Russian violinist Vadim Repin teams up with pianist Nikolai Lugansky for their first studio recording together. Having collaborated for a number of years, they decided to program their first recording together just as one would encounter them in the concert hall. The three contrasting sonatas by Janá?ek, Grieg and Franck give the artists opportunities to explore a myriad of colors and array of emotions throughout the program. Deutsche Grammophon will release the album on February 1, 2011.
Repin and Lugansky, though frequent collaborators on stage, had never recorded together until this recital. During an unusually hot period of time in July 2010, the two artists worked with ferocious intensity to record these three sonatas. According to Repin: "Recording is a very tough thing. It's great when the CD is finished, but the sessions are very hard work because you have to be at your best for every take, and at the end of the day you feel completely wrung out by emotional exhaustion. In a concert you have something you can never have in a studio: a live public. But in a recording you have something you can never have in a concert: a choice."
For all of Repin's restless energy and Romantic passion, Lugansky brings a controlled thoughtfulness to the recording and acts as the perfect foil. The artists clearly treasure each work for different reasons: the Franck because it is what they have played together most often; the Janá?ek for its intimacy; and the Grieg for the truthful and natural musical style. The three sonatas, while all Romantic, could not be more different and thus give both artists numerous opportunities to explore the unique colorings and sonorities of their partnership.
After years of performing together the two artists are now ready to present the recording to the world. "Now it's a story about a recording and the people who listen to it, not about us," says Repin. "I always hope for the listener with a really open heart," adds Lugansky. "There are hundreds of recordings of everything. You don't make a recording just to be different. This is a documentary of two people who perform together and love this music. It's the only kind of document we can leave. Composers give us their scores and their thoughts. For musicians, this is the way to leave a footprint."
Vadim Repin, a regular guest of leading orchestras and a recitalist, soon begins an extended period of performing while in the US.
February 3-6 - Seattle, WA (Lalo, Symphonie espagnole)
February 10-15 - Chicago, IL (Tchaikovsky, Violin Concerto)
February 24-26 - Philadelphia, PA (MacMillan, Violin Concerto)
March 1 - New York, NY (MacMillan, Violin Concerto)
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