The album's concept is built around three aspects of the Russian spirit: the perception of conflict, underlying optimism, and profound melodies unfolding with boundless freedom.
Composer Biography
Rachmaninoff's four-year depression following the failure of his First Symphony is seen as a challenge he overcame, with his Second Concerto, Chopin Variations, and Third Concerto being testaments to his triumph.
Interpretation
The pianist Tianxu An intentionally placed Prokofiev's Etudes Op.2 between Tchaikovsky's pieces and Rachmaninoff's variations to illustrate stylistic contrast.
Performer Biography
Tianxu An, the pianist on this album, won Fourth Prize and a special award for 'Self Confidence and Bravery' at the XVI International Tchaikovsky Competition in 2019.
Compositional Technique
Rachmaninoff's Variations on a Theme of Chopin uses the 20th prelude from Chopin's Op.28 as its theme, setting a desperate and tragic tone.
Performer Biography
The jury chairman Denis Matsuev lauded Tianxu An's performance at the Tchaikovsky Competition as 'sensational' and 'beyond his years of maturity.'
Performer Biography
Tianxu An's achievement at the Tchaikovsky Competition was the highest award for a Chinese pianist in 17 years at that famous competition.
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The Composer-Pianists: Alkan, Busoni, Godowsky, Medtner, Rachmaninoff etc.
