Symfonische muziek

The second volume in a series of compilations exploring the jewels of Russian classical music as performed by the country’s greatest musical institution. Russian Classics Vol. 2 includes some of the most recognisable and well-loved pieces that Russian music has to offer, including Tchaikovsky’s delicate Waltz of the Flowers, the brooding opening to Tchaikovsky’s Fourth Symphony and the Great Gate of Kiev from Mussorgsky’s Pictures at an Exhibition.

A great asset of this new version of Rachmaninov’s famous Third Concerto is its almost chamber-like aspect, exhibited by the soloist and the conductor, both of whom are international stars. It’s nice not to have too much Steinway for once, as is often the case in most recordings, both old and new. The balance between piano and orchestra is more natural; the soloist fits into Rachmaninov’s intense orchestral flow, conducted here very subtly by Valery Gergiev. Born in Tashkent in 1990, the Uzbek pianist Behzod Abduraimov combines power and fluidity through a mind-blowing technique that plays with all the traps and snares of music written by one of the greatest virtuosos of his time. At this level of pianistic genius, he dares to take on every challenge: from intangible nuances to the most adventurous virtuosity. The Amsterdam Concertgebouw responds to his playing with their usual grace, and every intervention by the orchestra’s soloists is a pure delight. An utterly beautiful record - despite its rather short length. © François Hudry/Qobuz

Discovered at the prestigious International Tchaikovsky Competition in Moscow in 2015, where he took joint second place with Lukas Geniušas, young American pianist of Chinese descent George Li returns here for a second album released by Warner Classics. A francophile, he studied French literature at Harvard while travelling the world for concerts. A very flattering piece in the New York Times spoke of a "revelation" being provided by his performance of the much-played favourite, Tchaikovsky's First Concerto, recorded in London in 2019 with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra with new musical director Vasily Petrenko conducting. The tempo is comfortable, as is the rest of this very polished performance by both pianist and conductor, who bring out a thousand and one details of a score that many had thought they knew inside-out. One would also note the quality of the soloists in the orchestra: flute, oboe, bassoon or solo cello, all supremely expressive. What's more, this album also contains three pieces by Franz Liszt: two extracts from Années de pèlerinage (Les Jeux d’eaux à la Villa d’Este and Sonetto 104 del Petrarca) and the diabolical Réminiscences de Don Juan after Mozart. © François Hudry/Qobuz