Notes & News
19.11.10 Anticipating the performance of the Medtner's 3rd Piano Concerto It will be true to say that among all the concerts I've ever invited you to, this one has the most special place in my heart. Me and a wonderful conductor Maxime Tortelier are taking on a monumental and memorable Medtner's 3rd Piano Concerto, the Ballade.To my opinion, the luxurious melodies and harmonic language of this piece, as well as its character and scope bring this work to a greatness not least than the one of the Rachmaninov's 3nd Concerto.It is with a great honour we are performing it with the talented musicians of the Royal Academy, making it an event not to be missed.I hope you are free on that night to support us and to enjoy this great music.You may find Maxime's input about the Tchaikovky Symphony below-- in very best words!All my best,VeronikaMaxime Tortelier writes:Hello everyone!In the second part of this concert, I will be conducting Tchaikovsky's 5th symphony. This heartwarming work of irresistible melodic power hardly needs an introduction; I'd better leave it to youtube or spotify to provide you with a taste of that wonderful music! I am deeply attached to it because it was the first Tchaikovsky symphony I ever heard; in fact what I first discovered was the beautiful horn solo which opens the second movement - and I was immediately won over. I am really excited to perform with Veronika; having heard her play Medtner before, I know she will be an outstanding interpreter for this great concerto. And I am equally happy and honoured to work with my fellow musicians of the Royal Academy of Music, who make a very fine orchestra indeed. I hope to see as many of you there as possible!Maxime25.08.09 Thoughts about my CDIt is with great anticipation I'm introducing my debut recording with the Landor Records!We feature three rarely performed piano works which I hope would be a worthwhile addition to any audio library.I'm hugely grateful to the Landor team for all the liberty I had in choosing this programme.The music heritage of my country is so vast but there are still more labyrinths of russian soul to enjoy losing yourself in. Prokofiev's piano arrangement of the Cinderella ballet pieces inspired me by the combination of pure simplicity and enigmatic characters of the tale, perhaps not so simple as they seem at first. And it's been an endless joy to transform the vivid images and orchestral sounds of the ballet onto the keyboard.In the past year I've earned lots of mileage with performing Medtner's op.22 Sonata in Europe and the US and it was always very rewarding for me to see how the grand architecture and hypnotic qualities of his music quickly converted new audiences into passionate Medtner's lovers.The Scriabin Piano Concerto, so popular in my homeland, also remains a 'secret garden' to the concert goers in Europe. It was one of my first 'musical dreams' to perform this piece, and I believe its sheer beauty and the unity of its polar worlds-- serenity and flamboyance-- will bring this Concerto to many big stages soon.On the day of my recording with the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra I couldn't help pinching myself, feeling almost too fortunate to be surrounded by the glorious warm sound of this orchestra and wise support of the conductor Michael Seal.It is a huge privilege and responsibility for me to be part of this fantastic project which ties the knot between wonderful professionals, Landor Records and CBSO, and I do hope that for whatever reason one opens this CD there will be something new and special to discover for everybody.All my best,Veronika Ilinskaya
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