SearchsearchUseruser

Rachmaninoff - Arghamanyan

Rachmaninoff - Arghamanyan

PentaTone Classics  PTC 5186399

Stereo/Multichannel Hybrid

Classical - Instrumental


Rachmaninoff: Morceaux de Fantaisie Op. 3, Etudes-Tableaux Op. 33, Variations on a Theme of Corelli Op. 42

Nareh Arghamanyan (piano)

Support this site by purchasing from these vendors using the paid links below.
As an Amazon Associate HRAudio.net earns from qualifying purchases.

bol.com
 
jpc
Presto

 

Add to your wish list | library

 

15 of 15 recommend this, would you recommend it?  yes | no

All
show
Recording
show
hide
DSD recording
Reviews (2)
show
hide

Review by Graham Williams - May 23, 2012

These days there is almost an embarrassment of riches where phenomenally gifted young artists are concerned. They burst upon the music scene blessed with astonishing technical prowess and with a fistful of awards from international competitions, so any newcomer has to be the possessor of extra special qualities to make any impression amongst a bewildering array of talent. On the evidence of the new PentaTone SACD the 23 year-old pianist Nareh Arghamanyan has these qualities in abundance.
She was born on January 21, 1989, in Armenia, to a professional family – her father is a lawyer and her mother a textile engineer. At the tender age of eight, her parents enrolled her at the Tchaikovsky Music School for Gifted Children in Yerevan, where she studied with Alexander Gurgenov. Her career blossomed in 2008 when she won the Montreal International Music Competition and currently she continues her studies with Arie Vardi in Hannover. She has made a CD for the Analekta label, but this is her first for PentaTone with whom she has signed an exclusive contract.
On this disc Nareh Arghamanyan has chosen compositions that span three periods of Rachmaninov's creative life from the early 'Morceaux de Fantasie' Op.3 (1892), the first set of Etudes-Tableaux Op.33 (1911) and finally the 'Variations on a Theme of Corelli' Op.42 (1931). This is a taxing programme, but one that allows her to display her fine musicianship to the full.

Of the early pieces, the famous 'Prelude in C-sharp minor' is performed with a wide gradation of dynamics and controlled power that fully communicates the melodrama inherent this piece whilst the wistful gentleness of the 'Mélodie' Op 3 No.3 contrasts with the coruscating account of the capricious 'Polichinelle'. She seems completely unfazed by the virtuoso challenges of the 'Etudes-Tableaux' that follow and which she delivers with great sensitivity and a maturity that her age belies. A quite riveting and wonderfully nuanced performance of Rachmaninov's masterly Corelli Variations completes this marvellous disc.

The packaging also includes a DVD on which we see Nareh Arghamanyan playing the C sharp minor Prelude and the first seven of the Corelli variations. The rest of the DVD consists of an interview in which the pianist speaks fluently and unaffectedly about her early life, training and thoughts about the music that she performs on this recital to the interviewer Hans Visser who asks such searching questions as “I'm sure you have an i-pod?”.

Jean-Marie Geijsen's resplendent recording captures the richness and depth of Arghamanyan's Steinway piano in the excellent acoustic of the Concertboerderij Valthermond, while for those listening in 5.0 surround sound a further realistic bloom is imparted to the sonics by the hall's ambience. Thoughtful liner notes by the pianist herself are also most welcome.

This is one of the most enjoyable Rachmaninov recitals that I have heard for many a year, and one hopes that it a precursor to future recordings from this exciting and exceptionally talented young pianist.

No less than a top recommendation is deserved.

Copyright © 2012 Graham Williams and HRAudio.net

Performance:

Sonics (Multichannel):

stars stars

Review by John Broggio - October 15, 2012

A wonderful disc!

In the opening Op. 3 (that contains *that* prelude), Arghamanyan shows herself to possess not only a phenomenal technique but an understanding of Rachmaninov's music. The rubato is varied but never goes "against the grain"; this is most vividly illustrated in the famous C sharp minor prelude where the structure of the harmony & the melodic line is never pulled so far as too fragment (never mind break). Arghamanyan uses the later revisions to the third & fifth pieces (added filigree is the main difference) to great effect - the Melodie is wonderfully shaped and the climaxes built powerfully but the highlight has to be the "singing" style that is evoked in this beautiful melody although coquettish end comes close! The one (slight) disappointing rendition is that of the Polichinelle where some of the clarity that is elsewhere in abundance is lacking and the final statement is not a convincing coda in either an affirmatory manner nor a "wait for what's next" effort. Such concerns vanish for the concluding Serenade which rounds off the set with considerable style and grace.

The Etudes Tableaux are meatier fare, pianistically and musically, for they contain technical challenges of a far greater level that makes it so much more tricky to play musically. Here Arghamanyan manages again to do just that and quite upstages those also presented by her Pentatone compatriot on Mussorgsky: Pictures at an Exhibition - Chen. The playing, whilst being more muscular, is also more graceful and the sense of fantasy taking wing is palpable. Nareh Arghamanyan faces some stiff competition in the Corelli variations (not least on SACD from Rachmaninoff, Bach-Busoni, Ravel, Stravinsky - Kempf) but is (at least) honours even with allcomers. Compared to Kempf, she comes across as painting more with oils whereas he paints more with watercolours; each melody and counter-melody is boldly shaped and contrasted against the often limpid accompanying passagework. Their style of playing is both compelling and gratifying in different ways - Kempf arguably has more mystery, Arghamanyan more of the turbulent drama.

Pentatone's sound is marvellous - a textbook case of how to present a piano on disc. Recorded in the Valthermond studio, the tone is rich yet the textures are clear and there is never even the hint of hardness from the superbly conditioned Steinway Model-D.

Very enjoyable indeed.

Copyright © 2012 John Broggio and HRAudio.net

Performance:

Sonics (Multichannel):

stars stars
Note
show
hide

SA-CD + DVD