To commemorate the 80th birthday of Alfred Schnittke (1934-1998) Russian pianist Denys Proshayev made a new recording of Schnittke’s Concerto for Piano & Strings, the 5 Aphorisms for piano solo, and the Gogol Suite for piano 4-hands. Schnittke’s music is highly controversial, drawing inspiration from widely diverse sources and styles, alternating the banal with the sublime, the spiritual with the bizarre. Proshayev dedicates this CD to the memory of his late teacher Vladimir Krainev, a close friend of Schnittke, and dedicatee of the Piano Concerto. Proshayev shows a palpable affinity to this music, intensely dedicated and convincing, giving meaning to each and every note, a true advocate of this fascinating composer!
