Rhapsodic Fanya Lin, Polish Wieniawski Philharmonic Orchestra & Theodore Kuchar

• George Gershwin (1898 - 1937): Rhapsody in Blue:
• 1 Gershwin: Rhapsody in Blue 18:01
• Sergei Rachmaninoff (1873 - 1943): Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini, Op. 43:
• 2 Rachmaninoff: Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini, Op. 43: Introduction 00:08
• 3 Rachmaninoff: Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini, Op. 43: Variation I 00:20
• 4 Rachmaninoff: Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini, Op. 43: Tema (Theme). L’istesso tempo 00:19
• 5 Rachmaninoff: Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini, Op. 43: Variation II. L’istesso tempo 00:20
• 6 Rachmaninoff: Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini, Op. 43: Variation III. L’istesso tempo 00:27
• 7 Rachmaninoff: Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini, Op. 43: Variation IV. Più Vivo 00:33
• 8 Rachmaninoff: Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini, Op. 43: Variation V. Tempo precedente 00:32
• 9 Rachmaninoff: Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini, Op. 43: Variation VI. L’istesso tempo 01:05
• 10 Rachmaninoff: Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini, Op. 43: Variation VII. Meno mosso, a tempo moderato 01:08
• 11 Rachmaninoff: Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini, Op. 43: Variation VIII. Tempo I 00:35
• 12 Rachmaninoff: Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini, Op. 43: Variation IX. L’istesso tempo 00:34
• 13 Rachmaninoff: Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini, Op. 43: Variation X. L’istesso tempo 00:54
• 14 Rachmaninoff: Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini, Op. 43: Variation XI. Moderato 01:37
• 15 Rachmaninoff: Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini, Op. 43: Variation XII. Tempo di Minuetto 01:14
• 16 Rachmaninoff: Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini, Op. 43: Variation XIII. Allegro 00:30
• 17 Rachmaninoff: Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini, Op. 43: Variation XIV. L’istesso tempo 00:45
• 18 Rachmaninoff: Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini, Op. 43: Variation XV. Piu vivo Scherzando 01:19
• 19 Rachmaninoff: Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini, Op. 43: Variation XVI. Allegretto 01:34
• 20 Rachmaninoff: Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini, Op. 43: Variation XVII. Allegretto 02:04
• 21 Rachmaninoff: Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini, Op. 43: Variation XVIII. Andante cantabile 02:57
• 22 Rachmaninoff: Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini, Op. 43: Variation XIX. A tempo vivace 00:34
• 23 Rachmaninoff: Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini, Op. 43: Variation XX. Un poco più vivo 00:40
• 24 Rachmaninoff: Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini, Op. 43: Variation XXI. Un poco più vivo 00:28
• 25 Rachmaninoff: Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini, Op. 43: Variation XXII. Un poco più vivo (Alla breve) 01:50
• 26 Rachmaninoff: Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini, Op. 43: Variation XXIII. L’istesso tempo 01:04
• 27 Rachmaninoff: Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini, Op. 43: Variation XXIV. A tempo, un poco meno mosso 01:31
• Total Runtime 43:03

Info for Rhapsodic

Pianist Fanya Lin’s RHAPSODIC is a masterful exploration of two of the most iconic pieces in piano repertoire. With her deft touch and nuanced interpretation, Lin lends an entirely new dimension to George Gershwin’s Rhapsody in Blue and Rachmaninoff’s Paganini Variations.

From the opening notes of Gershwin’s masterpiece, Lin’s playing proves both powerful and sensitive, capturing the complex emotions of the iconic American composer with great vividness. Some musicians might be hard-pressed to switch seamlessly into the mind and heart of the great Russian, but Lin’s virtuosity is on full display as she navigates the intricate variations with vigor and precision, effortlessly enticing the listener into their bittersweet, heady romance.

Fanya Lin, piano
Polish Wieniawski Philharmonic Orchestra of Lublin
Theodore Kuchar, conductor

Fanya Lin
Described as a “striking interpreter” who gives a “committed and heartfelt performance” by Musical America and The New York Times, pianist Fanya Lin has entranced audiences worldwide with her charismatic and fiery performances. Lin’s “mesmerizing performance” of Rachmaninoff’s Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini in the United Kingdom was depicted as “a tornado had touched down through her body and lifted her, feathers fluttering, from the piano stool as she weighed into the keys.” Her orchestral appearances include the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, Toruń Symphony, Utah Symphony, Savannah Philharmonic, The Jackson Symphony, Mississippi Valley Orchestra, and New Art Symphony, among others.

An avid soloist, Lin promotes classical music to the public by creating innovative concert programs and engages her audience by presenting interactive performances. Her solo recitals have been featured in numerous prestigious concert series, including the Schubert Club Musicians on the Rise, the Stecher and Horowitz Young Artist Series, and The Steinway Society of Western Pennsylvania. Lin’s recent albums and EPs have been featured and released by IsoMike, Summit Records, and Soundset Recordings.

As a philanthropist, Lin has collaborated with various non-profit organizations as well as psychological and social service associations through fundraising galas and salon concerts to create access for education and promote mental health awareness. Inspired by her mentors Dr. Yu-Jane Yang, Professor Hung-Kuan Chen, and Professor Lydia Artymiw for their dedication in education, Lin is currently serving as the Associate Professor of Practice in Piano at the University of Arizona, where she teaches applied piano lessons, chamber music, piano literature, and a yoga for musicians course.

Theodore Kuchar
The multiple award-winning conductor Theodore Kuchar is the most recorded conductor of his generation and appears on over 140 compact discs for the Naxos, Brilliant Classics, Ondine, Marco Polo, Toccata Classics, and Centaur labels. He presently serves as the Principal Conductor of the Lviv National Philharmonic Orchestra of Ukraine and has served as the Artistic Director and Principal Conductor of two of Europe’s leading orchestras, the National Symphony Orchestra of Ukraine and the Janacek Philharmonic Orchestra (formerly the Czech Radio Orchestra) while also serving as the Principal Conductor of the Slovak Sinfonietta.

Commencing with the 2023-24 season, Kuchar assumes the title of Principal Conductor of the Polish Wieniawski Philharmonic Orchestra of Lublin. In the 2011-12 season he commenced his tenure as the Artistic Director and Principal Conductor of the Orquesta Sinfónica de Venezuela and prior to that served as the Music Director and Principal Conductor of the Queensland Philharmonic Orchestra in Brisbane, Australia. In addition to his conducting activities, he has served as the Artistic Director of two of the world’s pre-eminent chamber music festivals, The Australian Festival of Chamber Music (1991-2007) and the Nevada Chamber Music Festival (2003-2018). In September 2021 he commenced duties as the Artistic Director and Principal Conductor of The Thomas de Hartmann Project, a concert and recording project which BBC Radio 3 described as “arguably the most important recording project by a major, yet relatively unknown, composer of this new decade.” The project will be divided between record labels including Pentatone, Toccata Classics, and Nimbus and including soloists Joshua Bell and Matt Haimovitz.

Kuchar’s longest titled affiliation and relationship is with the National Symphony Orchestra of Ukraine, of which he was appointed the Artistic Director and Principal Conductor in 1994. They have appeared together in over 250 performances, in Kyiv and on tour on four continents while their discography totals over 80 compact discs. Most recently, they completed a six-week, 40 concert United States tour through January and February of 2023, including sold-out performances in New York City’s Carnegie Hall and Washington DC’s Kennedy Center.

This album contains no booklet.