Rachmaninov: Piano Concerto Nos. 1 & 4; Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini

by Boris Giltburg, Vassily Sinaisky, Brussels Philharmonic Orchestra

Overview

Boris Giltburg is a pure representative of the Russian school (although he emigrated as a child), oriented toward virtuoso repertory. Nevertheless, he took a while to come to the Rachmaninov, the quintessence of the tradition; many of his recordings have been devoted to Beethoven or to the unquestionably virtuosic but harder-edged Prokofiev. As it turns out, his Rachmaninov is very strong. Sample around in the Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini, Op. 43; this is a well-trodden work indeed, but Giltburg's reading is fresh and exciting. There is a marvelous sense of discovering something new around every corner of Paganini's theme, and his comparatively light-toned Fazioli piano complements his interpretation perfectly. So too, does the brisk conducting of Vassily Sinaisky leading the Brussels Philharmonic, both in the Rhapsody and the first and last Rachmaninov piano concertos. The lush Piano Concerto No. 1 in F sharp minor, Op. 1, presented here in its revised 1917 version, is also a standout. With unusually good studio sound from Naxos, this is a far-above-average Rachmaninov release. ~ James Manheim

Product Details

Release Date:	04/14/2023
Label:	Naxos
UPC:	0747313452873
Rank:	140321

Tracks

1. Piano Concerto No. 1 in F sharp minor, Op. 1~Vivace - Moderato
2. Piano Concerto No. 1 in F sharp minor, Op. 1~Andante
3. Piano Concerto No. 1 in F sharp minor, Op. 1~Allegro vivace
4. Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini, Op. 43~Introduction: Allegro vivace
5. Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini, Op. 43~Variation I: (Precedente)
6. Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini, Op. 43~Tema: L'istesso tempo
7. Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini, Op. 43~Variation II: L'istesso tempo
8. Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini, Op. 43~Variation III: L'istesso tempo
9. Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini, Op. 43~Variation IV: Più vivo
10. Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini, Op. 43~Variation V: Tempo precedente
11. Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini, Op. 43~Variation VI: L'istesso tempo
12. Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini, Op. 43~Variation VII: Meno mosso, a tempo moderato
13. Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini, Op. 43~Variation VIII: Tempo I
14. Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini, Op. 43~Variation IX: L'istesso tempo
15. Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini, Op. 43~Variation X: -
16. Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini, Op. 43~Variation XI: Moderato
17. Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini, Op. 43~Variation XII: Tempo di minuetto
18. Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini, Op. 43~Variation XIII: Allegro
19. Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini, Op. 43~Variation XIV: L'istesso tempo
20. Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini, Op. 43~Variation XV: Più vivo. Scherzando
21. Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini, Op. 43~Variation XVI: Allegretto
22. Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini, Op. 43~Variation XVII: -
23. Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini, Op. 43~Variation XVIII: Andante cantabile
24. Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini, Op. 43~Variation XIX: L'istesso tempo
25. Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini, Op. 43~Variation XX: Un poco più vivo
26. Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini, Op. 43~Variation XXI: Un poco più vivo
27. Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini, Op. 43~Variation XXII: Un poco più vivo (alla breve)
28. Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini, Op. 43~Variation XXIII: L'istesso tempo
29. Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini, Op. 43~Variation XXIV: A tempo un poco meno mosso
30. Piano Concerto No. 4 in G minor, Op. 40~Allegro vivace (alla breve)
31. Piano Concerto No. 4 in G minor, Op. 40~Largo
32. Piano Concerto No. 4 in G minor, Op. 40~Allegro vivace

Album Credits

Performance Credits

Boris Giltburg   Primary Artist,Piano
Vassily Sinaisky   Primary Artist,Conductor
Brussels Philharmonic Orchestra   Primary Artist,Orchestra

Technical Credits

Sergey Rachmaninov   Composer
Niccolo Paganini   Theme
Sasha Gusov   Cover Photo
Marco Borggreve   Photography
Andrew Keener   Producer
Dave Rowell   Engineer
Stephen Frost   Editing
Boris Giltburg   Liner Notes
Wouter Van Vaerenbergh   Photography
Oliver Binns   Photography
James Waterhouse   Assistant Engineer