S.Rachmaninov - Piano Sonata No.1 in D minor, Op.28, Moment musical in B flat minor, Op. 16 No.1 - Victor Eresko

Rachmaninov's First Sonata (in D. minor, Op.28) in its powerful impact and vivid embodiment of grandiose philosophical concepts ranks equal with such gems of world piano music as B minor Sonatas by Chopin and Liszt. The First Sonata is called the "Faust". It was written at the turn of the century and premiered in autumn 1908 by K. Igumnov and in later concert seasons played by the author himself. The first performance of the Sonata aroused speculations about its inner programmatic content. They were confirmed by the composer who wrote: "I was drawn into this scope by the programme, or, to be more exact, by one main idea. These are the contrasting characters from a world literary work." According to Igumnov, it was known that the author "while composing the Sonata meant Goethe's "Faust" and that the first movement corresponds with Faust, second - with Gretchen, third - with the flight to Brocken and Mephistopheles. However, Rachmaninov refused to publish the programme though admitting that "knowing the programme could clarify much for the listener". In the opinion of many Rachmaninov scholars one should not take the programmatic commentary literally as the author wrote only of "the main idea". Major philosophical problems, eternal questions of existence which were tackled in Goethe's masterpiece served Rachmaninov as a basis for creating a genuinely Russian work - in imagery, general mood and intonation. In the focus of the composer's attention is the psychology of Russian man - his doubts, suffering, joys and pursuit of happiness, painful search for his own way in life, his system of spiritual and moral values, his whole approach to life.

from the LP cover