Piotr Beczala (tenor), Helmut Deutsch (piano)

RACHMANINOFF AND TCHAIKOVSKY ROMANCES, SUNG WITH ITALIANITA

Star tenor Piotr Beczala presents a selection of romances by Rachmaninoff and Tchaikovsky, together with the acclaimed lied accompanist Helmut Deutsch. The romance was the most popular musical genre in nineteenth- and early-twentieth century Russia, practised by professionals as well as amateurs. Tchaikovsky and Rachmaninoff both enriched this genre with their lyricism and melodic invention.

Elevated by Deutsch's splendid accompaniment, Beczala delivers these songs with a great sense for the Slavic idiom and meaning of the words, combined with colourful lyricism and italianita, perfectly fitting the Russian and cosmopolitan musical language of these two masters.

Piotr Beczala is one of the most sought-after tenors of his age, both on the opera and

concert stage. His Pentatone debut album Vincero! Has been one of the most successful and critically acclaimed opera recital albums of the last few years. During the 2021 Opus Klassik Awards, Piotr Beczala was crowned as Singer of the Year for this exceptional recording. Pianist Helmut Deutsch is a first-class song accompanist,

working together with the greatest vocalists of today. He makes his Pentatone debut.

Peter Iljitsch Tschaikowsky (1840-1893) , Sergej Rachmaninoff (1873-1943)

• Rachmaninoff: A dream, Op. 8 No. 5
• Rachmaninoff: Do not believe me, friend, Op. 14 No. 7
• Rachmaninoff: How fair this spot, Op. 21 No. 7
• Rachmaninoff: I await you, Op.14 No. 1
• Rachmaninoff: Lilacs, Op. 21 No. 5
• Rachmaninoff: Songs (6), Op. 4
• Rachmaninoff: Spring torrents, Op. 14 No.11
• Rachmaninoff: They replied, Op. 21 No. 4
• Tchaikovsky: Den' li tsarit? (Does the day reign?), Op. 47 No. 6
• Tchaikovsky: Na son gryadushchiy (Before sleep), Op. 27 No. 1
• Tchaikovsky: None but the lonely heart, Op. 6 No. 6
• Tchaikovsky: O ditya, pod okoshkom tvoim (Serenade), Op. 63 No. 6
• Tchaikovsky: Otchevo? (Why?), Op. 6 No. 5
• Tchaikovsky: Qu'importe, Op. 16 No. 5
• Tchaikovsky: Six lieder on poems by Daniel Rathaus, Op. 73
• Tchaikovsky: Sred' shumnogo bala (Amid the din of the ball), Op. 38 No. 3
• Tchaikovsky: The lights were being dimmed, Op. 63, No. 5
• Tchaikovsky: The mild stars shone for us, Op. 60 No. 12
• Tchaikovsky: To bilo ranneyu vesnoy (It happened in the early spring), Op. 38 No. 2
• Tchaikovsky: Why did I dream of you?, Op. 28 No. 3
• Tchaikovsky: Zabït tak skoro (So soon forgotten)