In the interview that accompanies her newest album, pianist Zlata Chochieva reveals both a musical and personal connection to the concerti presented. Prokofiev’s second piano Concerto may be the most famous work here and its connection to the Rimsky Korsakov is a matter of lineage: Prokofiev was the last but arguably most prominent student of Rimsky-Korsakov (along with Stravinsky); Alexander Tsfasman may be less familiar to listeners, but played an integral role in bringing American jazz to the Soviet Union and establishing the country’s first jazz orchestra.
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Rimsky-Korsakov’s Op. 30 Concerto holds a special place for Chochiev—her mentor Mikhail Pletnev selected it for her to perform with his Russian National Orchestra. She captures the scintillating grace of the first movement as deftly as the ensemble features a series of beautifully executed solos. The slow movement (track 2) embraces a dialogue between the piano and cello. The conversation is wonderfully rendered by the performers and I especially enjoyed its warmth and sincerity. The Allegro (track 3) has a dignified energy to it, but a bold character that also reminds me a bit of the Liszt concertos, which indeed were a point of inspiration for Rimsky-Korsakov.
Chochieva then takes on Prokofiev’s daunting second piano concerto, the first movement of which (track 4) she aptly describes as possessing great psychological depth and inner power. I did find the Andantino section a bit too slow for my taste, with the dotted rhythm motifs sounding too loose and lethargic. Chochieva does make up for it, however, through her tone quality that asserts austerity and presence. The focal point is the cadenza: Yes, Chochieva shows complete command of the high technical demands, but what is more impressive is how fearless she sounds throughout. She’s not afraid to let her fingers fly or dig heartily into the meaty dissonances, both of which drive the apt sense of catastrophe.
The Scherzo (track 5) is another standout. Speed is critical to seizing the spirit, but when a recording moves at breakneck pace (like the Yundi Li/Seiji Ozawa version), we end up overly consumed by the momentum and unable to appreciate the finer details of Prokofiev’s vibrant orchestration. Chochieva and Steffens’s pace may be slightly slower, but it does wonders in bringing out an almost softer quality that I rarely heard elsewhere: the violin’s pizzicatos, the pianist’s refreshingly light articulation, and the ensemble’s tidy phrasing – all speak to a welcome elegance that counterbalances the more ferocious characters of the other movements.
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Although Alexander Tsfasman regarded George Gershwin as a major influence, his Jazz Suite speaks to a distinct personal style. As we hear in movements like Snowflakes (track 8), Tsfasman seems to capture and integrate elements of Russian ballet with the jazz idiom to create a very interesting interplay between these different styles. Chochieva’s delicate trills, lithe runs, and prancing chords give off a dance-like aura while the BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra embodies a more heady presence. At times, I did find the piano overpowered by the sheer volume of the ensemble, but that does little to distract from the bustling energy.
The final movement’s title, ‘Career,’ feels oddly plain, yet it doesn’t reflect the movement’s true nature: for me, this was the most thrilling and dynamic part of the entire performance. Chochieva handles the fingerwork nimbly (reminiscent of another jazz pianist, Art Tatum) and the octaves are impeccably clean yet perky. The ensemble doesn’t have the easiest job staying synchronized at such a furious speed, but under conductor Karl-Heinz Steffens they do fabulous work staying meticulously in line. The sense of joy and fun is evident in this high-spirited performance.
The choices of works are both meaningful and thoughtfully curated, and the artistry of the pianist and ensemble is equally commendable. I greatly enjoyed this album and hope that there are more collaborations from these artists in the future.
Top image: ©️Kristina Radiy
Recommended Comparisons:
Rimsky-Korsakov – Piano Concerto: Richter | Binns
Prokofiev – Piano Concerto No. 2: Wang | Bavouzet
Tsfasman – Jazz Suite: Pletnev (Digital)
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| Album Details | |
|---|---|
| Album name | Prokofiev, Rimsky-Korsakov, Tsfasman: Works For Piano and Orchestra |
| Label | Naïve |
| Catalogue No. | V8448 |
| Amazon Music link | Stream here |
| Apple Music link | Stream here |
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