May 30, 2025 | Zaryadye Concert Hall
Soloist – Nikolai Lugansky, piano
Conductor – Vladimir Spivakov
Rachmaninoff. Concerto No. 3 for piano and orchestra in D minor, Op. 30
Rachmaninoff. "Symphonic Dances", Op. 45
Maestro Vladimir Spivakov dedicates the NPR's coming program on May 30 in the Zaryadye Hall to his beloved composer Sergei Rachmaninoff presenting his authentic interpretations of the well-known masterpieces – Piano Concerto no.3 and Symphonic Dances. Nikolai Lugansky, People's Artist of Russia, will join the maestro and his team on this night.
Lugansky, brilliant intellectual pianist, also mentions Rachmaninoff among the authors who are most dear to his heart and whose works he has been playing since his youth. 'Personalities of such great scale who have changed fundamentally the history of classical piano music and our perception of the instrument are very few. For me they are first of all Chopin, Liszt and Rachmaninoff who, already having a modern grand piano, have created something not existed before. Rachmaninoff's music is much diversified: it may be a wind whiff or a river flow. But the main thing about it is the presence of strong human feelings' – says Nikolai Lugansky. He considers Rachmaninoff's Third Concerto to be the apex of piano concerto, absolutely unbelievable in its beauty and perfection.
'The Concerto was dedicated to the great pianist Josef Hofmann who had never played it, did not dare, – says Lugansky. – There was even a moment when along with Rachmaninoff himself it was played only by Vladimir Horowitz in America and young Yakov Flier in the Soviet Union. However I could not say that it is the most difficult concerto of all those that I have played. With all its complexity, it gives more to to the player than takes off from him. It is the music of such incredible loveliness that its playing brings a lot of happiness to its performer. I learnt it when I was 17 or 18 years old almost non-stop and knew it by heart in four days.'
In Part II, Vladimir Spivakov will present his rendition of Rachmaninoff’s immortal triptych Symphonic Dances. This is one of the maestro's most loved compositions, the key work for the major part of the NPR's tours in Europe and America, performed also in many Russian cities and recorded. However “many a time” does not mean any finality for Vladimir Spivakov who goes on with his searching and exploring new senses and nuances.
The maestro sees Symphonic Dances as a spiritual will of the author. The Symphonic Dances performance by Vladimir Spivakov with the NPR has been acclaimed by foreign critics who praised the cogency, brightness and non-triviality of the interpretation.
'Spivakov was so assured in his treatment of the score that he overshadowed Mariss Jansons's celebrated recording. With astounding surprise one starts to understand what a powerful composer Rachmaninoff was when he is delivered so thoughtfully. The Finale of Symphonic Dances was so spellbinding that one would not want to rush with applauds.'
'Under the baton of inspired and elegant Vladimir Spivakov the National Philharmonic Orchestra presented Symphonic Dances, a great work written by Rachmaninoff in 1941, with all its multicolored and enigmatic palette, richness of contrasts, thus inviting the audience to plunge into an enticing and opulent world of sounds. No wonder that the thankful audience let the orchestra go only after two encores.'