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Naxos

Rachmaninov: Piano Sonata No 2, Etc / Konstantin Scherbakov

$19.99

Details

Composer
RACHMANINOV
Artist
Konstantin, Scherbakov
Format
CD
Label
Naxos
Released
Sep 01, 2003
Catalog #
8554669
UPC
636943466926

About

Rachmaninov’s Chopin Variations is a relative rarity on disc and a work that has never caught on in the concert hall. Here is a performance that makes you wonder why. More clearly than in Berezovsky’s (incomplete) recording (Teldec), more compellingly than even Howard Shelley (Hyperion), Scherbakov illustrates how the Variations, touchingly dedicated to Leschetizky, come from the same golden vein of inspiration that followed the Second Piano Concerto, even reusing some of its figurations and modulations (listen to Vars 3 and 8). Contrast the limpid lyricism of the brief Var. 17, one of the composer’s greatest melodies, with the bravura finale (Scherbakov chooses the alternative presto coda to end the cycle): this is great Rachmaninov playing with an eye for detail and lucid phrasing as much as for atmosphere and colour.

The five Op. 3 pieces are notable for the beautiful tonal quality of the playing (this and the recording throughout are first class). I’ve heard more cohesive takes on the Prelude, the second of the set (Hofmann, for example, and the composer himself), and the opening ‘Élégie’ has a slightly indulgent tempo, but Scherbakov’s individuality and character carry the day.

In the Sonata he manages to combine drama, breathtaking articulation and clarity of texture (usually one disappears at the expense of the other in this work). While it does not claim the pent-up, nerve-jangling thrill of Horowitz’s famous account, and despite a slight loss of tension in the final pages, Scherbakov’s must rank as a front runner among modern recordings.

-- Jeremy Nicholas, BBC Music

Tracklist 31 tracks

  1. 1 Theme: Largo 01:14
    Track
    1
    Title
    Theme: Largo
    Duration
    01:14
    Composer
    Sergei Rachmaninoff
    Performer
    Konstantin Scherbakov
  2. 2 Variation 1: Moderato 00:31
    Track
    2
    Title
    Variation 1: Moderato
    Duration
    00:31
    Composer
    Sergei Rachmaninoff
    Performer
    Konstantin Scherbakov
  3. 3 Variation 2: Allegro 00:14
    Track
    3
    Title
    Variation 2: Allegro
    Duration
    00:14
    Composer
    Sergei Rachmaninoff
    Performer
    Konstantin Scherbakov
  4. 4 Variation 3 00:14
    Track
    4
    Title
    Variation 3
    Duration
    00:14
    Composer
    Sergei Rachmaninoff
    Performer
    Konstantin Scherbakov
  5. 5 Variation 4 00:45
    Track
    5
    Title
    Variation 4
    Duration
    00:45
    Composer
    Sergei Rachmaninoff
    Performer
    Konstantin Scherbakov
  6. 6 Variation 5: Meno mosso 00:29
    Track
    6
    Title
    Variation 5: Meno mosso
    Duration
    00:29
    Composer
    Sergei Rachmaninoff
    Performer
    Konstantin Scherbakov
  7. 7 Variation 6: Meno mosso 01:07
    Track
    7
    Title
    Variation 6: Meno mosso
    Duration
    01:07
    Composer
    Sergei Rachmaninoff
    Performer
    Konstantin Scherbakov
  8. 8 Variation 7: Allegro 00:16
    Track
    8
    Title
    Variation 7: Allegro
    Duration
    00:16
    Composer
    Sergei Rachmaninoff
    Performer
    Konstantin Scherbakov
  9. 9 Variation 8 00:18
    Track
    9
    Title
    Variation 8
    Duration
    00:18
    Composer
    Sergei Rachmaninoff
    Performer
    Konstantin Scherbakov
  10. 10 Variation 9 00:23
    Track
    10
    Title
    Variation 9
    Duration
    00:23
    Composer
    Sergei Rachmaninoff
    Performer
    Konstantin Scherbakov
  11. 11 Variation 10: Più vivo 00:32
    Track
    11
    Title
    Variation 10: Più vivo
    Duration
    00:32
    Composer
    Sergei Rachmaninoff
    Performer
    Konstantin Scherbakov
  12. 12 Variation 11: Lento 01:18
    Track
    12
    Title
    Variation 11: Lento
    Duration
    01:18
    Composer
    Sergei Rachmaninoff
    Performer
    Konstantin Scherbakov
  13. 13 Variation 12: Moderato 02:28
    Track
    13
    Title
    Variation 12: Moderato
    Duration
    02:28
    Composer
    Sergei Rachmaninoff
    Performer
    Konstantin Scherbakov
  14. 14 Variation 13: Largo 01:19
    Track
    14
    Title
    Variation 13: Largo
    Duration
    01:19
    Composer
    Sergei Rachmaninoff
    Performer
    Konstantin Scherbakov
  15. 15 Variation 14: Moderato 01:39
    Track
    15
    Title
    Variation 14: Moderato
    Duration
    01:39
    Composer
    Sergei Rachmaninoff
    Performer
    Konstantin Scherbakov
  16. 16 Variation 15: Allegro scherzando 01:23
    Track
    16
    Title
    Variation 15: Allegro scherzando
    Duration
    01:23
    Composer
    Sergei Rachmaninoff
    Performer
    Konstantin Scherbakov
  17. 17 Variation 16: Lento 01:14
    Track
    17
    Title
    Variation 16: Lento
    Duration
    01:14
    Composer
    Sergei Rachmaninoff
    Performer
    Konstantin Scherbakov
  18. 18 Variation 17: Grave 01:27
    Track
    18
    Title
    Variation 17: Grave
    Duration
    01:27
    Composer
    Sergei Rachmaninoff
    Performer
    Konstantin Scherbakov
  19. 19 Variation 18: Più mosso 01:04
    Track
    19
    Title
    Variation 18: Più mosso
    Duration
    01:04
    Composer
    Sergei Rachmaninoff
    Performer
    Konstantin Scherbakov
  20. 20 Variation 19: Allegro vivace 01:18
    Track
    20
    Title
    Variation 19: Allegro vivace
    Duration
    01:18
    Composer
    Sergei Rachmaninoff
    Performer
    Konstantin Scherbakov
  21. 21 Variation 20: Presto 01:04
    Track
    21
    Title
    Variation 20: Presto
    Duration
    01:04
    Composer
    Sergei Rachmaninoff
    Performer
    Konstantin Scherbakov
  22. 22 Variation 21: Andante 03:06
    Track
    22
    Title
    Variation 21: Andante
    Duration
    03:06
    Composer
    Sergei Rachmaninoff
    Performer
    Konstantin Scherbakov
  23. 23 Variation 22 and Coda: Maestoso 05:03
    Track
    23
    Title
    Variation 22 and Coda: Maestoso
    Duration
    05:03
    Composer
    Sergei Rachmaninoff
    Performer
    Konstantin Scherbakov
  24. 24 I. Élégie 05:53
    Track
    24
    Title
    I. Élégie
    Duration
    05:53
    Composer
    Sergei Rachmaninoff
    Performer
    Konstantin Scherbakov
  25. 25 II. Prelude 03:54
    Track
    25
    Title
    II. Prelude
    Duration
    03:54
    Composer
    Sergei Rachmaninoff
    Performer
    Konstantin Scherbakov
  26. 26 III. Melodie 04:39
    Track
    26
    Title
    III. Melodie
    Duration
    04:39
    Composer
    Sergei Rachmaninoff
    Performer
    Konstantin Scherbakov
  27. 27 IV. Polichinelle 03:17
    Track
    27
    Title
    IV. Polichinelle
    Duration
    03:17
    Composer
    Sergei Rachmaninoff
    Performer
    Konstantin Scherbakov
  28. 28 V. Serenade 03:15
    Track
    28
    Title
    V. Serenade
    Duration
    03:15
    Composer
    Sergei Rachmaninoff
    Performer
    Konstantin Scherbakov
  29. 29 I. Allegro agitato - Meno mosso 08:33
    Track
    29
    Title
    I. Allegro agitato - Meno mosso
    Duration
    08:33
    Composer
    Sergei Rachmaninoff
    Performer
    Konstantin Scherbakov
  30. 30 II. Non allegro - Lento - Più mosso 06:54
    Track
    30
    Title
    II. Non allegro - Lento - Più mosso
    Duration
    06:54
    Composer
    Sergei Rachmaninoff
    Performer
    Konstantin Scherbakov
  31. 31 III. Allegro molto - Poco meno mosso - Presto 05:25
    Track
    31
    Title
    III. Allegro molto - Poco meno mosso - Presto
    Duration
    05:25
    Composer
    Sergei Rachmaninoff
    Performer
    Konstantin Scherbakov