Vestards Šimkus, solo concert

After idyllic day-dreaming about Richard Wagner and having completed talks with Ludwig van Beethoven, Vestards Šimkus in his already the 7th solo album has turned to one of the most romantic Russian composers – Sergei Rakhmaninoff. His melodies, like Vestards’ performance, address the listeners directly and immediately, growing from a gentle breeze and soft, hardly audible touch of the keys into a vehemently effervescent whirlwind.

The opuses having been selected for the new CD album were written at the peak of composer’s creative activity in Russia. These include well-known preludes from op. 32 and the initial version of Sonata No. 2 as well as a couple of amazingly exquisite pieces. With interest one can look forward to the large and rather rarely performed Variations on a theme of Chopin (op. 22), and surely Vestards’ own composition – this time as a transcription to one of Sergei Rakhmaninoff’s early romances (op. 4) in which the fervent nature of Pyotr Tchaikovsky can still be felt.

Programme

Sergei Rakhmaninoff 
Preludes op. 32, No. 5, No. 10 and No. 12
“In the silence of the secret night” op. 3 No. 4 (piano transcription by Vestards Šimkus)
Variations on a theme of Chopin op. 22
Sonata No. 2 in B flat minor op. 36 (1913 edition)

Participants

Vestards Šimkus, piano