Nikolai Lugansky in recital

The Russian pianist Nikolai Lugansky is in recital at the New Auditorium for an extraordinary evening in which he presents the Sonatas n.14 op.27 n. 2 "In the moonlight" and n.23 op.57 "Appassionata" by Ludwig van Beethoven, the Choral Prelude and Fugue in B minor by César Frank and a selection of Études Tableaux by Sergej Rachmaninov.

The Piano Sonata No.14 in C sharp minor, more commonly known as Ludwig van Beethoven's Moonlight Sonata (a title later attributed to it by romantic critics), was composed in 1801 and published in 1802. Dedicated to her favorite pupil, Countess Giulietta Guicciardi, the Sonata consists of three movements: Adagio sostenuto-Allegretto-Presto and is considered one of the most famous piano compositions of all time. The Piano Sonata No.23 in F minor, Op.57 by the same author, composed between 1804 and 1805, was considered by Beethoven to be his most beautiful sonata. The latter is also structured in the traditional three movements: Allegro molto-Andante con moto-Allegro ma non molto-Presto.

The Choral Prelude and Fugue in B minor composed by César Frank in 1884 belongs to the late-romantic period: the latter is a piece characterized by a cyclical structure and instrumental writing reminiscent of that of the organ. Rachmaninov's Études-Tableaux, composed between 1911 and 1917, were conceived by the great Russian composer as "paintings", that is, musical evocations of external visual stimuli; Rachmaninov did not want to reveal what had inspired the studies, claiming that everyone could imagine its meaning.

Nikolai Lugansky, recognized as one of the greatest pianists in the world, has recorded several CDs and won numerous international competitions, including the Leipzig International Bach Competition in 1988, the All-Union Rachmaninov Competition in 1990 and the Tchaikovsky International Competition. in 1994. He also collaborates with prestigious orchestras, including the Orchester National de France, the Orchester de Paris, the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra, the Philharmonia Orchestra, the London Philharmonic Orchestra.

Photo credits: courtesy of Nikolai Lugansky official site