, Op. 5
pianos: Lilya Zilberstein, Martha Argerich
rec. June 2008
Suite No. 2 for two pianos, Op. 17
pianos: Martha Argerich, Gabriela Montero
rec. June 2005
6 Duets for piano four hands, Op. 11
piano four hands: Lilya Zilberstein, Martha Argerich
rec. June 2003
Romance in A major for piano six hands, (1891)
Waltz in A major for piano six hands, (1890)
piano six hands: Daniel Gerzenberg, Anton Gerzenberg, Lilya
Zilberstein
rec. June 2009
Russian Rhapsody in E minor for two pianos
pianos: Lilya Zilberstein, Alexander Mogilevsky
rec. June 2009
