Lera Auerbach, Chiyuki Urano - Tolstoy´s Waltz (2004)

The idea behind this disc is to present musical works by Russian composers who later went on to achieve greater fame as writers, artists, choreographers, and impresarios. Thus the works included on the program were written by Boris Pasternak, Sergei Diaghilev, George Balanchine, and Leo Tolstoy, among others. Because most of the composers were to a greater or lesser extent trained as musicians, the results are thankfully more than competent. But because the composers were not especially musical or inspired, the results are unfortunately less than interesting. While Tolstoy's Waltz is a pleasant enough little ditty, no one would ever have heard of it except that its composer later wrote War and Peace. While Diaghilev's "Do You Remember, Maria?" is an ardent salon trifle, no one would ever have heard of it except that its composer later hired Stravinsky to write Le Sacre du printemps. Even the best composed music on this disc -- Pasternak's Scriabin-esque preludes and Piano Sonata -- would never be heard except that their composer later won the Noble Prize. Of course, in the final analysis, none of this music ever actually would be heard except that pianist Lera Auerbach has taken time away from composing to record it with baritone Chiyuki Urano in Tokyo for BIS. Beyond the idea behind this disc, it is Auerbach's fluent technique, expressive legato, and tonal depth that make the music on this disc sound far better than it actually is. BIS' sound is open and clear.