Composer: Sergey Rachmaninov
Performer: Sergey Babayan
Audio CD
Number of Discs: 1
Format: FLAC (tracks)
Label: Deutsche Grammophon
Size: 509 MB
Recovery: +3%
Scan: yes
01. 10 Preludes, Op. 23: VIII. Allegro vivace
02. 13 Preludes, Op. 32: XII. Allegro
03. 12 Songs, Op. 21: V. Lilacs (Transcr. Rachmaninoff for Solo Piano)
04. 13 Preludes, Op. 32: VI. Allegro appassionato
05. Études-Tableaux, Op. 33: III. Grave
06. Études-Tableaux, Op. 39: I. Allegro agitato
07. Études-Tableaux, Op. 39: II. Lento assai
08. 13 Preludes, Op. 32: X. Lento
09. 12 Songs, Op. 21: IX. Melody (Transcr. Volodos for Piano)
10. Morceau de fantaisie in G Minor “Delmo”
11. 10 Preludes, Op. 23: IV. Andante cantabile
12. Études-Tableaux, Op. 39: V. Appassionato
13. Cello Sonata, Op. 19: III. Andante (Transcr. Volodos for Piano)
14. 6 Moments Musicaux, Op. 16: II. Allegretto
15. 6 Moments Musicaux, Op. 16: VI. Maestoso
A selection of lucid, intimate, and short-from Rachmaninoff works, interpreted with pinpoint technical precision.
“Music is born only in the heart and it appeals only to the heart; it is Love! The sister of Music is Poesy, and its mother is Sorrow!” These are the words Sergei Rachmaninoff used to describe his concept of music.
Sergei Babayan’s interpretations of a selection of Rachmaninoff’s short- form jewels mirror this heartfelt sentiment while also showing his deep and unsentimental understanding of the music. Next to the Études-Tableux, the Préludes and Moments Musicaux, the album contains enchanting, lyrical song transcriptions. After the 2018 release of “Prokofiev for two” with Martha Argerich, this project shows Babayan’s essence as an extraordinarily skillful pianist. Babayan is one of the leading pianists of our time, hailed for his emotional intensity, bold energy and remarkable levels of color.
“Babayan is a genius. Period.” (Le Devor, Montéal)
“There are certainly no doubts about the fluency of Babayan’s playing, nor about his affinity with Rachmaninov, even if that is rather over-egged in the gushing liner notes. There’s a sense of cool refinement about everything he does, keeping plenty in reserve in even the most technically demanding passages, but the impression his playing leaves is often a rather neutral one.” (The Guardian)