Scherbakov - Rachmaninov - Piano Sonata No 2; Variations on a Theme by Chopin [CD]

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Sergey Rachmaninov (1873-1943)Variations on a theme by Frederic Chopin, Op. 22 Morceauxde fantaisie, Op. 3Piano Sonata No. 2 in B flat minor, Op. 36Sergey Vasilyevich Rachmaninov was among those Russiancomposers who chose exile, rather than remain in Russia after the Revolution of1917, the consequent civil turmoil and, as it turned out, the years of despoticoppression that followed. He was born at Semyonovo in 1873 into a family ofstrong military traditions on his mother's side and more remotely on hisfather's. A tendency to extravagance had depleted his father's fortunes, makingit necessary to sell off much of their land and dissipating his wife's dowry.As a result of this, the childhood of Rachmaninov was largely spent at the oneremaining family estate at Oneg, near Novgorod. The reduction in familycircumstances had at least one happier result. When it became necessary to sellthis estate and move to St Petersburg, the expense of educating the boy for theImperial service proved too great. Rachmaninov could make use, instead, of hismusical gifts, entering St Petersburg Conservatory at the age of nine with ascholarship. Showing no particular industry as a student and lacking theattention he needed at home, in 1885 Rachmaninov failed all his general subjectexaminations at the Conservatory and there were threats that his scholarshipwould be withdrawn. His mother, now separated from her husband and responsiblefor her son's welfare, arranged, on the advice of one of her relations, thewell known pianist Alexander Ziloti, that the boy should move to Moscow tostudy with Zverev, a teacher known to impose the strictest discipline. InZverev's house, however uncongenial the rigorous routine, Rachmaninov acquiredmuch of his phenomenal ability as a pianist, while broadening his musicalunderstanding by attending concerts in the city. At the age of fifteen hebecame a pupil of Zverev's former student Ziloti, a musician who had alsostudied with Tchaikovsky, Nikolay Rubinstein and, thereafter, with Liszt.Rachmaninov had lessons in harmony and counterpoint with Sergey Taneyev andArensky, and his growing interest in composition led to a quarrel with Zverevand removal to the house of his relations, the Satins. In 1891 Rachmaninov completed his piano studies at theConservatory and the composition of his first piano concerto. The followingyear he graduated from the composition class and composed the notorious Preludein C sharp minor, a piece that was to haunt him by its excessive popularity.His early career brought initial success as a composer, halted by the failureof his first symphony at its first performance in 1897, when it was conductedbadly by Glazunov, apparently drunk at the time, and then reviewed in thecruellest terms by Cesar Cui, who described it as a student attempt to depictin music the seven plagues of Egypt. Rachmaninov busied himself as a conductor,accepting an engagement in this capacity with Mamontov's Moscow Private RussianOpera Company. He was onl

Theme: Largo

Variation 1 - Moderato

Variation 2 - Allegro

Variation 3

Variation 4

Variation 5 - Meno mosso

Variation 6 - Meno mosso

Variation 7 - Allegro

Variation 8

Variation 9

Variation 10 - Piu vivo

Variation 11 - Lento

Variation 12 - Moderato

Variation 13 - Largo

Variation 14 - Moderato

Variation 15 - Allegro Scherzando

Variation 16 - Lento

Variation 17 - Grave

Variation 18 - Piu mosso

Variation 19 - Allegro vivace

Variation 20 - Presto

Variation 21 - Andante

Variation 22 and Coda - Maestoso

Elegie

Prelude

Melodie

Polichinelle

Serenade

Allegro Agitato - Meno Mosso

Non Allegro - Lento - Piu Mosso

Non Allegro - Lento - Piu Mosso