The Russian pianist REM Urasin is most closely associated with Chopin, winning numerous prizes and performing every piece the composer wrote over the course of 11 concerts in 2009/2010. Here, though, he turns his attention to his native repertoire, transforming 15 Shostakovich preludes into brilliantly astringent showcases for cello and piano and transcribing 10 Rachmaninov songs in a similar manner. The contrast between the agitated, angular energy of the preludes and the richly melodic warmth of the romances could hardly be more marked. Urasin and cellist Boris Andrianov make a formidable duo, playing with rigorous intensity - particularly in the crazily satiric Prelude No 5 - and a touchingly languid lyricism.

Tracklist:

24 Preludes, Op. 34: No. 7 In A Major
24 Preludes, Op. 34: No. 2 In A Minor
24 Preludes, Op. 34: No. 3 In G Major
24 Preludes, Op. 34: No. 5 In D Major
24 Preludes, Op. 34: No. 6 In B Minor
24 Preludes, Op. 34: No. 10 In C Sharp Minor
24 Preludes, Op. 34: No. 11 In B Minor
24 Preludes, Op. 34: No. 14 In E Flat Minor
24 Preludes, Op. 34: No. 15 In D Flat Major
24 Preludes, Op. 34: No. 16 In B Flat Minor
24 Preludes, Op. 34: No. 17 In A Flat Major
24 Preludes, Op. 34: No. 18 In F Minor
24 Preludes, Op. 34: No. 20 In C Minor
24 Preludes, Op. 34: No. 22 In G Minor
24 Preludes, Op. 34: No. 24 In D Minor
In The Silence Of The Secret Night, Op. 4 No. 3 (Transcribed For Cello And Piano)
Oh No. I Beg You, Do Not Leave, Op. 4 No. 1 (Transcribed For Cello And Piano)
Oh, Never Sing To Me Again (Transcribed For Cello And Piano)
Lilacs, Op. 21 No. 5 (Transcribed For Cello And Piano)
Melody, Op. 21 No. 9 (Transcribed For Cello And Piano)
Spring Streams, Op. 14 No. 11 (Transcribed For Cello And Piano)
On The Death Of A Linnet (Transcribed For Cello And Piano)
How Painful For Me, Op. 21 No. 12 (Transcribed For Cello And Piano)
Beloved, Let Us Fly, Op. 26 No. 5 (Transcribed For Cello And Piano)
What Happiness, Op. 34 No. 12 (Transcribed For Cello And Piano)
How Fair This Spot, Op. 21 No. 7 (Transcribed For Cello And Piano)

UPC: 880040210726
Label: Quartz
Release Date: 3.10.15
Format: CD

Shostakovich / Rachmaninov / Andrianov / Urasin - Preludes & Romances (CD)