The Soul of Russia
A cycle of 25 masterpieces by Mussorgsky, Rachmaninoff, Rimsky-Korsakov, Scriabin, Tschaikovsky and others
Audio Player
Tracklist
- Mily Balakirev (1837–1910)
from Ten Romances. For Voice and Piano, No. 4 (1895/96)
Lorsque les blés dorés. Mélodie - Alexander Borodin (1833–1887)
from Four Romances. For Voice and Piano, No. 3 (1870)
Mon chant est amer et sauvage - Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov (1844–1908)
from Four Romances, Op. 2. For Voice and Piano, No. 2 (1865/66)
Romance orientale - Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov
from The Golden Cockerel, Scene from Act 2 (1906/07)
Chez la reine de Chémakhâ - Modest Mussorgsky (1839–1881)
from Piece for Piano (1880)
Une larme - Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky (1840–1893)
from Serenade for Strings in C major, Op. 48, 3. movement (1880)
Elégie - Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky
from Serenade for Strings in C major, Op. 48, 2. movement (1880)
Valse - Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky
from Six Duets, Op. 46. For Soprano, Mezzo-soprano and Piano, No. 3 (1880)
Les larmes - Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky
from Six Romances, Op. 6. For Voice and Piano, No. 2 (1869)
Pourquoi tant de plaintes - Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky
from The Seasons, Op. 37a. For Piano, No. 3 (1876)
Chant de l’alouette - Anton Arensky (1861–1906)
from Quatre Morceaux, Op. 30. For Violin and Piano, No. 2 (1894)
Sérénade - Sergei Rachmaninoff (1873–1943)
from Six moments musicaux, Op. 16. For Piano, No. 3 (1896)
Moment musical - Vladimir Rebikov (1866–1920)
from The Christmas Tree, Op. 21. Fairy Tale in one act. Waltz for Piano (1901)
Valse - Nikolai Tcherepnin (1873–1945)
from Five Romances, Op. 22. For Voice and Piano, No. 1 (1904)
Mélodie - Reinhold Glière (1875–1956)
from Douze Pièces Enfantines, Op. 31. For Piano, No. 2 (1907)
Nocturne - Joel Engel (1868–1927)
from Two Romances, Op. 2. For Tenor, Mezzo-soprano, Violoncello and Piano, No. 2 (1903)
Duo. Oh non, pour ma beauté - Leonid Nikolayev (1878–1942)
from Two Romances after Fyodor Tyutchev, Op. 4. For Voice and Piano, No. 1 (1907)
Calme est la nuit - Henryk Pachulski (1859–1921)
from Four Préludes, Op. 21. For Piano, No. 3 (1905)
Prélude - Georgy Catoire (1861–1926)
from Trois Morceaux, Op. 2. For Piano, No. 1 (1888)
Chant Intime - Nikolai Medtner (1880–1951)
from Three Tales, Op. 9. For Piano, No. 2 (1904/05)
Conte - Leonid Sabaneev (1881–1968)
from Deux Morceaux, Op. 5. For Piano, No. 2 (1910)
Prélude - Igor Stravinsky (1882–1971)
from The Firebird. For Orchestra, No. 17 (1911)
Berceuse - Igor Stravinsky
from The Firebird. For Orchestra, No. 10 (1911)
Corovod (Ronde des Princesses) - Alexander Scriabin (1872–1915)
from Trois Morceaux, Op. 2. For Piano, No. 1 (1889)
Étude - Alexander Scriabin
from Two Nocturnes, Op. 5. For Piano, No. 2 (1890)
Nocturne
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The Trio Then-Bergh (violin), Wen-Sinn Yang (cello), and Michael Schäfer (piano) provide a cross-section of the golden age of Russian music in their new GENUIN CD. These three exceptional musicians play masterpieces compiled and arranged by the composer Alexander Krein in the first half of the 20th century. Krein is a masterful arranger who makes the soul of each piece shine in the trio version. Works by Tchaikovsky (for example, from his String Serenade and The Seasons) and Rimsky-Korsakov (from The Golden Cockerel) are presented here, as well as wonderfully sentimental salon music from Glière to Tcherepnin.
Fono Forum
"The piano trio Then-Berg, Yang, Schäfer dedicates itself to the repertoire with great dedication and stylistic empathy."
Review by Thomas Schulz, June 2021
MusicWeb International
"The ensemble here (...) obviously love these pieces and there is real vibrancy and joy in their music making. The sound is absolutely spot on, warm and rich, highlighting the intimate nature of this music. (...) nowadays when music is mostly on tap it is nice to be introduced to some genuinely charming music, played with passion and commitment."
Review by Rob Challinor, March 2021
More albums featuring these artists

Paolo Litta
Concert Trilogy: Der Minne-See, Die entschleierte Göttin, Der Tod als Fiedler
Ilona Then-Bergh Violin
Michael Schäfer Piano
GEN 20690 – 6.3.2020

À la mémoire d`un grand artiste
Piano Trios by Tchaikovsky, Rachmaninoff and Goldenweiser
Michael Schäfer Piano
Ilona Then-Bergh Violin
Wen-Sinn Yang Cello
Kang-Un Kim Harmonium
GEN 16437 – 2.9.2016

L’esprit français
Violin Sonatas by Florent Schmitt, Jan Ingenhoven and László Lajtha
Michael Schäfer Piano
Ilona Then-Bergh Violin
GEN 14312 – 4.4.2014

Claude Delvincourt
Violin and Piano Works
Michael Schäfer Piano
Ilona Then-Bergh Violin
GEN 13271 – 2.4.2013

FREE LISTENING: CD Sampler
10 Years GENUIN classics
Ramón Ortega Quero Oboe
cello project - Eckart Runge, Jacques Ammon
Viviane Chassot Accordion
Kit Armstrong Piano
Andrej Bielow violin
Adrian Brendel cello
Amaryllis Quartett String Quartet
Tobias Koch Piano
Paul Badura-Skoda Piano
Nicolas Altstaedt Cello
José Gallardo piano
Michael Schäfer Piano
Toutes Suites
Camerata Musica Limburg
Dresdner Philharmonie
Michael Sanderling Conductor
-- digital release --
GEN 13287 – 1.1.2013

Leonid Sabaneev
Piano Trios
Michael Schäfer Piano
Ilona Then-Bergh Violin
Wen-Sinn Yang Cello
GEN 12236 – 24.2.2012

Grigorij Krein. Samuil Feinberg
Violin Sonatas
Michael Schäfer Piano
Ilona Then-Bergh Violin
GEN 11203 – 15.4.2011

Sylvio Lazzari . Volkmar Andreae
The Complete Works for Violine and Piano
Ilona Then-Bergh Violin
Michael Schäfer Piano
GEN 10167 – 26.2.2010

Ottorino Respighi
Complete Works for Violine and Piano, Vol. 3
Michael Schäfer Piano
Ilona Then-Bergh Violin
GEN 89116 – 20.2.2009

Ottorino Respighi: The Complete Works for Violin and Piano Vol. II
Nine Arrangements of Italian Baroque Violin Sonates 1-6
Michael Schäfer Piano
Ilona Then-Bergh Violin
GEN 87094 – 21.9.2007

Ottorino Respighi
The Complete Works for Violin and Piano
Ilona Then-Bergh Violin
Michael Schäfer Piano
GEN 86063 – 21.7.2006







