15 APRIL - 1 MAY 2018

Valletta

Seventy-five years after his death, Sergei Rachmaninoff’s star burns as brightly as ever. Few composers are better loved by a broad public, and listeners never seem to tire of his narrow range of musical moods.

It hardly seems to matter that many of Rachmaninoff’s themes are almost incestuous: the juxtaposition of his popular Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini with the more heartfelt Vocalise will prove again, the remarkable consistency of this music is all part of its potency.

However neatly his life and career divide on either side of the Russian Revolution – like Chopin, he went into exile and was never to see his homeland again – Rachmaninoff’s voice was hardly changed by it. If anything, it was only strengthened by a longing for home.

This year, the Malta International Music Festival is celebrating Sergei Rachmaninoff‘s 145th birth anniversary. World famous russian piano virtuoso Nnikolai Lugansky, first time in Mmalta, will perform the famous rhapsody on a theme of Paganini with the Armenian State Symphony Orchestra conducted by Sergey Smbatyan.

Programme

Sergei Rachmaninoff

Vocalise for Symphony Orchestra

Rhapsody
on a Theme by Paganini

Soloist: Nikolai Lugansky (piano)

Symphonic Dances, Op.45

I Non Allegro
II Andante con moto (Tempo di valse)
III Lento assai - Allegro vivace - Lento assai. Come prima – Allegro vivace