Piano Recital by Mami Shikimiri: Tchaikovsky and Chopin

Pianist Mami Shikimori plays some rarely heard Tchaikovsky repertoire from her latest Naxos CD, as well as Chopin’s masterworks. It is surprising how little of Tchaikovsky’s solo piano pieces are known to the general public but he wrote a lot of miniature piano pieces full of character and charm with stirring melodies, often influenced by Russian folk tunes.

The first piece of Op.2 Suite, Ruines du chateau (Ruins of a Castle), is an evocative piece that opens mysteriously and leads to a lively section with the sounds of trumpets recalling the battles fought. After a mischievous Scherzo comes to a heartfelt Song Without Words which was Tchaikovsky’s earliest hit tune. Valse-Caprice, Op.4 starts off as an innocent waltz but builds up to a crazy virtuosic climax towards the end.

Programme

Tchaikovsky Souvenir de Hapsal, Op.2 (i. Ruines du château in E minor, ii. Scherzo, iii. Song without words in F)

Chopin
Nocturne in B flat minor, Op.9 No.1
Nocturne in F sharp, Op.15 No.2
Ballade No.1 in G minor, Op.23
Ballade No.4 in F minor, Op.52

Tchaikovsky Valse caprice in D, Op.4

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