Rachmaninov: Piano Concerto No. 4, Op. 40; Variations on a Theme of Corelli; Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini

Vintage Lill at his best in music with which he has always identified strongly. A natural, unmannered player, revelling as much in the notes and their athletic configurations as in their place within a structure and style, his technical reliability, firmly placed sound and icily voiced chordal precision are stimulating. Like the Corelli Variations, the interpretatively testing Fourth Concerto is a mature triumph, rich in inner passion and distanced spiritual solitude.

Our rating

5

Published: January 20, 2012 at 3:08 pm

COMPOSERS: Rachmaninov
LABELS: Nimbus
WORKS: Piano Concerto No. 4, Op. 40; Variations on a Theme of Corelli; Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini
PERFORMER: John Lill (piano); BBC National Orchestra of Wales/Tadaaki Otaka
CATALOGUE NO: NI 5478 DDD

Vintage Lill at his best in music with which he has always identified strongly. A natural, unmannered player, revelling as much in the notes and their athletic configurations as in their place within a structure and style, his technical reliability, firmly placed sound and icily voiced chordal precision are stimulating. Like the Corelli Variations, the interpretatively testing Fourth Concerto is a mature triumph, rich in inner passion and distanced spiritual solitude. Free of gratuitous emotion or overstatement, the Paganini Rhapsody, too, is finely judged, with as much time for mischief (the final thrown-away cadence can only bring a smile) as sombre weight. Otaka and the BBC National Orchestra of Wales lend distinguished, detailed support. Pedigree Nimbus engineering. Ates Orga

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