Among the works Sergei Rachmaninov promoted were his variations on themes of other composers. The Philadelphia Orchestra - and the bright, new star Daniil Trifonov - are shining a new light on a popular piece as well as lesser-known works in the genre.
Listen to Philadelphia Orchestra Music Director Yannick Nezet-Seguin talk with WRTI’s Susan Lewis about the Orchestra's recent recording, Rachmaninov Variations, which has just earned a GRAMMY Award nomination for Best Classical Instrumental Solo.
Radio script:
MUSIC: Rachmaninov's Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini
Susan Lewis: Rachmaninov’s Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini is well known.
Yannick Nezet-Seguin: But the other variations were always in the shadow.
SL: Yannick Nezet-Seguin, music director of The Philadelphia Orchestra, which has recorded the Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini, on a CD that also includes the composer’s Variations on Themes of Chopin and Corelli for solo piano.
YNS: Rachmaninov - in America, especially - wanted to champion those variations set - when he was asked to do a recital. Sometimes he struggled, because sometimes it was not necessarily the taste of that time.
He was a visionary and had very strong views about what was the best for his own voice to be heard. Now, many decades after this was composed, we can understand what a visionary he was.
SL: The soloist is Daniil Trifonov – a young pianist whom Yannick Nezet-Seguin compares to Rachmaninov himself.
YNS: There is this incredible blend of power and delicate colors. Sometimes you have the impression or feeling that the music is just flying. Probably the closest we can have today to what Rachmaninov was and used to be when he was recording his own works.
SL: The recording, which also includes a composition by Daniil Trifonov, is on the Deutsche Grammophon label. More information about the nomination here.
