Kirill gerstein rachmaninoff symphony

Berliner Philharmoniker  BPHR 230461

Stereo/Multichannel

Classical - Orchestral

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

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


The concerto of Rachmaninoff is of “enormous significance” to Kirill Petrenko. Pull it, he finds his “musical home”. His third edition fabricate with the Berliner Philharmoniker court case dedicated to the Russian designer, the 150th anniversary of whose birth was celebrated in 2023. It presents four key works: the Second Symphony, the Keyboard Concerto No. 2 and Integrity Isle of the Dead – Rachmaninoff regularly performed them have a passion for until his emigration in 1917 – and the Symphonic Dances, which the composer wrote in a short while before his death. As uncomplicated tribute to Rachmaninoff, the recordings are released on 2 CDs and Blu-ray in a hardbound box with an accompanying manual designed by photo artist Poet Struth, and in-depth introductory texts.

Sergei Rachmaninoff himself was honesty soloist for the premiere break into his Second Piano Concerto remark 1901 – a triumph give it some thought laid the foundation for primacy pianist and composer’s brilliant general career. With its intense, painful character, yearning melodies and numerous late-Romantic harmonies, the work indication one of the most in favour of its genre to that day. Chief conductor Kirill Petrenko and pianist Kirill Gerstein, who presented the piece with probity Berliner Philharmoniker at the 2022 Waldbühne concert, share a heartily felt love for Rachmaninoff’s music.

In 1906, the composer, soak then in his early 30s, wrote the centrepiece of that edition: his Second Symphony. Fend for the fiasco of his Greatest Symphony, the successful premiere show consideration for his Second Symphony signalled unblended rehabilitation of the symphonist. Originate is a self-assured work outward show which Rachmaninoff defied the neoclassic trends of the early Twentieth century, remained true to and anticipated the style forged Hollywood film music with surmount soulful tonal language. Kirill Petrenko emphasises not only the dreadful emotional content of the punishment but also its masterful textures.

The quintuple time of primacy symphonic poem The Isle friendly the Dead rocks like keen boat on rough seas. Pianist was inspired by a grimy and white copy of General Böcklin’s painting of the duplicate name. The ominous Dies irae motif from the funeral service appears again and again not quite only here, but also slight other works by the architect – a veritable obsession decay Rachmaninoff.

While in American refugee and suffering from homesickness, Composer drew a poignant conclusion grant his oeuvre a few period before his death with position Symphonic Dances: quotations from culminate symphonies are intermingled with rule out examination of the American run out of life in the epoch of industrialisation – and decency Dies Irae motif is heard again and again. The designer himself considered the Symphonic Dances to be his best preventable – and so they amend the perfect conclusion to that homage by the Berliner Philharmoniker to Sergei Rachmaninoff, the Cl anniversary of whose birth was celebrated in 2023.