Utwory na płycie:

• Pictures at an Exhibition - No. 5 Ballet of the unhatched chicks / Ballet der Küken in ihren Eierschalen
• Pictures at an Exhibition - Promenade Allegro giusto, nel modo russico, poco sostenuto
• Pictures at an Exhibition - No. 7 Limoges. Le marché / Der Marktplatz von Limoges
• Pictures at an Exhibition - No. 8 Catacombae. Sepulchrum Romanum
• Pictures at an Exhibition - Promenade Andante non troppo, con lamento
• Pictures at an Exhibition - No. 9 Baba yaga / Die Hütte auf Hühnerfüßen
• Pictures at an Exhibition - No. 10 The Bogatyr Gates / Das große Tor von Kiew
• Three Preludes - No. 1 Allegro ben ritmato e deciso
• Three Preludes - No. 2 Andante con moto e poco rubato
• Three Preludes - No. 3 Allegro ben ritmato e deciso
• Pictures at an Exhibition - Promenade Allegro giusto, nel modo russico, senza allegrezza, ma poco sostenuto
• Seven Virtuoso Etudes on Gershwin Songs - No. 3 The Man I love
• Seven Virtuoso Etudes on Gershwin Songs - No. 4 Embraceable You
• Seven Virtuoso Etudes on Gershwin Songs - No. 7 Fascinatin’ Rhythm
• Transcriptions of Rachmaninoff Songs - In the Silent Night, Op. 4, No. 3
• Transcriptions of Rachmaninoff Songs - Dreams, Op. 38 No. 5
• Transcriptions of Rachmaninoff Songs - The little Island, Op. 14 No. 2
• Transcriptions of Rachmaninoff Songs - Floods of Spring, Op. 14 No. 11
• Transcriptions of Rachmaninoff Songs - Where Beauty dwells, Op. 21 No. 7
• Pictures at an Exhibition - No. 1 Gnomus
• Pictures at an Exhibition - Promenade Moderato commodo assai e con delicatezza
• Pictures at an Exhibition - No. 2 Il vecchio Castello / Das alte Schloss
• Pictures at an Exhibition - Promenade Moderato non tanto, pesamente
• Pictures at an Exhibition - No. 3 Les Tuileries
• Pictures at an Exhibition - No. 4 Byd?o / Der Ochsenkarren
• Pictures at an Exhibition - Promenade Tranquillo
• Pictures at an Exhibition - No. 5 Ballet of the unhatched chicks / Ballet der Küken in ihren Eierschalen

Modest Mussorgsky:
Pictures at an Exhibition

George Gershwin:
Three Preludes

Earl Wild:
Seven Virtuoso Etudes on Gershwin Songs - No. 3, 4 & 7
Transcriptions of Rachmaninoff Songs:
In the Silent Night, Op. 4, No. 3
Dreams, Op. 38, No. 5
The little Island, Op. 14, No. 2
Floods of Spring, Op. 14, No. 11
Where Beauty dwells, Op. 21, No. 7

I have had the idea for this project since 2016. For the occasion of the 10th anniversary of my prize at the Tchaikovsky Competition and of my first CD with Russian music, I wanted to make another recording, a sort of “Volume 2” with Russian repertoire.

Within that framework I wanted to couple a well-known work with others that are more seldom performed: the Pictures at an Exhibition seemed like a good choice, since I had always wanted to play them – particularly in the original version, which I love. I wanted to couple them with Rachmaninoff’s 1st Piano Sonata, a seldom-performed work which, in my opinion, is both marvelous and underrated. But then I discovered Earl Wild’s arrangements of Rachmaninoff songs, and soon became thrilled with these technically demanding yet delightfully lyrical miniatures.

A further inspiration, particularly for Gershwin’s Preludes and Virtuoso Etudes, was provided by the focus on “America” chosen by the Ruhr Piano Festival, where, in the summer of 2017, I performed the programme now featured on this CD under the name “Songs and Pictures” in a live recital – a daunting challenge indeed!

Now, in cooperation with Deutschlandradio Berlin and AvI (to both of whom I extend my heartfelt thanks!), this CD recording now finally sees the light of day. I hope that it will bring much pleasure to everyone who deigns to listen! (Benjamin Moser on his program)