This musical programme is a perfect combination between two styles of writing close to two Russian composers who lived around the same time. One, Anton Arensky born in 1861, very marked by the influence of Tchaikovsky, the other, Sergei Rachmaninov, born in 1873, also influenced by the great Tchaikovsky, which brings them together in a sense beyond their meeting at the Moscow Conservatory where Rachmaninov studied harmony, fugue and composition with Arensky and counterpoint with Sergei Taneyev.

Our CD therefore includes the two unfinished Rachmaninov String Quartets nos. 1 and 2 and “mirrored” Arensky’s Piano Quintet no.1. The interest here is to bring together these two great Russian composers in order to hear through their works the evolution of the musical language of the time.

The Elysée Quartet was founded in 1995 by former members of two quartets that each won the Grand Prix at the Evian International Competition: the Anton and Ysaye Quartets. The unique aspect of the Elysée Quartet lies in the confrontation and assimilation of two different schools: the French school and the prestigious Russian school.

Born in Japan, Mahoko Nakano started playing the piano at the age of four. After receiving the first prize for piano at the National Conservatory of Music in Vienna in Austria, Mahoko Nakano continued her studies at the École Normale Supérieure de Musique in Paris where she unanimously obtained the Superior Diploma of Concertist. Laureate of international competitions; the Grand Prix Rovere d'Oro, IBLA Grand Prize, Albert Roussel (Sofia), Masterplayers International Music Competition, Guilde Française ... Mahoko Nakano performs in France and around the world as a soloist and as a chamber musician.