Gramophone Magazine
August 2025
Editor's Choice

Julia Lezhneva (soprano), Alexander Melnikov (piano)

Rachmaninoff: Variations on a Theme of Chopin, Op. 22
Rachmaninoff: 15 Romances, Op. 26: No. 3, We shall rest
Rachmaninoff: 15 Romances, Op. 26: No. 6, Christ is risen
Rachmaninoff: 15 Romances, Op. 26: No. 9, Again I am alone
Rachmaninoff: At my window, Op. 26 No. 10
Rachmaninoff: 15 Romances, Op. 26: No. 12, The night is mournful
Rachmaninoff: 15 Romances, Op. 26: No. 14, The ring
Rachmaninoff: 12 Romances, Op. 21: No. 3, Twilight
Rachmaninoff: 12 Romances, Op. 21: No. 4, They answered
Rachmaninoff: Lilacs, Op. 21 No. 5
Rachmaninoff: 12 Romances, Op. 21: No. 6, Fragment from A. Musset
Rachmaninoff: 12 Romances, Op. 21: No. 7, Here it's so fine
Rachmaninoff: 12 Romances, Op. 21: No. 8, On the death of a siskin
Rachmaninoff: 12 Romances, Op. 21: No. 9, Melody
Rachmaninoff: 12 Romances, Op. 21: No. 10, Before the icon
Rachmaninoff: 12 Romances, Op. 21: No. 11, No prophet, I
Rachmaninoff: 12 Romances, Op. 21: No. 12, Sorrow in springtime
Rachmaninoff: 14 Romances, Op. 34: No. 3, The storm
Rachmaninoff: A passing breeze, Op. 34, No. 4
Rachmaninoff: 14 Romances, Op. 34: No. 5, Arion
Rachmaninoff: 14 Romances, Op. 34: No. 7, It cannot be!
Rachmaninoff: 14 Romances, Op. 34: No. 8, Music
Rachmaninoff: 14 Romances, Op. 34: No. 12, What happiness

Alexander Melnikov returns to Rachmaninoff with an exploration of the poetic world of the Variations on a Theme by Chopin. He traveled to Lake Lucerne to record this album on the master's own piano at Villa Senar, Rachmaninoff's last summer home. To accompany this eminently lyrical music, he joins forces with luminous soprano Julia Lezhneva and invites us to discover some of the Russian composer's most beautiful songs from this period of intense creative ferment.

"Melnikov is very animated in the Chopin Variations, a propulsive, sometimes restless account...I’ve always associated Lezhneva primarily with Baroque and bel canto repertoire, where her cut-glass soprano sparkles. Her Rachmaninov is quite the revelation." - Gramophone Magazine, August 2025