【專輯名稱】: Rachmaninov - Piano Concertos
【專輯藝人】: Yujia Wang, Claudio Abado, Mahler Chamber Orchestra
【發行公司】: Deutsche Grammophon
【發行日期】: February 25, 2011
【專輯類型】: Classical, Piano, Romantic

【專輯介紹】:

Yuja Wang is already on her way to superstardom in Asia and the United States, while a broader European audience has yet to discover one of the most fascinating piano talents of the past 30 years. After two impressive solo albums for Deutsche Grammophon—marked by a richly varied selection of works and formidable technical challenges—the young Chinese pianist now presents her first album of repertoire for piano and orchestra.

This live recording of two of the most popular works by Sergei Rachmaninoff (1873–1943) came about at the suggestion of Maestro Claudio Abbado himself, who has been accompanying Yuja Wang’s career path for several years, even though she has only just turned 24.

The remarkable age difference between the two artists—more than 50 years—already creates a certain sense of tension. Moreover, considering that Claudio Abbado now focuses on projects that truly matter to him, it becomes clear that one of the most important living conductors, who has worked throughout his life with pianists such as Argerich, Gulda, Pollini, and Serkin, has discovered something truly special in Yuja Wang’s musical personality.

With Rachmaninoff’s famous Piano Concerto No. 2 in C minor, premiered in 1901, Wang, Abbado, and the Mahler Chamber Orchestra present one of the fundamental works of late Romanticism. A full 33 years later, Rachmaninoff composed his Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini, Op. 43, a work whose magical Variation XVIII contains one of the most beautiful and rhapsodic melodies in the entire piano repertoire.


“My favorite piece by Rachmaninoff for piano and orchestra,” says Yuja Wang about the Paganini Rhapsody, “is a passionate work that suits young people my age because it is so emotional. It is very intelligently written, varied, and colorful. I believe this is where Rachmaninoff’s true genius lies: in this enormous range of expression that explores everything the piano is capable of.”

In preparing for this concert recording, Yuja Wang studied Rachmaninoff’s own historical recordings of these works and oriented herself stylistically toward the composer: “Where one might expect grand emotions, his sound does not become fuller; on the contrary, it remains astonishingly transparent,” she emphasizes. This is quite surprising given the commonly established image of Rachmaninoff as the “last Romantic,” yet its authenticity in relation to his own performances is beyond doubt. This approach is realized with remarkable consistency by Yuja Wang, especially in the great melodic climaxes of both works.

“An exceptionally gifted and thoughtful musician, who possesses both refined technical mastery and emotional reflection,” wrote the renowned Gramophone Magazine about Wang, naming her “Young Artist of the Year” in 2009.



Yuja Wang’s mischievous style – particularly in the first group of variations – suits the Gershwin-esque elements, and contrasts with the Romanticism of Van Cliburn, the virtuosity of Vladimir Ashkanazy (with the LSO under André Previn) or the neatness of Nicolai Lugansky (with the CBSO under Sakari Oramo).

The live element adds an additional layer of excitement, and there is spirit, verve and a twinkle. This is one of Wang’s earliest recordings, and also one of her best.


【專輯曲目】:

Rhapsody On A Theme Of Paganini Op. 43 - Rhapsodie ?ber Ein Thema Von Paganini - Rhapsodie Sur Un Théme De Paganini (23:01)
1 Introduction. Alledro Vivace 0:10
2 Variation I (Precedente) 0:21
3 Tema. L'istesso Tempo 0:20
4 Variation II. L'istesso Tempo 0:20
5 Variation III. L'istesso Tempo 0:26
6 Variation IV. Piú Vivo 0:29
7 Variation V. Tempo Precedente 0:29
8 Variation VI. L'istesso Tempo 1:03
9 Variation VII. Meno Mosso, A Tempo Moderato 1:04
10 Variation VIII. Tempo I 0:35
11 Variation IX. L'istesso Tempo 0:33
12 Variation X 0:54
13 Variation XI. Moderato 1:16
14 Variation XII. Tempo Di Menuetto 1:18
15 Variation XIII. Allegro 0:30
16 Variation XIV. L'istesso Tempo 0:45
17 Variation XV. Piú Vivo Scherzando 1:09
18 Variation XVI. Allegretto 1:35
19 Variation XVII. 1:36
20 Variation XVIII. Andante Cantibile - A Tempo Vivace 2:45
21 Variation XIX. L'istesso Tempo 0:28
22 Variation XX. Un Poco Piú Vivo 0:37
23 Variation XXI. Un Poco Piú Vivo 0:26
24 Variation XXII. Un Poco Piú Vivo (Alla Breve) 1:48
25 Variation XXIII. L'istesso Tempo 0:53
26 Variation XXIV. A Tempo Un Poco Meno Mosso 1:13

Concerto For Piano And Orchestra No. 2 In C Minor Op. 18 = Konzert Für Klavier Und Orchester Nr. 2 C-moll = Concerto Pour Piano Et Orhestre No.2 En Ut Mineur (33:26)
27 I.Moderato - Piú Vivo - Allegro - Maestoso (Alla Marcia) - Moderato 10:26
28 II. Adagio Sostenuto 11:16
29 III. Allegro Scherzando - Moderato - Allegro Scherzando -Presto - Moderato - Allegro Scherzando- Alla Breve. Agitato- Presto - Maestoso - Risuloto 11:26



【專輯播放】:

• 01. Rhapsody On A Theme Of Paganini Op. 43. Introduction. Alledro Vivace
• 02. Variation I (Precedente)
• 03. Tema. L'istesso Tempo
• 04. Variation II. L'istesso Tempo
• 05. Variation III. L'istesso Tempo
• 06. Variation IV. Piú Vivo
• 07. Variation V. Tempo Precedente
• 08. Variation VI. L'istesso Tempo
• 09. Variation VII. Meno Mosso, A Tempo Moderato
• 10. Variation VIII. Tempo I
• 11. Variation IX. L'istesso Tempo
• 12. Variation X
• 13. Variation XI. Moderato
• 14. Variation XII. Tempo Di Menuetto
• 15. Variation XIII. Allegro
• 16. Variation XIV. L'istesso Tempo
• 17. Variation XV. Piú Vivo Scherzando
• 18. Variation XVI. Allegretto
• 19. Variation XVII.
• 20. Variation XVIII. Andante Cantibile - A Tempo Vivace
• 21. Variation XIX. L'istesso Tempo
• 22. Variation XX. Un Poco Piú Vivo
• 23. Variation XXI. Un Poco Piú Vivo
• 24. Variation XXII. Un Poco Piú Vivo (Alla Breve)
• 25. Variation XXIII. L'istesso Tempo
• 26. Variation XXIV. A Tempo Un Poco Meno Mosso
• 27. Concerto For Piano And Orchestra No. 2 In C Minor Op. 18. I.Moderato - Piú Vivo - Allegro - Maestoso (Alla Marcia) - Moderato
• 28. II. Adagio Sostenuto
• 29. III. Allegro Scherzando - Moderato - Allegro Scherzando -Presto - Moderato - Allegro Scherzando- Alla Breve. Agitato- Presto - Maestoso - Risuloto

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