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Rachmaninov: Complete Preludes / Eldar Nebolsin
Naxos

Rachmaninov: Complete Preludes / Eldar Nebolsin

$19.99

Details

Composer
RACHMANINOV, SERGEY
Artist
Eldar Nebolsin
Format
CD
Label
Naxos
Released
May 29, 2007
Catalog #
8570327
UPC
747313032778

About



RACHMANINOFF Preludes (complete) • Eldar Nebolsin (pn) • NAXOS 8.570327 (77: 44)


The technical and musical demands of the Rachmaninoff preludes are legion. A partial catalog might include: the ability to negotiate massive chords, sensitively voiced and often in quick succession; seamless arpeggios; perfect thirds, sixths, and other double-note figurations; a wide variety of attack and release strategies; the most delicate, leggierissimo fioratura; infinitely calibrated effects of crescendo, diminuendo, accelerando , and meno mosso ; intelligent rubato; and perhaps above all, the ability to launch and sustain a singing line. To these requirements might be added some suggestion of that special attribute (of which Rachmaninoff himself was the unexcelled exemplar) namely, the ability to suggest aural planes—a vivid foreground, mid-distance, and background—capable of revealing the most complex textures to the listener. Happily, this new recording reveals Eldar Nebolsin as a pianist equal to these demands.


After encountering Ashkenazy’s recording of these pieces from the mid 1970s (Decca 475 8238), I find Nebolsin’s interpretations are a breath of fresh air. Each piece unfolds as a miniature drama with its own unique character, lending the entire set great variety of mood—from serene tranquility, to ebullient joy, to the most crushing sadness. Nothing in these interpretations suggests the routine. Nebolsin is hypersensitive to each of Rachmaninoff’s articulation indications, pedal markings, and dynamic subtleties. And while the performances are thoughtful, they never sound fussy. In every instance, one has the feeling that this bouquet of late-Romantic expression emanates directly from the pianist’s heart.


The highest compliment that may be paid Nebolsin’s technique is that, in its complete subordination to the music, one is simply never aware of it. His sound is always beautiful, whether in the transparency of the most massive fortissimos or in the rainbow of subtly contrasted pianissimos. If the soaring op. 23/2 takes flight effortlessly, its fierce left-hand figurations never obtrude on the ebb and flow of exultant musical substance. The exquisite op. 23/10 breathes all the freshness of dew on delicate blossoms opening to the morning sun; the voice leading is simply gorgeous. The great B-Minor Prelude (op. 32/10) begins with a heart-rending sadness, so immobilized and still that the subsequent chordal section assumes an awesome grandeur of uncanny power and eloquence.


The recording was made in Westleton, Suffok, U.K., this past January and is, in all technical aspects, commendable. One hopes that, despite the inevitable vicissitudes of career-building, this 33-year-old pianist will continue to exhibit this degree of instrumental prowess in the service of a sensitive and deeply artistic musicality. Highly recommended.


FANFARE: Patrick Rucker

Tracklist 24 tracks

  1. 1 5 Morceaux de fantasie, Op. 3: No. 2. Prelude in C-Sharp Minor 04:21
    Track
    1
    Title
    5 Morceaux de fantasie, Op. 3: No. 2. Prelude in C-Sharp Minor
    Duration
    04:21
    Composer
    Sergei Rachmaninoff
    Performer
    Eldar Nebolsin
  2. 2 No. 1 in F-Sharp Minor: Largo 03:38
    Track
    2
    Title
    No. 1 in F-Sharp Minor: Largo
    Duration
    03:38
    Composer
    Sergei Rachmaninoff
    Performer
    Eldar Nebolsin
  3. 3 No. 2 in B-Flat Major: Maestoso 03:11
    Track
    3
    Title
    No. 2 in B-Flat Major: Maestoso
    Duration
    03:11
    Composer
    Sergei Rachmaninoff
    Performer
    Eldar Nebolsin
  4. 4 No. 3 in D Minor: Tempo di minuetto 03:38
    Track
    4
    Title
    No. 3 in D Minor: Tempo di minuetto
    Duration
    03:38
    Composer
    Sergei Rachmaninoff
    Performer
    Eldar Nebolsin
  5. 5 No. 4 in D Major: Andante cantabile 05:07
    Track
    5
    Title
    No. 4 in D Major: Andante cantabile
    Duration
    05:07
    Composer
    Sergei Rachmaninoff
    Performer
    Eldar Nebolsin
  6. 6 No. 5 in G Minor: Alla marcia 03:55
    Track
    6
    Title
    No. 5 in G Minor: Alla marcia
    Duration
    03:55
    Composer
    Sergei Rachmaninoff
    Performer
    Eldar Nebolsin
  7. 7 No. 6 in E-Flat Major: Andante 03:06
    Track
    7
    Title
    No. 6 in E-Flat Major: Andante
    Duration
    03:06
    Composer
    Sergei Rachmaninoff
    Performer
    Eldar Nebolsin
  8. 8 No. 7 in C Minor: Allegro 02:20
    Track
    8
    Title
    No. 7 in C Minor: Allegro
    Duration
    02:20
    Composer
    Sergei Rachmaninoff
    Performer
    Eldar Nebolsin
  9. 9 No. 8 in A-Flat Major: Allegro vivace 03:17
    Track
    9
    Title
    No. 8 in A-Flat Major: Allegro vivace
    Duration
    03:17
    Composer
    Sergei Rachmaninoff
    Performer
    Eldar Nebolsin
  10. 10 No. 9 in E-Flat Minor: Presto 01:56
    Track
    10
    Title
    No. 9 in E-Flat Minor: Presto
    Duration
    01:56
    Composer
    Sergei Rachmaninoff
    Performer
    Eldar Nebolsin
  11. 11 No. 10 in G-Flat Major: Largo 03:48
    Track
    11
    Title
    No. 10 in G-Flat Major: Largo
    Duration
    03:48
    Composer
    Sergei Rachmaninoff
    Performer
    Eldar Nebolsin
  12. 12 No. 1 in C Major: Allegro vivace 01:18
    Track
    12
    Title
    No. 1 in C Major: Allegro vivace
    Duration
    01:18
    Composer
    Sergei Rachmaninoff
    Performer
    Eldar Nebolsin
  13. 13 No. 2 in B-Flat Minor: Allegretto 03:17
    Track
    13
    Title
    No. 2 in B-Flat Minor: Allegretto
    Duration
    03:17
    Composer
    Sergei Rachmaninoff
    Performer
    Eldar Nebolsin
  14. 14 No. 3 in E Major: Allegro vivace 02:29
    Track
    14
    Title
    No. 3 in E Major: Allegro vivace
    Duration
    02:29
    Composer
    Sergei Rachmaninoff
    Performer
    Eldar Nebolsin
  15. 15 No. 4 in E Minor: Allegro con brio 05:24
    Track
    15
    Title
    No. 4 in E Minor: Allegro con brio
    Duration
    05:24
    Composer
    Sergei Rachmaninoff
    Performer
    Eldar Nebolsin
  16. 16 No. 5 in G Major: Moderato 03:01
    Track
    16
    Title
    No. 5 in G Major: Moderato
    Duration
    03:01
    Composer
    Sergei Rachmaninoff
    Performer
    Eldar Nebolsin
  17. 17 No. 6 in F Minor: Allegro appassionato 01:23
    Track
    17
    Title
    No. 6 in F Minor: Allegro appassionato
    Duration
    01:23
    Composer
    Sergei Rachmaninoff
    Performer
    Eldar Nebolsin
  18. 18 No. 7 in F Major: Moderato 02:33
    Track
    18
    Title
    No. 7 in F Major: Moderato
    Duration
    02:33
    Composer
    Sergei Rachmaninoff
    Performer
    Eldar Nebolsin
  19. 19 No. 8 in A Minor: Vivo 01:44
    Track
    19
    Title
    No. 8 in A Minor: Vivo
    Duration
    01:44
    Composer
    Sergei Rachmaninoff
    Performer
    Eldar Nebolsin
  20. 20 No. 9 in A Major: Allegro moderato 02:50
    Track
    20
    Title
    No. 9 in A Major: Allegro moderato
    Duration
    02:50
    Composer
    Sergei Rachmaninoff
    Performer
    Eldar Nebolsin
  21. 21 No. 10 in B Minor: Lento 05:21
    Track
    21
    Title
    No. 10 in B Minor: Lento
    Duration
    05:21
    Composer
    Sergei Rachmaninoff
    Performer
    Eldar Nebolsin
  22. 22 No. 11 in B Major: Allegretto 02:18
    Track
    22
    Title
    No. 11 in B Major: Allegretto
    Duration
    02:18
    Composer
    Sergei Rachmaninoff
    Performer
    Eldar Nebolsin
  23. 23 No. 12 in G-Sharp Minor: Allegro 02:12
    Track
    23
    Title
    No. 12 in G-Sharp Minor: Allegro
    Duration
    02:12
    Composer
    Sergei Rachmaninoff
    Performer
    Eldar Nebolsin
  24. 24 No. 13 in D-Flat Major: Grave - Allegro 05:37
    Track
    24
    Title
    No. 13 in D-Flat Major: Grave - Allegro
    Duration
    05:37
    Composer
    Sergei Rachmaninoff
    Performer
    Eldar Nebolsin