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Label: Doron Music ‎– DRC 3040/41
Format: 2 × CD, Album
Country: Switzerland
Released: 2002
 
Total Length:
CD1: 39:24
CD2: 42:34
 
Tracklist
Opus 3 No. 2
1-1 Prelude In C Sharp Minor - Lento - 4:19
 
Preludes Op. 23
1-2 No.1, F Sharp Minor - Largo - 3:40
1-3 No.2, B Flat Major - Maestoso - 3:38
1-4 No.3, D Minor - Tempo Di Minuetto - 3:54
1-5 No.4, D Major - Andante Cantabile - 4:29
1-6 No.5, G Minor - Alla Marcia - 4:10
1-7 No.6, E Flat Major - Andante - 2:42
1-8 No.7, C Minor - Allegro - 2:50
1-9 No.8, A Flat Major - Allegro vivace - 3:45
1-10 No.9, E Flat Minor - Presto - 2:04
1-11 No.10, G Flat Major - Largo - 3:31
 
Preludes Op. 32
2-1 No.1, C Major - Allegro Vivace - 1:19
2-2 No.2, B Flat Minor - Allegretto - 3:37
2-3 No.3, E Major - Allegro Vivace - 2:40
2-4 No.4, E Minor - Allegro Con Brio - 6:01
2-5 No.5, G Major - Moderato - 3:03
2-6 No.6, F Minor - Allegro Appassionato - 1:30
2-7 No.7, F Major - Moderato - 3:03
2-8 No.8, A Minor - Vivo - 2:08
2-9 No.9, A Major - Allegro Moderato - 3:02
2-10 No.10, B Minor - Lento - 5:59
2-11 No.11, B Major - Allegretto - 2:39
2-12 No.12, G Sharp Minor - Allegro - 2:40
2-13 No.13, D Flat Major - Grave - 5:31
         
CREDITS:
  • Artwork By – Bertrand de Peyer
  • Composed By – Sergei Rachmaninov*
  • Mastered By – Blaise Grandjean
  • Photography – Chris Hoefsmit
  • Piano – Marietta Petkova
  • Producer – Mischa Mersson, Pierre Hugli
  • Recorded By, Edited By – Blaise Grandjean, Louis Favre
  • Translated By – Language Unlimited, Robert Steiner-Isenmann
 
NOTES:
Recorded live at 'Salle Paderewski', Lausanne, Switzerland, May 28, 2002
© ℗ 2019 Marietta Petkova, Bloomline Studio

Rachmaninov The complete Preludes 2CD

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  • DEEP INSIGHT INTO RACHMANINOV'S SOUL
    It is still possible to be completely bowled over by a CD. In the hands of the Bulgarian-Dutch pianist Marietta Petkova, each of Rachmaninov's 24 Preludes bears witness to an eventful life, offering deep insights into the soul of the composer. Those who used to think that Rachmaninov's Preludes op. 23 and 32 were intended as pianistic pyrotechnics will be disappointed. Even the grand gestures - such as in Prelude op. 32 no. 3 - have a refined character in Petkova's hands, something particularly essential. And that is no mean feat! After all, these preludes written by the general of the army of 'large-handed' pianists have often been misused for empty rhetoric, for shows of strength of the worst kind. In contrast, Petkova offers a more sensitive Rachmaninov, and does so with a technique that seems to know no bounds. What's more, she is aided by a excellent live recording of a concert in the Salle Paderewski in Lausanne. After hearing this recording, it is no longer possible to listen to Rachmaninov's preludes and remain unmoved. Forget Luganski, Rubinstein, Richter and all those other pianists who once made a brave attempt, here is the long-awaited reference recording that will undoubtedly be a winner.

    -Luister 10
     

    PIANOFENOMEEN ZET HAAR DROOM IN KLANKEN OM
    Marietta Petkova deed zich twee jaar geleden met een gewaagd Rachmaninoff-recital gelden als een fenomeen. Superlatieven als een ‘goddelijk geïnspireerde pianiste’, ‘een wonder’, ‘haar alleskunnende handen’ en meer waren niet van de lucht. Inmiddels ligt er een briljante live-dubbel-CD met alle 24 Preludes van Rachmaninoff, waarop de tot Nederlandse genaturaliseerde Bulgaarse Rachmaninoffs miniaturen een ware metamorfose laat ondergaan. Weg valt het masker van de virtuositeit: achter de noten schuilt een pijnlijke eenzaamheid en verlangen, heimwee. De hondsmoeilijke showstukjes van het virtuozencircuit verraden zich als gedachten van een Mens vol twijfels, met spaarzame momenten van ultieme vreugde en met een bewustzijn van de onvermijdelijkheid van het lot. Verbluffend, schrijnend.”

    -Het Parool

     

    Marietta Petkova... a Remarkable Revelation!
    Every once in a great while, a recording comes to your attention – even one that has been in circulation for decades! – that simply stops you in your tracks; a game and life changer; this is surely one of those. To begin with, I have owned and appreciated recordings of the Rachmaninov Preludes by Ashkenazy, Richter, Osborne, Lugansky, Alexeev, and the fantastic recent offering by Rustem Hayroudinoff on Chandos... but none of these even approaches the shear soaring “Russian” artistry and visceral romantic impact of this Marietta Petkova recording! To be completely honest, I’m not a musicologist - or a classical pianist for that matter - but after listening to classical piano music for over 37 years I know when a soloist is giving something of his/herself that is far beyond the technical revelation of the notes as written on the musical page; this is very much such a performance and it took me completely and utterly by surprise! Before I heard this remarkable recording, I had never even heard of Marietta Petkova! She has made quite a few recording for the somewhat obscure Doron and Challenge Classics labels, but not so much as a “whisper” of her incredibly beautiful and felicitous touch, unforgettable mastery of both pedaling and rubato and searing interpretive penetration have ever reached me. I have heard no other recordings of the C-sharp minor, B-flat minor, G major and B minor Preludes that have simply moved me to tears and distraction as quickly and decisively as these have: phenomenally gorgeous and other-worldly in every respect. That this recording is not more widely known and appreciated is simply criminal and speaks volumes about the true state of present “perks under the table ” musical criticism and the “money and glamour first” recording industry in general. I have now listened to these discs 5 times through, with the greatest joy and satisfaction, and I cannot for my life understand how such an incredibly and beautifully talented Bulgarian pianist - gifted from above with musical intelligence and insight the equal of (and even surpassing!) Richter, Ashkenazy and Osborne – could come to be so neglected and even unappreciated? You have my absolute assurance that one listen ALONE will suffice to lift this improbably triumphant tour de force to the level of “first choice” in your collection of illustrious Rachmaninov Prelude recordings. Wholeheartedly recommended!

    -Amazon

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