Coming Soon,
Gerstein records Tchaikovsky & Prokofiev
An exciting project from Kirill Gerstein with the Deutsches Symphonie-Orchester Berlin and James Gaffigan - they're set to commit to disc a hitherto un-recorded version of Tchaikovsky's Piano Concerto No. 1.
The work's initial reception was famously ambivalent, with the dedicatee Anton Rubinstein struggling to make sense of its structure and offering his thoughts on what he felt to be the work's shortcomings. Tchaikovsky, though offended and outwardly defiant, subsequently revised the concerto several times, and it is the final version that is most commonly heard today.
Among the most noticeable differences is the absence of the striding D-flat major chords that immediately follow the orchestral introduction to the first movement; in the earlier versions these are replaced with a more understated arpeggio figure to accompany the string melody.
Paired with Prokofiev's daunting Piano Concerto No. 2, it's due for release at the beginning of 2015. In the meantime, here are a selection of Gerstein's previous releases.
Related recordings
Gerstein pairs Mussorgsky's evergreen Pictures with Schumann's equally visual, but more personal and autobiographical, cycle Carnaval - a complementary pair that show both the extrovert and more contemplative sides of his musicianship.
Available Formats: SACD, MP3, FLAC, Hi-Res FLAC
Built around Liszt's formidable B minor Sonata, this album features the world premiere recording of Knussen's Ophelia's Last Dance - a realisation of musical fragments from the composition of Knussen's earlier Ophelia Dances.
Available Formats: CD, MP3, FLAC, Hi-Res FLAC
A very wide-ranging programme, encompassing Bach and Gershwin by way of Beethoven and Scriabin.
Available Formats: CD, MP3, FLAC
David Smith - Head of Digital
