Lugansky - Rachmaninoff, Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini

Sergey Rachmaninov (1873-1943)
Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini in A minor, Op. 43 (1934)
Nikolai Lugansky, soloist
Alexander Vedernikov conducting Russian National Orchestra, 2017
From Moscow Philharmonic Society

[0:00] Introduction: Allegro vivace
[0:17] Var. 1:(Précédente)
[0:37] Tema: L'istesso tempo
[0:56] Var. 2: L'istesso tempo
[1:16] Var. 3: L'istesso tempo
[1:41] Var. 4: Più vivo
[2:11] Var. 5: Tempo precedente
[2:40] Var. 6: L'istesso tempo
[3:42] Var. 7: Meno mosso, a tempo moderato (entrance of Dies irae)
[4:54] Var. 8: Tempo I
[5:29] Var. 9: L'istesso tempo
[6:01] Var. 10: Poco marcato

[6:51] Var. 11: Moderato
[8:12] Var. 12: Tempo di minuetto
[9:35] Var. 13: Allegro
[10:06] Var. 14: L'istesso tempo
[10:52] Var. 15: Più vivo scherzando
[11:58] Var. 16: Allegretto
[13:36] Var. 17: (Allegretto)
[15:32] Var. 18: Andante cantabile

[18:32] Tempo vivace
[18:37] Var. 19: L'istesso tempo
[19:05] Var. 20: Un poco più vivo
[19:41] Var. 21: Un poco più vivo
[20:07] Var. 22: Un poco più vivo (Alla breve)
[21:54] Var. 23: L'istesso tempo
[22:49] Var. 24: A tempo un poco meno mosso


“Unlike any other piano concertos, “Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini” is a thing of its own. Rachmaninoff pays homage to the legendary Paganini by composing 24 variations on the theme of his 24th caprice, but in the end, he sends his hero straight to hell. The composer injects jazz colors into the score, as if engaging a dialogue with Gershwin but unlike the American composer, he clearly feels no enthusiasm for it! Of the many who wrote variations of this caprice, Rachmaninoff is the first to turn it upside down and as a result - one of the most beautiful melodies in the world is born, next to which even its original source pales.”

Moscow Philharmonic Society, 100 Words for a Classic