Firma Melodiya presents an uncommon set of concertos for piano and orchestra by Sergei Rachmaninov.

These compositions have been a criterion of every pianist’s musical mastery and artistic individuality for a long time. Their successful performance by young musicians opens a path to extensive concert activities, and the interpretations by well-known pianists bring new comparisons and discussions to life.

The set is a collection of performances of all Rachmaninov’s concertos by various pianists of the second half of the 20th century - each of them left an important trace in the history of piano art.

The first is performed by Viktor Yeresko, a recognized interpreter of Rachmaninov’s music (his repertoire includes all the piano works by the composer) and continuer of genuine author’s performing traditions.

A large-scale, epic and dramatic Concerto No.2 is featured in the rendition by the great Sviatoslav Richter, one of the most prominent personalities of the 20th century world pianism.

A most virtuosic, lyric and expressive Concerto No.3 is played by the English pianist Peter Donohoe, whose sharp and tragic rendition of Rachmaninov once astonished the listeners and jury of the Tchaikovsky International Competition.

A more rarely performed Concerto No.4, which was finished by the composer when he was an emigrant, was recorded by Nikolai Petrov, who is not a 'Rachmaninov’s' pianist as it may seem but who came up with his own rendition of the music.

The Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini is performed by Sergey Dorensky, a remarkable pianist and teacher. Many of his pupils are brilliant representatives of the traditions of the Russian piano school.

Contents:
CD 1
- Concerto No.1 in F sharp minor, Op.1
Viktor Yeresko (piano)
USSR State Academiс Symphony Orchestra / Gennady Provatorov
Recorded: 1985, at the Big Hall of the Moscow State Conservatory

- Concerto No.2 in C minor, Op.18
Sviatoslav Richter (piano)
Leningrad Philharmonic Society Symphony Orchestra / Kurt Sanderling
Recorded: 1959, at the Big Hall of the Moscow State Conservatory

CD 2
- Concerto No.3 in D minor, Op.30
Peter Donohoe (piano)
Central Television and All-Union Radio Big Symphony Orchestra / Vladimir Fedoseyev
Recorded at the Big Hall of the Moscow State Conservatory on 8 July 1982

CD 3
- Concerto No.4 in G minor, Op.40
Nikolai Petrov (piano)
All-Union Radio Big Symphony Orchestra / Gennady Rozhdestvensky
Recorded: 1965

- Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini, Op.43
Sergey Dorensky (piano)
USSR Ministry of Culture State Orchestra / Alexander Dmitriyev
Recorded: 1982