Pianist Pavel Kolesnikov Makes Debut Studio Recording with Tchaikovsky's THE SEASONS

Russian pianist Pavel Kolesnikov, Prize Laureate of the 2012 Honens Prize for Piano, makes his debut studio recording with Pyotr Tchaikovsky's The Seasons, Op 37b, andSix Morceaux, Op 19, on the Hyperion label (CDA68028).

The seasons, commissioned in 1875 by the editor of the St. Petersburg music magazine Nuvellist, is a cycle of twelve pieces depicting the months of the year, the first of which was published in January 1876 in the magazine, with pieces appearing in successive issues that year. Each piece was also given a poetic epigraph.

Pavel Kolesnikov states, "I have always had the desire to record Tchaikovsky's piano music. Even when exploring pieces of his that are new to me, I am overwhelmed by a deep sense of familiarity, something that stems from the musical language itself. It feels as if I am an archaeologist discovering the most personal relics of my remote ancestors."

Mr. Kolesnikov continues, "I find that most of these pieces are somehow too subtle and fragile for large concert halls. This is private rather than public music, and even the simplest of these pieces require a truly personal, intimate connection between the performer and listener. I hope this can be achieved through a recording."

Track Listing:

The seasons

1. January, 'By the fireside': Moderato semplice ma espressivo
2. No 2 February, 'Carnival': Allegro giusto
3. No 3 March, 'The lark's song': Andantino espressivo
4. No 4 April, 'The snowdrop': Allegretto con moto e un poco rubato
5. No 5 May, 'White nights of May': Andantino
6. No 6 June, 'Barcarolle': Andante cantabile
7. No 7 July, 'Reaper's song': Allegro moderato con moto
8. No 8 August, 'Harvest': Allegro vivace
9. No 9 September, 'The hunt': Allegro non troppo
10. No 10 October, 'Autumn song': Andante doloroso e molto cantabile
11. No 11 November, 'Troika': Allegro moderato
12. No 12 December, 'Christmas': Tempo di valse

Six morceaux

13. Rêverie du soir: Andante espressivo
14. Scherzo humoristique: Allegro vivacissimo
15. Feuillet d'album: Allegretto simplice
16. Nocturne: Andante sentimentale
17. Capriccioso: Allegretto simplice - Allegro vivacissimo - Tempo I
18. Thème original et variations: Andante non tanto - Variations 1-12

Total playing time: 75:28

Following Russian pianist Pavel Kolesnikov's Wigmore Hall debut in January 2014, The Telegraph gave his recital a rare five-star review and called it "one of the most memorable of such occasions London has witnessed in a while." Since becoming Prize Laureate of the Honens Prize for Piano in 2012, Kolesnikov has impressed listeners around the world. A live recording of his prize-winning performances, about which the BBC Music Magazine wrote "tremendous clarity, unfailing musicality and considerable beauty", was released on the Honens label in March 2013.

Significant recital and festival appearances resulting from the Honens Prize include Zankel Hall at Carnegie Hall, Berlin's Konzerthaus, the Louvre (Paris), Vancouver Recital Society, La Jolla Music Society, Spoleto Festival USA, Canada's Ottawa ChamberFest and Banff Summer Festival, and the United Kingdom's Plush Music Festival. Recent and upcoming orchestral appearances include Russia's National Philharmonic, London Philharmonic, Philharmonia Orchestra, Orquestra Sinfônica Brasileira and Toronto Symphony Orchestra.

Pavel Kolesnikov was born in Siberia into a family of scientists. He studied both piano and violin for ten years, before concentrating solely on the piano. He has studied at Moscow State Conservatory with Sergey Dorensky, at London's Royal College of Music with Norma Fisher, and at Brussels' Queen Elisabeth Music Chapel with Maria João Pires, resulting from the generous support of Mr. Christopher D. Budden, the RCM Scholarship Foundation and Hattori Foundation. He currently resides in London.

Honens discovers, nurtures and presents Complete Artists-21st century pianists for 21st century audiences. In 1991, philanthropist Esther Honens established the Honens International Piano Competition Foundation in her hometown of Calgary, Canada, with a gift of $5 million. Her dream was to discover and launch the careers of the world's most promising pianists-a dream that has become an international success story. Honens Laureates are acclaimed the world-over and the triennial 'Search for the Complete Artist' awards the largest prize of its kind-$100,000 (CAD) and an artist development program valued at a half million dollars. Honens presents concerts and Canada's International Festival of Piano each year in Calgary in addition to nationwide educational and outreach programs. The Eighth Hones Prize for Piano will be awarded in 2015.