Sergei Rachmaninov - Préludes; Études-Tableaux; Moments musicaux (Sergei Babayan)

Information

Composer: Sergei Rachmaninov

1. Prélude in A flat major, Op. 23/8
2. Prélude in G sharp minor, Op. 32/12
3. Lilacs, Op. 21/5 (transcr. Rachmaninov)
4. Prélude in F minor, Op. 32/6
5. Étude-Tableau in C minor, Op. 33/3
6. Étude-Tableau in C minor, Op. 39/1
7. Étude-Tableau in A minor, Op. 39/2
8. Prélude in B minor, Op. 32/10
9. Melody, Op. 21/9 (transcr. Arcadi Volodos)
10. Morceau de fantaisie in G minor
11. Prélude in D major, Op. 23/4
12. Étude-Tableau in E flat minor, Op. 39/5
13. Cello Sonata in G minor, Op. 19: III. Andante (transcr. Arcadi Volodos)
14. Moment musical in E flat minor Op. 16/2
15. Moment musical in C major, Op. 16/6

Sergei Babayan, piano

Date: 2020

Label: Deutsche Grammophon

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Review

Although keyboard connoisseurs have revered Sergei Babayan for decades, a recent association with Deutsche Grammophon appears to be broadening his audience, abetted by duo piano collaborations with Martha Argerich and his former student Daniil Trifonov. This 2009 all-Rachmaninov release marks Babayan’s solo debut on the label, and it showcases the pianist at the height of his artistry.

He coaxes the most gorgeously shaped melodic lines and inner voices from the A-flat Op. 23 No. 6 Prelude’s swirling textures, while sensually parsing the familiar G-sharp minor Op. 32 No. 12’s foreground and background material in perfect proportions. Likewise, Babayan’s disciplined rubato, sublimely timed trills, and subtle dynamic shadings throughout the composer’s transcription of his song Lilacs must be heard to be believed. At the same time, the F minor Prelude Op. 32 No. 6’s climaxes make an incisive impact without the least bit banging.

Babayan’s consummate control of the D major Op. 23 No. 4’s lines weaving in and out of all registers conveys comparable transparency and ease of execution to pianists like Richter and Ashkenazy. I can’t remember the anecdote about when someone asked a famous musician who had the best cello tone in the world, and the musician answered “Rubinstein”, meaning, of course, the pianist. I mention this because Babayan’s lyrical and red-blooded reading of Volodos’ solo-piano arrangement of the Cello Sonata’s slow movement makes you think that the piano’s hammers had been exchanged for the longest and smoothest functioning bow on the market. Ignore the gushing booklet notes and just settle in for 61-plus minutes of piano heaven.

-- Jed Distler

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Sergei Rachmaninov (1 April [O.S. 20 March] 1873 – 28 March 1943) was a Russian composer, virtuoso pianist, and conductor. He is widely considered one of the finest pianists of his day and, as a composer, one of the last great representatives of Romanticism in Russian classical music. His music was influenced by Tchaikovsky, Arensky and Taneyev. Rachmaninov wrote five works for piano and orchestra: four concertos and the Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini. He also composed a number of works for orchestra alone, including three symphonies, the Symphonic Dances Op. 45, and four symphonic poems.

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Sergei Babayan (born 1 January 1961 in Gyumri) is an Armenian-American pianist. He studied under Lev Naumov, Vera Gornostayeva and Mikhail Pletnev at the Moscow Conservatory. Babayan won many international competitions, including the Robert Casadesus International Piano Competition in 1989 and the Hamamatsu International Piano Competition in 1991. His programming covers a wide range of repertoire, including works by baroque, classical, romantic and modern composers. He has recorded with Deutsche Grammophon, the Connoisseur Society label, Discover Records and Pro Piano Records.

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