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Cover: Sergei Rachmaninov – Piano Concertos Nos. 1 & 4 · (Original Versions)

Sergei Rachmaninov

Piano Concertos Nos. 1 & 4

(Original Versions)

Alexander Ghindin, piano
Helsinki Philharmonic Orchestra
Vladimir Ashkenazy, conductor

ODE 977-2 · CD · September 2001

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Track listing

6 tracks · 60:23

Listen to samples on selected tracks.

Sergei Rachmaninov

  1. Piano Concerto No. 1, Op. 1 (Original Version) 29:12
  2. 1 I. Vivace 14:12
  3. 2 II. Andante cantabile 5:23
  4. 3 III. Allegro Scherzando 9:36
  5. Piano Concerto No. 4, Op. 40 (Original Version) 31:13
  6. 4 I. Allegro vivace (alla breve) 11:48
  7. 5 II. Largo 7:05
  8. 6 III. Allegro vivace 12:19

About this recording

Produced in close collaboration with The Rachmaninoff Society and its founding president Vladimir Ashkenazy, this CD couples the original versions of Sergei Rachmaninov's First and Fourth Piano Concertos. The acclaimed young Russian pianist Alexander Ghindin is accompanied by the Helsinki Philharmonic Orchestra under Vladimir Ashkenazy.

This disc features the first-ever recording of the Fourth Concerto's 1926 version, which has now been published by Boosey & Hawkes. The story of how this version has been revived starts, when the manuscript was handed to Alexander Rachmaninov, the composer's grandson, by the Library of Congress in Washington, D.C. Vladimir Ashkenazy subsequently informed Ondine and proposed a recording of the work, which eventually took place in Helsinki in March 2001. The Rachmaninoff Society contributed with liner notes by Elger Niels and rare photographs from its archives.

To view Vladimir Ashkenazy's thoughts on Rachmaninov as a composer, click here.

Features

Booklet with liner notes in English, German and French

Press

La vivacité, la brillante et la douceur du toucher de Ghindin expriment cette jeunesse. (...) accompagnement presque affectueux d'Ashkenazy (...).
Stéphane Friédérich, Classica, Mars 2002

A stellar recording in every respect. (...) Highly recommended.
David Mulbury, American Record Guide, January-February 2002

Alexander Ghindin's virtues - his velvet-toned cluency, his rhythmic flexibility, his Romantic harmonic sensibility and (most of all) his patient willingness to soak in the details of even the most redundant detours (...). Vladimir Ashkenazy and his orchestra provide sympathetic support and Elgar Niels's notes give ample background. Warmly recommended.
Peter J. Rabinowitz, International Record Review, December 2001

A unique recording.
David Fanning, Gramophone, October 2001

The artists

Alexander Ghindin

Russian pianist Alexander Ghindin (b. 1977) graduated from Moscow State P.I. Tchaikovsky Conservatory after completing master class studies with Professor M.S. Voskrensky in 2001. By the age of 13, he had won the Moscow Young Pianists' Competition. One year later, in 1994, Ghindin won the 10th International Tchaikovsky Competition, becoming the youngest-ever winner at age 14. In 1999, he earned second prize at the Brussels International Reine Elisabeth Competition. That same year, he joined the Moscow State Philharmonic as a soloist. He has performed in his native Russia, as well as in Europe and Japan. In 2007, Ghindin won first prize at the Cleveland International Piano Competition.

Full biography

Helsinki Philharmonic Orchestra

The Helsinki Philharmonic Orchestra, the first professional symphony orchestra to be founded in the Nordic countries (1882), has grown from a band of 36 players to an orchestra of 102 regular members.

Full biography

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