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The Russian pianist REM Urasin is most closely associated with Chopin, winning numerous prizes and performing every piece the composer wrote over the course of 11 concerts in 2009/2010. Here, though, he turns his attention to his native repertoire, transforming 15 Shostakovich preludes into brilliantly astringent showcases for cello and piano and transcribing 10 Rachmaninov songs in a similar manner. The contrast between the agitated, angular energy of the preludes and the richly melodic warmth of the romances could hardly be more marked. Urasin and cellist Boris Andrianov make a formidable duo, playing with rigorous intensity - particularly in the crazily satiric Prelude No 5 - and a touchingly languid lyricism. Album Tracks 1. Prelude No. 7 in a Major 2. Prelude No. 2 in a Minor 3. Prelude No. 3 in G Major 4. Prelude No. 5 in D Major 5. Prelude No. 6 in B minor 6. Prelude No. 10 in C Sharp minor 7. Prelude No. 11 in B Major 8. Prelude No. 14 in E Flat minor 9. Prelude No. 15 in D Flat Major 10. Prelude No. 16 in B Flat minor 11. Prelude No. 17 in a Flat Major 12. Prelude No. 18 in F minor 13. Prelude No. 20 in C minor 14. Prelude No. 22 in G minor 15. Prelude No. 24 in D minor 16. In the Silence of the Secret Night, Op. 4, No. 3 17. Oh No I Beg You Do Not Leave!, Op. 4, No. 1 18. Do Not Sing My Beauty, Op. 4, No. 4 19. Lilacs, Op. 21, No. 5 20. Melody, Op. 21, No. 9 21. On the Death of a Linnet, Op. 21, No. 8 22. How Fair This Spot, Op. 21, No. 7 23. Spring Streams, Op. 14, No. 11 24. How Painful for Me, Op. 21, No. 12 25. Beloved Let Us Fly, Op. 26, No. 5 26. What Happiness, Op. 34, No. 12
