Daniil Trifonov and The Philadelphia Orchestra and Yannick Nézet-Séguin, Destination Rachmaninov: Arrival
Russian pianist Daniil Trifonov has been developing his gift for the piano since the age of five. Trifonov received many scholarships, including the Scriabin Scholarship, the “Young Talents of Russia” Foundation Scholarship, and the Guzik Foundation Award. Trifonov completed his studies with Tatiana Zelikman at the Gnessin Special School of Music and attended the Cleveland Institute of Music to study under Sergei Babayan. Trifonov’s skill was further developed while participating in the International Scriabin Competition, and the International Piano Competition of San Marino. In 2010, he captured third prize in the International Chopin Piano Competition and won the Special Prize of Polish Radio for Best Mazurka performance. He won first prize in 2011 at the Artur Rubinstein International Piano Master Competition, the Pnina Salzman Prize for the Best Performer of a Chopin Piece. Trifonov released a recording from winning the grand prize of the International Tchaikovsky Competition, which led to him recording Tchaikovsky’s Piano Concerto No. 1 with Valery Gergiev and the Mariinsky Orchestra. His playing has taken him around the world, giving recitals in Europe, North America, and Asia. Trifonov has performed with the New York Philharmonic, the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, the Boston Symphony Orchestra, the Russian National Orchestra, the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, the Vienna Philharmonic, and many other major orchestras. Trifonov has an extensive recording catalog and has recorded for Deutsche Grammophon and Decca. He just added his first Grammy Award to his already considerable string of honors, winning Best Instrumental Solo Album of 2018 with Transcendental: Daniil Trifonov Plays Franz Liszt that marked his third title as an exclusive Deutsche Grammophon artist. The Grammy Award-winning pianist was the winner of Musical America’s 2019 Artist of the Year award. Trifonov continues to awe as a solo artist, champion of the concerto repertoire, chamber, and vocal collaborator, and composer. Combining consummate technique with rare sensitivity and depth, he is now releasing Destination Rachmaninov: Arrival – Piano Concertos Nos. 1 & 3. Trifonov is joined by French conductor Yannick Nézet-Séguin and the Philadelphia Orchestra.
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Positives:
Piano Concerto No. 1 in F sharp minor, Op. 1, and the technically difficult Piano Concerto No. 3 in D minor, Op. 30, are delivered in a powerful and musical manner that is seldom heard.
Bottom Line:
Destination Rachmaninov: Arrival is another triumph for Trifonov. The eight tracks contained on the album is filled with examples of his musical brilliance. Besides the two Piano Concertos, the has solo piano transcriptions by Trifonov of other works by Rachmaninov. "The Silver Sleigh Bells," from The Bells, Op. 35, and "Vocalise," Op. 34, No. 14. Nézet-Séguin has an extensive catalog on Deutsche Grammophon. In addition to conducting, he is active as a pianist. He has been featured on many discs as a soloist or accompanist. That also allows him to have a deeper understanding of Trifonov's playing, phrasing, and the mechanics of the piano part. The Philadelphia Orchestra was founded in 1900, and Rachmaninov actually performed with the orchestra while he was alive. The Philadelphia Orchestra is considered by many to be the Rolls Royce of orchestras. The two concertos were recorded in Philadelphia, Kimmel Center, Verizon Hall. The sound and recording quality are solid. The piano sound is a tad aloof, but still recorded with clarity. The tempos and fluidity of the technical passages and polyphony are outstanding. The concertos are exciting and captivate the attention and hold it with ease. Piano Concerto No. 3 in D Minor, Op. 30 – "Allegro ma non tanto" is the stand-out. The rhythmic feel of both The Philadelphia Orchestra and Trifonov is that of excellence. The music has energy and a playful 'sway' about it. The ascending lines are built with fluidity in the orchestra as Trifono