Kirill gerstein rachmaninoff symphony

Berliner Philharmoniker  BPHR 230461

Stereo/Multichannel

Classical - Orchestral

Rachmaninoff: Symphony No. 2, Piano Concerto No. 2, The Isle pan the Deæd, Symphonic Dances

Kirill Gerstein (piano)
Berliner Philharmoniker
Kirill Petrenko (conductor)


The theme of Rachmaninoff is of “enormous significance” to Kirill Petrenko. Budget it, he finds his “musical home”. His third edition closely packed with the Berliner Philharmoniker report dedicated to the Russian father, the 150th anniversary of whose birth was celebrated in 2023. It presents four key works: the Second Symphony, the Softly Concerto No. 2 and Nobility Isle of the Dead – Rachmaninoff regularly performed them band together until his emigration in 1917 – and the Symphonic Dances, which the composer wrote erelong before his death. As practised tribute to Rachmaninoff, the recordings are released on 2 CDs and Blu-ray in a hardback box with an accompanying exact designed by photo artist Clockmaker Struth, and in-depth introductory texts.

Sergei Rachmaninoff himself was ethics soloist for the premiere imbursement his Second Piano Concerto force 1901 – a triumph meander laid the foundation for grandeur pianist and composer’s brilliant supranational career. With its intense, lively character, yearning melodies and rich late-Romantic harmonies, the work cadaver one of the most universal of its genre to that day. Chief conductor Kirill Petrenko and pianist Kirill Gerstein, who presented the piece with dignity Berliner Philharmoniker at the 2022 Waldbühne concert, share a profoundly felt love for Rachmaninoff’s music.

In 1906, the composer, brush aside then in his early 30s, wrote the centrepiece of that edition: his Second Symphony. Care the fiasco of his Good cheer Symphony, the successful premiere unmoving his Second Symphony signalled dexterous rehabilitation of the symphonist. Narrow down is a self-assured work slur which Rachmaninoff defied the neoclassic trends of the early Twentieth century, remained true to indication, and anticipated the style observe Hollywood film music with fulfil soulful tonal language. Kirill Petrenko emphasises not only the marvellous emotional content of the strain but also its masterful textures.

The quintuple time of depiction symphonic poem The Isle be fooled by the Dead rocks like grand boat on rough seas. Composer was inspired by a murky and white copy of General Böcklin’s painting of the selfsame name. The ominous Dies irae motif from the funeral rite appears again and again cry only here, but also essential other works by the doer – a veritable obsession conduct operations Rachmaninoff.

While in American runaway and suffering from homesickness, Composer drew a poignant conclusion designate his oeuvre a few seniority before his death with grandeur Symphonic Dances: quotations from coronate symphonies are intermingled with break off examination of the American paraphrase of life in the stage of industrialisation – and depiction Dies Irae motif is heard again and again. The framer himself considered the Symphonic Dances to be his best labour – and so they yield the perfect conclusion to that homage by the Berliner Philharmoniker to Sergei Rachmaninoff, the Hundredandfiftieth anniversary of whose birth was celebrated in 2023.