00:00 - 00:00

Tchaikovsky The Seasons

Program

Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky (1840-1893)

The Seasons, Op. 37a:
  - I. January - At the fireside.
  - II. February - Carnival.
  - III. March - Song of the lark.
  - IV. April - Snowdrop.
  - V. May - Starlit nights.
  - VI. June - Barcarolle.
  - VII. July - Song of the reaper.
  - VIII. August - The harvest.
  - IX. September - The hunt.
  - X. October - Autumn song.
  - XI. November - Troika.
  - XII. December - Christmas.

Andrey Yaroshinsky, piano.

Musicstry Studios. TRT® sound (calibration 2.4b). Recorded: February 7, 12, 19, 21 2020. Released: October 1 2020. Liner notes: Andrey Yaroshinsky. Producer: Mario Martínez. PC20001 ℗ & © 2021 Play Classics.

Program notes

”The Seasons” by P. I. Tchaikovsky is one of the most famous cycles in Russian piano music of the second half of the 19th century, which was written during 1875-1876. These pieces were created by Tchaikovsky on the order of the musical magazine Nuvellist, which existed in Imperial Russia from 1840 to 1906, and its editor N. M. Bernard. Tchaikovsky had previously collaborated with his father, the founder of the magazine, and gladly agreed to write 12 small pieces, so that during the whole of 1876 each issue of the magazine was opened with a new piece of the cycle, and at the end of 1876 all subscribers could receive as a gift its full edition.

It was Bernard who proposed to Tchaikovsky the title "The Seasons”, 12 pieces named after 12 months, and also selected poetic epigraphs for each piece before their publication. Thanks to this collaboration in the repertoire of pianists all around the world appeared a real treasure, music, filled with incredible sincerity and reflecting the great composer's view of the traditions and impressions associated with the life of the Russian person in and with the nature throughout the whole year. In addition to the name of the month, each piece has its own name, also proposed by Bernard. The titles of the pieces are so closely related to Russian traditions and attitude that it is difficult to be accurately translated.

For example, January - "U kamelka" - is closely related to the image of a small light that burns in the house, being the center of peace and calmness, filling the house with light and warmth. February - "Maslenitsa" is a holiday that originates in the mythology of the Eastern Slavs, symbolizing the border of Winter and Spring, which is filled with various rites and ends with a national festival. November - "Troika" - is an ancient Russian harness, consisting of three horses, which has no analogues in the world, no wonder the phrase “Russian Troika” has become so symbolic. The bells of the approaching sled on a sunny winter day are clearly audible in music. December - "Sviatki” - is an Old Slavic word, meaning holy, saint holidays, that according to the ancient Russian calendar make up 12 days, from Christmas to Epiphany. It's a waltz filled with real magic.

We should not forget that we are talking about 12 months in Russian nature, where the real Spring comes, rather, by April, and the snow comes already in November. Finally, the poetic epigraphs belonging to the great Russian poets (Pushkin, Maikov, Fet, Nekrasov..) put at the beginning of each piece after their creation, certainly complement and enrich the character of this unique Tchaikovsky cycle.

My goal as a performer was to create a special feeling of time, atmosphere of Russian nature and culture of that era, music, never aimed at external effects, but first of all requiring great care and open, sincere soul. The sense of closeness of these images, the cosiness and chamberness of home music, combined with the inevitable and necessary richness of the timbres of Tchaikovsky-symphonist, create an extremely versatile and rich world of the life cycle of nature - the cycle "The Seasons” by P. I. Tchaikovsky.

Andrey Yaroshinsky

Andrey Yaroshinsky

“One of the most prominent artists of his generation” – said Vera Gornostaeva about her pupil.

He was born in Kiev (Ukraine) in 1986. Later he moved to Moscow, where in 2009 he graduated with the highest honors from the Tchaikovsky Conservatory, where he was a student in the class of Vera Gornostaeva. From 2005 he also receives clases from Maestro Joaquin Soriano in Madrid.

He is a laureate and award-winner of many international competitions, which include Chopin Competition in Warsaw (2005), where he was a finalist and diploma-winner; the Iturbi in Valencia, where he received First Grand Prize and three special prizes (2010); the Gabala Competition (2011), where he received the First Prize, and the Paloma O’Shea International Piano Competition of Santander (2008). He is also a winner of the Sommerakademie Mozarteum Salzburg (2007), and of the Gold Diploma at the Pianale Academy (2007), among others. Other achievements include a ten years of scholarship from the Rostropovich Foundation and being an official Steinway Artist since 2009.

Mstislav Rostropovich for many years was musical patron of Andrey, and made a great influence on his future development.

Andrey Yaroshinsky has published eight CDs, three of them for NAXOS (the first one in 2011, devoted to the works of Manuel Seco de Arpe, a second one in 2013, performing pieces by Tchaikovsky, and in 2015, performing pieces of Manuel Seco de Arpe for solo piano), one for the Iturbi Competition, playing Albeniz, Liszt and Rachmaninoff, and finally, as part of the Moscow Conservatory Collection he has recorded Rachmaninoff’s “24 preludes” in the Big Hall of Moscow Conservatory. Also in 2017 by "Melodiya" was released CD of 24 preludes and Fugues by V.Zaderatsky, where 6 pianists performed, including Andrey. The CD was awarded "Choc de Disque" by France Radio Magazine. And in 2019 “Melodiya” also released the CD with Weinberg Quintet and Prokofiev Ouverture on Jewish themes, this recording was awarded with International Recording Prize “Pure Sound”, founded in Russia in 2019. In 2020 he recorded “The Seasons” of Tchaikovsky on the Spanish label “PlayClassics” in Madrid.

His performances have been broadcasted on television and radio, and he has performed either in recital or with major Symphonic or Chamber orchestras in Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic, France, Germany, Greece, Italy, Poland, Russia, Spain, Slovakia, Ukraine, United States and United Kingdom playing in halls such as Wigmore-hall (London), Big Hall of Moscow Conservatory, Tchaikovsky hall of Moscow Philharmony, Auditorio Nacional (Madrid), Palau de la Musica (Valencia), Salle Cortot (Paris), Mariinsky Theatre Concert hall (Saint-Petersburg), Kennedy-Centre (Washington) etc.

He collaborated with National Symphony orchestra of Ukraine, National Symphony orchestra of Slovakia, State Symphony orchestra of Russia, State symphony orchestra of Azerbaidjan, National Philharmonic orchestra of Poland, Radio and television Symphony orchestra of Bratislava, Symphony orchestra of Moscow Conservatory, International New Symphony orchestra, Monte-Carlo Symphony orchestra, Salzburg Chamber Soloists, Chamber orchestra "Musica Viva", Orchestra "Real Philharmonic of Galicia", Valencia Symphony orchestra, JMJ Symphony orchestra of Madrid, National Choir of Spain, among others. Finally, he has been invited to perform in the Salzburg International Festival, the Bratislava Festival, the Chopin Festival in Wroclaw (Poland), the Mstislav Rostropovich Festival in Baku (Azerbaijan), ClassicAval International Festival in Val D'Isere (France), Reino de Leon (Spain), Noches de Cibeles (Spain), "Sights of Modern Pianism" in Mariinsky theatre (Russia), "Stars of 21st Century" in Moscow Philharmonic and many others.

In his repertoire Andrey Yaroshinsky has more than 25 concerts with orchestra, and a big variety of recitals program and chamber music.

Since 2014 he is a professor of piano in High School of Music "Katarina Gurska" in Madrid.

In 2015 he was named President of the Association of Young Musicians-performers of the Russian Musical Union.

Since 2017 Andrey Yaroshinsky is the artistic director of the International Summer School and Festival of Russian Musical Union in Soria (Spain).

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