Alexander Paley – Tchaikovsky: Grande Sonate & The Seasons (2014) [Official Digital Download 24bit/88,2kHz]

This album marks the great return to recording of the Moldovan pianist Alexander Paley, who now divides his time between the United States and France. He pays tribute here to Tchaikovsky, a composer whose music he has performed ever since he was a student at the Moscow Conservatory. His performances are a reference!

„It takes pluck as well as a strong temperament to tackle Tchaikovsky’s vast, four-movement Grand Sonata, written in 1878 and first performed the following year by Anton Rubinstein. Paley takes up the challenge with impressive ardour and finesse. This ‘orchestral’ sonata in G major does not serve as an excuse for an unleashing of the decibels; he prefers to highlight its abundance of ideas, with a perfect sense of punctuation, and to explore the timbres. What tenderness and poetry, too, when necessary! What skill in bringing out the echoes of the ballet, scattered throughout a work in which, over thirty-five minutes, Paley builds up a real drama. Musically and pianistically stunning!“ (Alain Cochard)

Tracklist:
1-01. Alexander Paley – Grande Sonate in G Major, Op. 37: I. Moderato e risoluto (16:27)
1-02. Alexander Paley – Grande Sonate in G Major, Op. 37: II. Andante (11:54)
1-03. Alexander Paley – Grande Sonate in G Major, Op. 37: III. Scherzo (03:31)
1-04. Alexander Paley – Grande Sonate in G Major, Op. 37: IV. Finale (08:36)
2-01. Alexander Paley – The Seasons, 12 characteristic pieces for solo piano, Op. 37b: I. At the fireside (January) (06:30)
2-02. Alexander Paley – The Seasons, 12 characteristic pieces for solo piano, Op. 37b: II. Carnival (February) (03:07)
2-03. Alexander Paley – The Seasons, 12 characteristic pieces for solo piano, Op. 37b: III. Song of the skylark (March) (02:39)
2-04. Alexander Paley – The Seasons, 12 characteristic pieces for solo piano, Op. 37b: IV. Snowdrop (April) (02:35)
2-05. Alexander Paley – The Seasons, 12 characteristic pieces for solo piano, Op. 37b: V. Bright nights of May (May) (05:00)
2-06. Alexander Paley – The Seasons, 12 characteristic pieces for solo piano, Op. 37b: VI. Barcarolle (June) (07:00)
2-07. Alexander Paley – The Seasons, 12 characteristic pieces for solo piano, Op. 37b: VII. Song of the reaper (July) (02:05)
2-08. Alexander Paley – The Seasons, 12 characteristic pieces for solo piano, Op. 37b: VIII. Harvest (August) (03:09)
2-09. Alexander Paley – The Seasons, 12 characteristic pieces for solo piano, Op. 37b: IX. The hunt (September) (02:42)
2-10. Alexander Paley – The Seasons, 12 characteristic pieces for solo piano, Op. 37b: X. Autums Song (October) (06:28)
2-11. Alexander Paley – The Seasons, 12 characteristic pieces for solo piano, Op. 37b: XI. Troika (November) (03:45)
2-12. Alexander Paley – The Seasons, 12 characteristic pieces for solo piano, Op. 37b: XII. Yuletide (December) (05:17)