The Moments musicaux, written in 1896, are products of Rachmaninov’s early maturity: at the ripe age of 23. The Corelli Variations, his last piano work, is considered, among Rachmaninov aficionados, to be one of his finest works.

While Lazar Berman recorded just six of the Preludes (making one wish he’d recorded them all), they represent some of the finest recorded performances of these pieces.

This reissue presents all of Berman’s Rachmaninov recordings for Deutsche Grammophon on a single album, with the first release on CD of the Moments Musicaux.

‘Berman’s performance is very welcome ... he meets the furioso of No. 4 with the right strength and passion. No. 5 is a beautiful dream while No. 6 is a stirring virtuoso tour de force’ - Gramophone (Moments musicaux)

‘There is much beauty, too, in Berman’s account of the Preludes, sufficient to make one wish that he would record a complete set. How delicate and fugitive Op.23 No.1 sounds at first, for example; then it rises to a brief climax, exactly judged by the player, and fades away. Op.23 No.4 is another lyrical piece, here shaped by surpassing pianistic art. Again, Op.32 No.12 is beautifully “orchestrated”, every feature, however small, being placed with exact regard to its importance.’ - Gramophone (Preludes)

‘a performance of the highest distinction ... [Berman] reacts vividly to every detail of this last of Rachmaninov’s works for solo piano’ - Gramophone (Corelli Variations)