Composer: Sergey Rachmaninov
Performer: Anna Fedorova, Benedict Kloeckner
Orchestra: North West German Philharmonic Orchestra
Conductor: Laércio Diniz
Format: FLAC (tracks)
Label: Piano Classics
Catalogue: PCL0081
Release: 2015
Size: 267 MB
Recovery: +3%
Scan: cover
Piano Concerto No. 2 in C minor, Op. 18
01. I. Moderato – Allegro
02. II. Adagio sostenuto
03. III. Allegro scherzando
Cello Sonata in G minor, Op. 19
04. I. Lento – Allegro moderato
05. II. Allegro scherzando
06. III. Andante
07. IV. Allegro mosso
The music of Rachmaninoff is close to the heart of Anna Fedorova. Her performance of the composer’s beloved 2nd Piano Concerto live from Amsterdam Concertgebouw has already over 2 million views!
The young Ukrainian born pianist, still in her twenties, can boast of an impressive career, which brought her to all continents, playing in Tonhalle Zurich, Teatro Colon, Carnegie Hall, Amsterdam Concertgebouw (more than 20 times!), Verbier Festival and many other famous venues. On this new CD she plays Rachmaninoff’s second Piano Concerto, and the gorgeous Cello Sonata with young master cellist Benedict Kloeckner.
Anna Fedorova’s performance of Sergey Rachmaninov’s Piano Concerto No. 2 in C minor features her virtuoso technique and passionate expression, but the reproduction of this 2015 Piano Classics recording is curiously mixed, with a strangely unbalanced sound that detracts somewhat from the performance. The piano part is plainly audible throughout, though its tone quality varies, depending on the thickness of the textures surrounding it, while the orchestra comes in and out of focus, at times murky and compressed and at others surprising clear. There’s not much that Fedorova could do with this situation except play above the accompaniment with clarity and brilliance, while Laércio Diniz and the Nordwestdeutsche Philhamonie gave support as best they could. The recording of the Cello Sonata in G minor is superior in presence and depth, and cellist Benedict Klöckner has real presence to match Fedorova’s vigorous playing.