Rachmaninov: 24 Preludes

‘A catalogue of revelations on how the Russian composer’s piano music should sound … one of the finest performances I’ve ever heard from the Scottish pianist—Osborne presented a textbook demonstration of clarity of thought and purpose … a philosophy which banished notions of Rachmaninov’s music as turgid, densely textured emotional upheaval in sonic form. This was so clear it had a rare purity, wholly refreshing the music in all its parts’ (The Glasgow Herald) ‘Textures that on the page look impossibly convoluted emerged wonderously clear, fluent and beauteous’ (Financial Times)

Steven Osborne’s live performances of Rachmaninov’s preludes were greeted ecstatically by critics and audience alike: a new benchmark for performances of these works, and a new departure for this most subtle and sensitive of pianists. Now Steven has committed the complete cycle to disc—a surprisingly rare recording venture in itself. His matchless musicianship has rarely been so blazingly evident as it is here. Also apparent is his deeply individual relationship with the repertoire. This is a disc to treasure.

CDA67700  77 minutes 53 seconds
INTERNATIONAL RECORD REVIEW 'OUTSTANDING' AWARD
BBC MUSIC MAGAZINE INSTRUMENTAL CHOICE
GRAMOPHONE EDITOR'S CHOICE
THE TIMES CLASSICAL CD OF THE WEEK
THE SUNDAY TIMES CD OF THE WEEK
DAILY TELEGRAPH CD OF THE WEEK
MUSICAL OPINION RECORD O F THE MONTH
‘There are few pianists who offer such range and depth of palette: not even Ashkenazy's seminal reading … this has award-winner written all over it’ (Gramophone)
‘Outstanding Rachmaninov playing of acute perception, discretion and poetic sensibility, limpid, powerful and luminous in equal measure’ (BBC Music Magazine)
‘This sensational pianist … brings his technical wizardry and, above all, his penetrating musical intelligence to these much-recorded works of Rachmaninov … in his combination of modesty, in ...