Rachmaninov: Sonatas

Symphonic in scale and with great dramatic power, Rachmaninov's Piano Sonata no.1 in D minor is an underappreciated masterpiece, depicting a tremendous range of human emotions. The turbulent and brilliant Piano Sonata no.2 in B flat minor is heard in the 1931 revised version which clarifies textures and streamlines the work, heightening its emotional impact. The Isle of the Dead employs Georgy Kirkor's 1957 transcription which Boris Giltburg has revised significantly. Giltburg's authority in Rachmaninov has been universally acknowledged, with his performances termed 'characterful, sensitive and technically dazzling' by BBC Music Magazine (Naxos 8574528).

Boris Giltburg has been exclusive to Naxos since 2015, winning the Opus Klassik Award for Best Soloist Recording for his Rachmaninov concertos and Études-tableaux; a Diapason d'Or for his Shostakovich concertos and his own arrangement of Shostakovich's Eighth String Quartet.

Rachmaninov's Piano Concertos nos. 1 and 4 and the Paganini Rhapsody are on 8574528: 'Throughout this superb disc, Giltburg is a joy to hear, lightly pedalled, consistently on the qui vive, weaving and darting, with a delicious leggiero touch and crystal-clear articulation' (Gramophone).

Piano Concerto no.2 is on 8573629: 'Giltburg brings atmosphere and drama to the Études-tableaux, always serving Rachmaninov's storytelling. The range of his playing - from colour to pacing to emotional shading and sheer heady propulsion - makes for compulsive listening' (BBC Music Magazine).

Pianist Boris Giltburg is lauded across the globe as a deeply sensitive, insightful and compelling interpreter. He regularly plays recitals in the world's most prestigious halls, including Amsterdam's Concertgebouw, Hamburg's Elbphilharmonie, London's Southbank Centre and Wigmore Hall, and New York's Carnegie Hall. Giltburg is widely recognised as a leading interpreter of Rachmaninov, and to celebrate the composer's 150th anniversary in 2023, he released the last album in his acclaimed Rachmaninov concerto cycle, which received a Choc de Classica award and a five-star review in The Times. In recent years, Giltburg has engaged in a series of in-depth explorations of other major composers, most recently Chopin, including three recitals at the Wigmore Hall.