Piano Sonatas Nos, 1, 2, etc : Howard

Rachmaninov:
Sonata No. 1 in D minor, Op. 28 (1907)
Sonata No. 2 in B flat minor, Op. 36 (1913)
Three Piano Pieces (1917)
Nunc dimittis, Op. 37 No. 5 - Arranged for piano solo as Vesper Mass ‘Lord, now lettest thou thy servant depart in peace’

Leslie Howard, piano

The celebrated Australian pianist LESLIE HOWARD makes his debut with Melba Recordings. He plays RACHMANINOV’s Sonata No. 1 in D minor, Op. 28 from 1907, and the Sonata No. 2 in B flat minor, Op. 36 in its original version, from 1913, which was regarded as unplayable by performers of the composer’s time. Following the premier performance the devastated Rakhmaninov radically simplified the work. In this release we hear the sonata in its original splendour. This is the world premiere recording of this coupling of the two Rakhmaninov Piano Sonatas. The recording also includes 4 exquisite miniatures written by Rakhmaninov for his own entertainment, Three Piano Pieces from1917 and Nunc dimittis, Op. 37 No. 5, arranged for piano solo as Vesper Mass - V - Lord, now lettest thou thy servant depart in peace’ St Luke, 2:29

Leslie Howard is an authority on Russian music with important world premiere performances of works by Anton Rubinstein, Tchaikovsky, Glazunov and Stravinsky

Leslie is a towering musical genius and one of the most prodigious pianists working today. His passion for new musical experiences shines through in performances which combine a formidable technique with a wealth of scholarship illuminating rare and mainstream repertoire.

Born and raised in Melbourne, Leslie Howard studied at Monash University, focussing on both musicology and performance.

He has lived in Britain since the seventies and maintains one of the busiest solo schedules of any performer on the international circuit.

This CD was produced with the support of the Australia Council for the Arts. ( Melba )