Rachmaninov:
- The Four Piano Concertos and
- Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini
The piano works of Rachmaninov are some of the most appreciated by seemingly most music lovers. For me, other favorites include his symphonies, as well. And the reason is simple: Rachmaninov was a master at creating memorable melodies.
On this CD, you can overdose on these melodies, and – like me – you might find that you never tire of them. We hear the following: Sergei Rachmaninov:
- Piano Concertos Nos. 1-4 (complete)
- Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini, Op. 43
Performed by Valentina Lisitsa (piano), with the London Symphony Orchestra, conducted by Michael Francis
Very much an artist of the twenty-first century, Ukranian-born Lisitsa secured a huge global audience via her concert performances, and through social media. She quickly became one of the most viewed pianists on YouTube with over fifty million visitors to her videos.
Ms. Lisitsa describes this recording as “arguably the most ambitious piano-orchestra project a pianist can undertake in a lifetime. The sheer variety of emotions and styles touched upon is encyclopedic.”
Here is Ms. Lisitsa talking about the Rhapsody: And next, here is Valentina Lisitsa in Rachmanino’v Piano Concerto Nº 3 in D Minor, Op.30
Finally here is the Rachmaninoff Variation #18 from the Rhapsody on Themes of Paganini, as performed by Valentina Lisitsa
