Happy New Year to all Rachmaninoff enthusiasts worldwide! Here is a true must-hear Youtube link posted by Alexander Siloti's grandson, the only audio recording of Alexander Siloti, first cousin of Sergei Rachmaninoff, playing the piano. According to information in Charles Barber's study 'Lost in the Stars - The Forgotten Musical Life of Alexander Siloti' these private recordings were made at the Ansonia in the first three months of 1941: 'On them, Siloti performs in a freely improvisational style excerpts from 'Un Sospiro' and the 12th Hungarian Rhapsody of Franz Liszt; 'Avant de quitter' from Gounod's 'Faust'; the Riabinin-Siloti 'Russian Lullaby'; the Rachmaninoff Second Suite for two pianos and several other fragments unrecognizable. (...)
Especially considering its age and the recording circumstances that prevailed, these acetates support the claims made for his remarkable cantabile and legato style.’ Excuses for the bad audio quality. At 06:38 the same recording can be heard with a digital filter. Enjoy!
Comments