(Shura Cherkassky | 1993 | Live) Rubinstein: Rêve angélique, Op.10 No.22 (from 'Kamenniy-Ostrov')

Stay with this for a bit. This was a popular piece with pianists in the early 1900s - Josef Lhévinne, Harold Bauer, Ethel Leginska, Leopold Godowsky and Walter Gieseking all left mechanical or acoustic recordings between 1911-1925 - after which it was briefly revived as an encore piece by Shura Cherkassky during the 1992/1993 season. You'll need to survive past a deceptively generic introduction to understand why.

Rubinstein composed the work as a 24 year old while in residence at Grand Duchess Elena Pavlovna's summer estate on Kamenny Island, near St. Petersburg. The set is a series of musical portraits of members of the imperial circle, of which No.22 stands out both musically and contextually since it depicts Rubinstein's beloved Anna Karlovna Fridberg. Fridberg was a singer at the court who Rubinstein had proposed to while in Pavlovna's service, but who turned him down; probably due to Rubinstein's low social status, but possibly in favour of Theodor Leschetizky who Fridberg married a few months after the piece was published. Rubinstein himself left the work as an untitled Moderato in F-sharp major. Of the various publisher's nicknames, 'Rêve angélique' is the one which has stuck to our time - but this is hence no angelic dream, but a love tale.

Writing the piece must have been a process for Rubinstein, who through the music on the one hand idealizes Anna, and on the other consigns her to memory. The sensitivity with which Cherkassky mediates Rubinstein's subdued yet noble position - a strong mark of character from the young composer - makes the performance here a genuinely gripping listen. Note also his way with the recurrent C# once reflection begins in the minor section, which could so easily have been little more than a high pedal point, but which Cherkassky in romantic vein makes an integral part of the narrative. Remarkable work from the 83 year old master of sound & colour, who happens to be Rubinstein's musical grandson.


Rubinstein: Kamennoi-Ostrow, Op.10 (1854)
00:00 - 22. Portrait of Anna Fridberg ('Rêve angélique')

Shura Cherkassky, piano
Source: Radio Broadcast

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