RACHMANINOV Two-Piano Suites, Six Morceaux, Op. 11. Charles Owen, Katya Apekisheva. Avie

RACHMANINOV:
Two-Piano Suites, Six Morceaux, Op. 11

1. Sergei Rachmaninov: Fantaisie-tableaux, Op. 5 (Suite No.1) For Two Pianos - I. Barcarolle: Allegretto
2. Sergei Rachmaninov: Fantaisie-tableaux, Op. 5 (Suite No.1) For Two Pianos - II. La Nuit, L’Amour: Adagio Sostenuto
3. Sergei Rachmaninov: Fantaisie-tableaux, Op. 5 (Suite No.1) For Two Pianos - III. Les Larmes: Largo Di Molto
4. Sergei Rachmaninov: Fantaisie-tableaux, Op. 5 (Suite No.1) For Two Pianos - IV. Pâques: Allegro Maestoso
5. Sergei Rachmaninov: Suite No. 2, Op. 17 For Two Pianos - I. Introduction: Alla Marcia
6. Sergei Rachmaninov: Suite No. 2, Op. 17 For Two Pianos - II. Valse: Presto
7. Sergei Rachmaninov: Suite No. 2, Op. 17 For Two Pianos - III. Romance: Andantino
8. Sergei Rachmaninov: Suite No. 2, Op. 17 For Two Pianos - IV. Tarantelle
9. Sergei Rachmaninov: Six Morceaux, Op.11 For Piano, Four Hands - I. Barcarolle
10. Sergei Rachmaninov: Six Morceaux, Op.11 For Piano, Four Hands - II. Scherzo
11. Sergei Rachmaninov: Six Morceaux, Op.11 For Piano, Four Hands - III. Thème Russe
12. Sergei Rachmaninov: Six Morceaux, Op.11 For Piano, Four Hands - IV. Valse
13. Sergei Rachmaninov: Six Morceaux, Op.11 For Piano, Four Hands - V. Romance
14. Sergei Rachmaninov: Six Morceaux, Op.11 For Piano, Four Hands - VI. Slava!

Charles Owen & Katya Apekisheva

Pianist Charles Owen and his regular duo partner Katya Apekisheva turn to Rachmaninov’s diverse Suites for two pianos and the composer’s atmospheric Six Morceaux for their first joint recording for AVIE.

The co-founders of the London Piano Festival delve into the quintessentially Russian Suite No. 1, also known as ‘Fantasise-Tableaux’, with its poetic inspirations, and the more traditional Suite No. 2 which marked Rachmaninov’s compositional comeback after a four-year hiatus. Rounding out the album, Charles and Katya share the piano bench for the atmospheric piano-four hands Six Morceaux.

Critical Acclaim for Charles Owen and Katya Apekisheva ‘Feasts of Fearless Fingerwork ... Together Owen and Apekisheva are not just one-plus-one, but virtually a third entity ... [in] Rachmaninov’s heavenly Suite No. 2, its dizzying Waltz delivered with extraordinary precision, yet full of subtle, pearly colouring ... played with tremendous panache’ - The Arts Desk ‘A reminder of what a fabulous variety of sound can be conjured from two pianos ... hair-raising virtuosity’ - The Daily Telegraph, * * * * *

Avie AV2381