Harriet Lane Pediatrics

The Dutch cellist Harriet Krijgh and Russian pianist Magda Amara present a program of Rachmaninov pieces that sensitively reflect and capture his genius with this release. Along with well known Rachmaninov repertoire, the CD also includes Sonata for cello and piano op.19 which evolved after a lengthy period of depression and compositional despair catalyzed by the critical failure of his Symphony Nr. 1 and requiring therapeutic treatments to end. Some have said that after emerging from this creative black hole, Rachmaninovs humility and compassion produced works that were richer than was the case previously. This release makes a convincing argument that this was indeed the case.