Rachmaninoff Complete Works for Two Pianos

Es una excelente idea la de recopilar toda la música para dos pianos de Rachmaninov, ensombrecida –en algunos casos injustamente– por sus primos mayores, los archifamosos conciertos. El sello Two Pianists ha contado para esta propuesta con la pareja Schumann-Magalhães, que exhibe siempre unas cualidades pianísticas muy buenas y que nunca defrauda. Desconocido para mí, es una grata sorpresa ver cómo el dúo aborda las obras, partiendo de un control absoluto de la coordinación. Actúan como un solo pianista en el plano temporal, pero también en el dinámico, algo igualmente complicado que resulta vital para el éxito de la interpretación.

Las dos Suites ponen de manifiesto esta complicidad, además de mostrar las líneas maestras, el planteamiento escogido para las obras. La música está muy matizada, es sumamente expresiva y convence sin necesidad de llevarla al extremo –como sí hacen Argerich y Freire (Philips) en la segunda, por ejemplo–. Este concepto no se adapta tan bien a las Danzas Sinfónicas, donde he echado de menos algo más de garra. En cualquier caso, estamos ante versiones de calidad que no defraudan en su conjunto, si bien puntualmente podría darse una vuelta de tuerca más.

★★★/★★★★Jordi Caturla González - Ritmo Magazine, Sep. 2011

Rachmaninow is reknowned for having created impressive piano works, but what is often forgotten is that the “last of the romantics”, who died in 1943, also composed many piano pieces for four hands. Examples are the two suites opus 5 and opus 17, or the “Symphonic dances” opus 45. Admittedly they are not nearly as popular as the “great ones” but not for that reason musically less rewarding. On the contrary: power, virtuosity, sumptuous harmony, a forceful melodiousness on primordial melodic roots – all of these are strengthened through being expressed by four hands. The Nina Schumann/Luis Magalhaes duo are in full accord with this particular language of sound: inappeasable longing, melancholy coloured with cloudy premonitions, but also elegance and sweet-flowing melodiousness – all possible shadings are abundantly present.

“With an outstanding debut release, this husband-wife team bursts onto the scene with Rachmaninoff performances that rival ones by the greatest artists of our time. They have the kind of precision that is rarely heard these days and an attention to detail that allowed me to hear new things in works I have known for 40 years (and a few I have learned and publicly performed). Even in the few places where I might quibble with their artistic choices, their interpretations work well musically and are certainly presented effectively.

The two-piano works are all here; Suites 1 and 2, Symphonic Dances, Russian Rhapsody, and the Prelude in C-sharp minor arrangement by the composer. To these are added a two-piano arrangement of the Polka Italienne by Ada Brant and the Six Morceaux for Piano Duet, Op. 11. Technically, you might argue that all of the concertos exist as two-piano works, but those are not here, nor have they ever been recorded since they are really for rehearsal and learning.

The competition in the two-piano works is formidable, led by Ashkenazy-Previn and Argerich-Freire, and I must say that for a basic building block of a Rachmaninoff CD collection, this set by Schumann-Magalhaes might have just edged into first place. Their blistering tempos in the Waltz and Tarantella of Suite 2 does indeed rival Argerich and Freire, who might retain a performance edge, but the superior sonics of the TwoPianists disc and the glorious sound of their Bosendorfer pianos makes this the logical choice.

And the Symphonic Dances by Ashkenazy and Previn is still at the top, but only by a hair. Again the sound of the new disc versus one 25–30 years older does show. The dead-on ensemble of the young team is so good, they even take a moment here and there to show off. The slight retards in the middle of the Suite 2 Waltz are overdone a bit and stretched to their limit as two people at two pianos sound truly as one. It makes the accelerando to the original Presto tempo even more exciting, with again not a single note out of place as they get faster and faster in perfect ensemble. I will go out of my way to catch a performance of theirs. They are off to a great start, so let’s hope for many more records like this.”

“A new recording of Rachmaninov’s complete works for two pianos is always an eye-opener and this CD from Nina Schumann and Luis Magalhães, which also includes an interesting DVD, does not disappoint. Of the two Suites I particularly liked the second, not just because of the duo’s spectacularly flighty exposition of the Valse, a presto which is rendered all the more impactful by the relaxed sway of its ‘big tune’ , but because of its close to impeccable alignment of fingerwork, which keeps buoyant the all-important rhythmic dimension while never assailing the ear with uninvited brashness. The Symphonic Dances started life in the form it appears on the disc, and its demands are as daunting for this ensemble as in the orchestral version. Schumann and Magalhaes are fully equipped for the task, which speaks as highly of their imagination for the music’s ever-altering temporal terrain as of their pianism per se. The finale, a most exacting movement taking the form of Lento assai – Allegro Vivace, is a treatise in duo playing, always mindful of the darker episodes but equally responsive to the music’s fleeting moments of levity. The duo should be pleased with their rendition of the Six Morceaux, Op. 11, for the ‘scherzo’ growls and guffaws with terrific pizzazz while the ‘valse’ is as poetic as it is dynamic. This set, sensitively recorded and thoughtfully put together, deserves great success.”