Dec 17 2022
Pianist Vladimir Rumyantsev

Pianist Vladimir Rumyantsev

Presented by Sound Ways at First Church in Boston

The first half of the program features music by four eminent pianist-composers who established distinctive compositional styles and influential performance careers. In the opening piece, Prelude and Nocturne for the Left Hand by Alexander Scriabin, listeners will hear Chopin-like gestures revolutionized by a novel harmonic language. Then, the Islamey of Mily Balakirev delivers energetic rhythms and dramatic harmonies that evoke theatrical dancing. Four Preludes from Op. 23 by Rachmaninoff follow, replete with aching lyricism, lush pianism, and unbridled emotion. Listz’s beloved Hungarian Rhapsody No. 2 concludes the first half, with a cadenza by Rachmaninoff.

In the second half, “Ingenious Arrangements,” Rumyantsev unleashes dazzling works, primarily by pianists who were household names in their day but may be less well-known to contemporary audiences. They include, Pavel Pabst, Ignaz Friedman, and Samuel Feinberg, who brilliantly arranged, paraphrased, and otherwise reimagined compositions by Tchaikovsky, Johann Strauss II, and others. Celebrated artist-scholar Prof. Elena Sorokina will share historical insights about the program.

Scriabin: Prelude and Nocturne for the Left Hand
Balakirev: Islamey, Oriental Fantasy, Op. 18
Rachmaninoff: Preludes, Op. 23
No. 4 in D major (Andante cantabile)
No. 5 in G minor (Alla marcia)
No. 6 in E♭ major (Andante)
No. 7 in C minor (Allegro)

Liszt: Hungarian Rhapsody No. 2 in C# minor
Pabst/Tchaikovsky: Concert paraphrase from Eugene Onegin
Friedman/Strauss: Frühlingsstimmen
Bach/Grainger: Blithe Bells, arr. from Sheep May Safely Graze
Feinberg/Tchaikovsky: Scherzo from Symphony No. 6 by Tchaikovsky

Dates & Times

2022/12/17 - 2022/12/17

Location Info

First Church in Boston

66 Marlborough St., Boston, MA 02116