Tchaikovsky: Variations on a Rococo Theme in A Major for Cello and Fortepiano Sergei Istomin, Claire Chevallier & Martin Reiman

• Pjotr Iljitsch Tschaikowski (1840 - 1893):
• 1 Variations on a Rococo Theme, Op. 33 (for Cello and Fortepiano) 20:26
• Piano Trio in A Minor, Op. 50:
• 2 Piano Trio in A Minor, Op. 50: I. Pezzo elegiaco 20:31
• 3 Piano Trio in A Minor, Op. 50: II. Tema con variazioni 20:38
• 4 Piano Trio in A Minor, Op. 50: III. Variazione finale e coda 09:06
• Total Runtime 01:10:41

Info zu Tchaikovsky: Variations on a Rococo Theme in A Major for Cello and Fortepiano

It is clear from the title page of the handwritten piano score that Tchaikovsky's popular Variations on a Rococo Theme Op. 33 can be performed with orchestral or piano accompaniment only. The recording with Sergei Istomin on PASSACAILLE uses the handwritten copy of the original piano score with the cello part, which contains numerous informative entries by the composer. Also in the piano trio recorded here, Claire Chevallier plays in proper style on a grand piano made by the St. Petersburg company Jacob Becker in 1877, whose instruments Tchaikovsky has demonstrably highly valued.

Sergei Istomin, cello
Claire Chevallier, piano
Martin Reimann, violin

Sergei Istomin
BM (Gnessins Music Specialist School, Moscow); MM (Moscow Conservatory, Russia); Specialist Studies (Oberlin College Conservatory, Ohio, USA); PhD (Ghent University, Belgium)

‍Sergei Istomin started his violoncello studies at the age of six in the class of Vera Birina at the Gnessin’s School for gifted youth (Moscow, Russia) where he obtained his Bachelor Degree. He completed his Master Degree at the Moscow Tchaikovsky Conservatory where he studied with Valentin Feigin. He continued his post-graduate studies in viola da gamba with Catharina Meints Caldwell at the Oberlin Conservatory of Music and the Oberlin Baroque Performance Institute, Oberlin, Ohio, USA, where he had the rare privilege to work with August Wenzinger.

‍Sergei Istomin has recorded for: Sony Classical (Vivarte Label); Analekta, CBC (Canada); Centaur Records, Music and Arts Programs of America (USA); Zig-Zag Territoires (France); Passacaille Records (Belgium).

His performances have been broadcast across Europe, North and South America, Australia, New Zealand and Japan.

Today, a Russian, French and Canadian musician, he lives in Belgium from where he continues his international career.

Booklet für Tchaikovsky: Variations on a Rococo Theme in A Major for Cello and Fortepiano