‘Elegie’ takes the listener on a journey through Rachmaninov’s life from his early years in Russia, studying in Moscow and composing from his beloved country estate Ivanoka, before escaping the Revolution in 1918.

This musical portrait features:

- Rachmaninov’s virtuosic and popular Prelude in C sharp minor inspired by the rolling bells of the Russian Orthodox Church, and Prelude op.23 no.6, written for his first daughter, Irina, as an outpouring of tenderness and nostalgia;

- Tchaikovky’s Troika – recorded three times by Rachmaninov after several meetings, leaving an indelible impression on the young composer;

- Liebesleid (Love’s Sorrow) in which Rachmaninov pays homeage to his violinist, friend and frequent musical partner, Kreisler;

- Etude in C sharp minor by Scriabin, Rachmaninov’s childhood friend and composer to whom he devoted many of his performances.

“ I am a ghost forever wandering the world” – Sergei Rachmaninov

Acknowledged as one of Britain’s finest pianists, Lucy Parham applies her sensitivity and imagination not only to concertos and recitals, but also to portraits in words and music of composers as Schumann, Chopin, Liszt and Debussy.

She came to public attention as the Piano Winner of the 1984 BBC Young Musician of the Year. Since her Royal Festival Hall concerto debut at age 16, she has played throughout the UK and around the globe. Lucy is also a regular contributor to BBC Music magazine, Pianist magazine and the Guardian and appears frequently on BBC Radio 3 and 4, as a jury member for the final of Young Musician of the Year. Lucy is a Professor at the Guildhall School of Music, London.