Evgeny Kissin, Maxim Vengerov and Vadim Repin at the opening of
the VIII International Tchaikovsky Competition.
Firma Melodiya releases a CD with the live broadcast of the unique
concert that took place over thirty years ago in the July days of 1986.
“Why hold the competition? Here they are, the first prizes!” This is what the
listeners thought, at least the ones who were unwilling to leave the Grand
Hall of the Conservatory that evening. It was one of those rare cases,
when the Tchaikovsky Competition, one of the strongest ever in terms of
contenders, is remembered not only because of the winners, but first of all,
because of the opening concert.
After the officials’ obligatory speeches were over, three boys took the
stage, the eldest of whom had not turned fifteen. Evgeny Kissin, Vadim
Repin, Maxim Vengerov... Each had already managed to vividly express
himself in the country’s musical life, although it seemed that their main
triumphs were still to come. They felt embarrassed, blushed when they
heard the applause and were noticeably nervous when they hit the stage.
But those who happened to be at that concert still remember it clearly...
“Fantastic impressions”, “nothing short of miraculous”, “unforgettable”, “I
have never heard anything like that before and will never hear again” were
some of the judges’ impressions of the concert. The venerable masters,
professors from the world’s leading educational institutions, who had
seen many a talent, were visibly amazed. Each of the contenders was not
inferior to the others in terms of virtuosity, artistry, confidence and refined
sense of style. A mature artist was already heard in each of them. Each
was a master who had not lost his “childish” sincerity, a thing that so many
“adult” professionals lack.
Melodiya released LPs with the broadcast of the concert immediately after
the competition. They have long become phonographic rarities. Today, we
offer another opportunity to hear one of Moscow’s legendary concerts of
the second half of the 1980s.

CD 1
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
1. Adagio in E major, K. 261 7.44
Camille Saint-Saens
2. Havanaise, Op. 83 8.35
Dmitri Shostakovich
Ten Preludes from Op. 34 (arranged for violin and piano
by Dmitri Tsyganov)
3. No. 2 in A minor 0.45
4. No. 6 in B minor 1.07
5. No. 12 in G sharp minor 1.25
6. No. 13 in F sharp major 0.48
7. No. 17 in A flat major 1.50
8. No. 18 in F minor 0.43
9. No. 19 in E flat major 1.38
10. No. 21 in B flat major 0.40
11. No. 22 in G minor 2.19
12. No. 20 in C minor 0.44
Claude Debussy
13. Prelude a l’apres-midi d’un faune, L. 86
(arranged for violin and piano by Jascha Heifetz) 5.54
Heinrich Wilhelm Ernst
14. The Last Rose of Summer, polyphonic
study No. 6 (1864) 7.56
Antonio Bazzini
15. La ronde des lutins (The Dance of the Goblins),
scherzo fantastique, Op. 25 5.20

CD 2
Eugene Ysaye
1. Sonata for solo violin in D minor,
Op. 27 No. 3 (Ballade) 5.19
Ernest Chausson
2. Poeme, Op. 25 13.26
Maurice Ravel
3. Tzigane, rhapsodie de concert, M. 76 8.20
Johannes Brahms
4. Contemplation, Op. 105 No. 1 (arranged for violin and
piano by Jascha Heifetz) 2.15
Pablo de Sarasate
5. Zigeunerweisen, Op. 20 6.52
Sergei Prokofiev
Piano Sonata No. 6 in A major, Op. 82
6. I. Allegro moderato 8.49
7. II. Allegretto 4.51
8. III. Tempo di valzer lentissimo 7.32
9. IV. Vivace 6.35
Sergei Rachmaninoff
10. Etude-Tableau in A minor, Op. 39 No. 2 5.37
11. Etude-Tableau in A minor, Op. 39 No. 6 2.54
Alexander Scriabin
12. Fragilite, Op. 51 No. 1 2.03
13. Etude in C sharp minor, Op. 42 No. 5 3.15
Total time: 77.37