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• WETA-FM: CD Pick of the Week, March 29, 2010
• Stereophile: Records To Die For, February 2010
• The Absolute Sound: Recording of the Issue, December 2009
• live recital review, April 2009
• details of Sony's recording session
• Sony's liner notes

Sergei Rachmaninoff, one of history's great composers, was also a renowned pianist. He passed away in 1943, so few alive today have heard him play. He recorded extensively, but the old records sound dated and often don't convey the color and dynamic range of his exquisite playing.

Peace College graciously hosted a high-tech recording session and recital with Zenph® Studios on April 14, 2009. Advanced software from Zenph guided our special Steinway D concert grand in re-performing the notes and nuances of Rachmaninoff's playing. And Sony Masterworks made a new, state-of-the-art recording of these 13 re-performances. Sony's new album is now available in the USA.

This is not a re-mastering, and these are not from piano rolls. This is every touch of every note from 13 of Rachmaninoff's original 78rpm records, lovingly re-discovered and re-performed.

Album Program: Originals and Transcriptions

Kreisler-Rachmaninoff: Liebesleid
recorded in New York City, 25 October 1921

Rachmaninoff: Prelude in C sharp minor Op. 3 No. 2
recorded in New York City, 4 April 1928

Rimsky-Korsakof-Rachmaninoff: The Flight of the Bumble Bee
recorded in New York City, 16 April 1929

Mendelssohn-Rachmaninoff: Scherzo from A Midsummer Night's Dream
recorded in New York City, 23 December 1935

Rachmaninoff: Etude Tableau in C major Op. 33 No. 2
recorded in New York City, 18 March 1940

Rachmaninoff: Etude Tableau in E flat major Op. 33 No. 7
recorded in New York City, 18 March 1940

Rachmaninoff: Moment Musical Op. 16 No. 2
recorded in New York City, 18 March 1940

Rachmaninoff: Daisies, Op. 38 No. 3
recorded in New York City, 18 March 1940

Tchaikovsky-Rachmaninoff: Lullaby, Op. 16 No. 1
recorded in Hollywood, 26 February 1942

Bach-Rachmaninoff: Prelude from violin partita No. 3
recorded in Hollywood, 27 February 1942

Bach-Rachmaninoff: Gavotte from violin partita No. 3
recorded in Hollywood, 26 February 1942

Bach-Rachmaninoff: Gigue from violin partita No. 3
recorded in Hollywood, 26 February 1942

Kreisler-Rachmaninoff: Liebesfreud
recorded in Hollywood, 26 February 1942