Intégrale de L'Œeuvre pour piano Coffret

Description

The complete piano works of Sergei Rachmaninov offered by Brilliant has many advantages. Two masterpieces stand out: the tumultuous "Preludes" by a very young Lukas Geniusas, whose ardent lyricism evokes his grandmother, Vera Gornostaeva, through the depth of the tones and the rainbow of nuances, and, until now much less recognized, the recordings of a very young pianist who has since become the darling of the Berlin public, Zlata Chochieva. The two volumes of "Etudes-Tableaux," played with a stunning dynamic range that avoids unnecessary outbursts and seeks poetry everywhere, renew the approach to these essential works, but one must also hear how she tackles the challenging "First Sonata" and what I consider the secret masterpiece of Rachmaninov's piano works, the "Variations on a Theme by Chopin," where she rivals the memory left by Jorge Bolet. Ghindin's transcriptions may seem a bit one-dimensional, a matter of touch, but what a musician in the "Morceaux de Fantaisie." Impeccable virtuoso Santiago Rodriguez makes short work of the 2nd Sonata (unfortunately he chooses the revised version) as well as the "Variations Corelli," Alexander Gavrylyuk recaptures the lyricism of the greats for admirable "Moments musicaux," and Nils Franke reveals rarities with artistry. Surprisingly, a whole full disc featuring less popular works belongs to a pianist I know nothing about, but who proves remarkable for the quality of her sound and her virtuosic yet unpretentious playing. Listen to how Elisa Tomelini introduces us to the "Suite in D minor," the rare "Nocturnes," and the "Salon Pieces," where suddenly the genius of young Rachmaninov radiates from her magnificent Steinway. The two pianos and four hands revisit the impeccable recordings of Thorson & Thurber, joined for the "Two Pieces for Six Hands" by David Gardiner, classics that won’t prevent one from looking elsewhere for the "Suites" and "Symphonic Dances." Warmly recommended, to be placed without fear of its shadow alongside the box sets of Howard Shelley and Ruth Laredo.