‘Elegie’ takes the listener on a journey through Rachmaninoff’s life from his early years in Russia, studying in Moscow and composing from his beloved country estate Ivanoka, before escaping the Revolution in 1918 to live in self-imposed political exile in Europe and America. He was never to return but left his heart forever in Russia…

This musical portrait includes Rachmaninoff’s virtuosic and popular ‘Prelude in C sharp’ inspired by the rolling bells of the Russian Orthodox Church, and ‘Prelude Op 23 No. 6’, written for his first daughter, Irina, as an outpouring of tenderness and nostalgia.  Also featured is Tchaikovkys ‘Troitka,’ recorded 3 times by Rachmaninoff after several meetings, leaving an indelible impression on the young composer and Etude in C Sharp’ by Scriabin, Rachmaninoff’s childhood friend and composer to whom he devoted many of his performances and who died tragically at the age of 43.

Rachmaninoff pays homeage to his violinist, friend and frequent musical partner, Kreisler in his Liebensleid (Love's Sorrow) also included in this collection.