Tharaud plays Rachmaninov on a new recording.
Rachmaninov:
Piano Concerto No. 2 in C minor, Op. 18, with the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra, Alexander Vedernikov conducting.
Morceaux de Fantaisie, Op. 3
Vocalise, Op. 34 No. 14, with Sabine Devieilhe (soprano)
Pieces (2) in A major for piano 6 hands – Waltz & Romance, with
Aleksandar Madžar (piano) & Alexander Melnikov (piano)
Performed by Alexandre Tharaud (piano)
French pianist Alexandre Tharaud takes on the ‘Rach 2’ concerto in a thrilling performance with the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra and Russian maestro Alexander Vedernikov.
It is coupled with more intimate Rachmaninov for piano six-hands (for which Alexandre is flanked by Alexander Melnikov and Aleksandar Madžar) and the icing on the cake: a sublime Vocalise in the original version for voice and piano, with pure-voiced French soprano Sabine Devieilhe.
Alexandre Tharaud this time devoted the entire album to Russian repertoire – specifically to the music of Sergei Rachmaninov. “I was still quite young when I first played this concerto,” explains Tharaud. “I adored it … Rachmaninov’s virtuosity really appeals to young pianists. Today, of course I’m still enthralled by the concerto’s virtuosity, but now I’m more interested in its dark shadows: the sense of despair, of staring into the abyss. My interpretation of Rachmaninov has changed a lot over the years.”
Here is Mr. Tharaud, seen rehearsing the concerto number 2:
