Post Description

Julia Lezhneva Visiting Rachmaninoff 2025  24-96

This album was recorded at Villa Senar in Switzerland, owned by Rachmaninoff, on the composer’s own Steinway piano. Pianist Alexander Melnikov and soprano Julia Lezhneva visit Rachmaninoff through his less-often recorded works, including the Op. 22 Chopin Variations and three sets of Romances.
Commentary is in order for the piano itself. It was recorded before, famously by Mikail Pletnev (‘Hommage à Rachmaninoff’, DG) and more recently by Behzod Abduraimov (Sony). Reviewing the Abduraimov recording, I mentioned that the instrument had a slight edginess and smaller spectrum in the loud passages, but that the sweeping playing of that performance made one forget about the instrument used.


SERGEI RACHMANINOFF (1873-1943)
Variations on a Theme by Chopin Op. 22
(after Frédéric Chopin's Prelude in C minor Op. 28 No. 20)
· Theme. Largo (1'16)
· Variation I. Moderato (0'29)
· Variation II. Allegro (0'14)
· Variation III (0'16)
· Variation IV (0'49)
· Variation V. Meno mosso (0'21)
· Variation VI. Meno mosso (0'46)
· Variation VII. Allegro (0'15)
· Variation VIII (0'18)
· Variation IX (0'18)
· Variation X. Più vivo (0'28)
· Variation XI. Lento (1'03)
· Variation XII. Moderato (1'33)
· Variation XIII. Largo (0'55)
· Variation XIV. Moderato (1'10)
· Variation XV. Allegro scherzando (1'19)
· Variation XVI. Lento (0'59)
· Variation XVII. Grave (1'09)
· Variation XVIII. Più mosso (0'41)
· Variation XIX. Allegro vivace (1'15)
· Variation XX. Presto (1'03)
· Variation XXI. Andante - Più vivo (2'18)
· Variation XXII. Maestoso - Meno mosso (3'59)
15 Romances Op. 26 (selection / extraits)
· 3. Мы отдохнём / We shall rest (2'22)
· 6. Христос воскрес / Christ is risen (2'43)
· 9. Я опять одинок / Again I am alone (1'55)
· 10. У моего окна / Before my window (1'42)
· 12. Ночь печальна / The night is mournful (2'12)
· 14. Кольцо / The ring (2'35)
12 Romances Op. 21 (selection / extraits)
· 3. Сумерки / Twilight (2'04)
· 4. Онѣ отвечали / They answered (1'48)
· 5. Сирень / Lilacs (1'56)
· 6. Отрывок из А. Мюссе / Fragment from A. Musset (2'06)
· 7. Здесь хорошо / Here it’s so fine (1'54)
· 8. На смерть чижика / On the death of a siskin (2'17)
· 9. Мелодия / Melody (3'03)
· 10. Пред иконой / Before the icon (3'44)
· 11. Я не пророк / No prophet, I (1'22)
· 12. Как мне больно / Sorrow in springtime (1'48)
14 Romances Op. 34 (selection / extraits)
· 3. Буря / The storm (2'35)
· 4. Ветер перелётный / The migrant wind (2'59)
· 5. Арион / Arion (3'00)
· 7. Не может быть! / It cannot be! (1'53)
· 8. Музыка / Music (2'12)
· 12. Какое счастье / What happiness (2'17)








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