Alexei Lubimov is one of the most admired pianists of his generation, particularly for his exploration of rarely-played repertoire on period instruments. Together with his disciple, harpsichordist and pianist Olga Pashchenko, a rising star of the new generation, and accompanied by the musicians of the Finnish Baroque Orchestra, they embark on a voyage of discovery into the music of Czech composer Jan Ladislav Dussek (1760-1812), with world premiere recordings on period instruments of his Concerto for Two Pianos and Notturno concertant. A trailblazing early romantic composer, Dussek created an innovative piano music style marked by a harmonic richness and intense emotional expressivity. In 1845, Vaclav Tomasek wrote of him: “His fingers resembled a chorus of ten singers… His truly declamatory style of performance, especially of cantabile movements, remains an ideal for every artistic achievement that no pianist after him has yet attained.” Now, we have the chance to see Alexei Lubimov rise to the occasion.

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REVIEW:

The performances of the two chamber works are airy and athletic, making the best possible case for Dussek’s appealing music, with its roots in 18th-century classicism, but with occasional anticipations of the Romanticism to come.

– Guardian (UK)