Rachmaninov Corelli Variations; Tchaikovsky (The) Seasons
Two great Russian piano masterpieces in a subtle and soulful recording
View record and artist detailsRecord and Artist Details
Composer or Director: Sergey Rachmaninov, Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky
Genre:
Instrumental
Label: Audite
Magazine Review Date: 4/2009
Media Format: Super Audio CD
Media Runtime: 68
Mastering:
Stereo
DDD
Catalogue Number: AUDITE92569
Tracks:
Composition | Artist Credit |
---|---|
(The) Seasons |
Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky, Composer
Hideyo Harada, Piano Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky, Composer |
Variations on a theme of Corelli |
Sergey Rachmaninov, Composer
Hideyo Harada, Piano Sergey Rachmaninov, Composer |
Author: Harriet Smith
Tchaikovsky’s flitting lark (March) and his irresistible walzes for April and December are a particular delight in Hideyo Harada’s hands. She’s not afraid of full-blooded climaxes either, as witness the choppier waters of June’s initially lilting barcarolle. And her “Autumn Song” (October) is desolate enough to soften the hardest of hearts. Pletnev’s masterly version remains a benchmark, and though Harada matches him in soulfulness, there are times when his more vigorous approach wins the day, not least in a wild harvest (August) and a hunt (September) where you can almost smell the blood.
Harada is also up against a very fine Pletnev recording in Rachmaninov’s Corelli Variations, that solo masterpiece just one opus number apart from his unaccountably more popular Paganini Variations. Pletnev may have the historical advantage of performing on Rachmaninov’s own piano, but there’s little in it, musically speaking. The subtlety with which Harada approaches the theme itself sets the scene for a reading that thrills as much for its nuance as for its brilliance – especially the extrovert Vars 11, 16 and 18. The wonderfully warm recording sets the seal on a highly recommendable disc.
Discover the world's largest classical music catalogue with Presto Music.
Gramophone Digital Club
- Digital Edition
- Digital Archive
- Reviews Database
- Full website access
From £8.75 / month
SubscribeGramophone Full Club
- Print Edition
- Digital Edition
- Digital Archive
- Reviews Database
- Full website access
From £11.00 / month
Subscribe
If you are a library, university or other organisation that would be interested in an institutional subscription to Gramophone please click here for further information.