Sergei Rachmaninoff
Études-Tableaux, Op. 39 No. 1
Vocalise
Preludium, in G minor, Op. 23 No. 5
Concerto for Piano and Orchestra No. 3 in D minor, Op. 30

Alexander Romanovsky – piano
Lada Bělašková and Vladimír Polák – moderators
Janáček Philharmonic Ostrava
Petr Popelka – conductor

Shine. This title has several films. We are interested in the 1996 Australian one. It is inspired by the true story of the gifted pianist David Helfgott. Despite his father’s adversities, he pushes through his own and succeeds in going to London to study. And here, after one concert, it collapses nervously. Yes, the program included Rachmaninoff’s 3rd piano concert. But JFO listeners don’t have to worry about this. On the contrary, they have a unique musical experience. By the way, this is the same concert with which Lukáš Vondráček won the Queen Elizabeth Competition in Brussels. It is one of the most technically difficult pianos works ever.

Rachmaninov began writing his opus at the Ivanovka farm in southern Russia, then completed it during his first visit to the USA. Here, particularly in New York, the premiere of this work also took place. The author himself introduced it 111 years ago.