NOVEMBER 2026 NEW ON NAXOS
Tableaux en miroirs RACHMANINOV • RAVEL Catalin Serban, Piano
Rachmaninov’s Études-tableaux, Op. 39 is a masterpiece of late Romanticism, full of extreme contrasts with an overwhelming melancholy. Ravel’s Miroirs explores a concise and colourful language, exemplified by sonic experiments, rarefied timbres and a refinement of utterance demanding meticulous technical clarity. Pianist Catalin Serban has long wanted to present these two great piano cycles juxtaposed, exploring the tensions between them and finding an inner arc that spans both cycles. Key features: • Pianist Catalin Serban has recorded Fauré and Enescu Piano Quartets on Naxos 8.551477. This album has drawn strong critical attention: Fanfare noted that ‘the performance [of Enescu’s Piano Quartet No. 1 ] by this ad hoc quartet is a good one and is the reason to acquire this [disc],’ while The Strad praised ‘the finale [as] brilliantly executed. Fauré’s Piano Quartet No. 1 … offers more flair… an Adagio that deftly blends the tragic with the serene and a finale that unerringly shows off the players’ individual talents.’ • Further acclaim came from Gramophone , which wrote: ‘I find the rapturous quality of Serban’s performance utterly mesmeric. …in no way do Serban and his team stint on drama. …they still lead one on a thrillingly wild ride.’ These reviews highlight both the expressive depth and the technical brilliance of Serban’s chamber music performances, confirming his reputation as a pianist of distinction. • Serban has won numerous awards at international piano competitions, including the Bremen Piano Competition. He was a scholarship holder of the Berlin University of the Arts, the Paul Hindemith Society in Berlin and the Marie-Luise Imbusch Foundation in Lübeck. As a chamber musician he has performed at the Berlin Philharmonie, the Konzerthaus Berlin and other renowned venues, as well as at international festivals. In addition to the Naxos release mentioned above, his discography includes recordings for Romanian Radio and Radio Bremen, alongside solo albums featuring works by Scriabin and Chopin.
8.551495 Release date: 13 Nov 2026
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Sergey RACHMANINOV (1873–1943) Études-tableaux, Op. 39 (1916–17)
Maurice RAVEL (1875–1937) Miroirs, M. 43 (1904–05)
1 No. 1 in C minor: Allegro agitato 2 No. 2 in A minor: Lento assai 3 No. 3 in F sharp minor: Allegro molto 4 No. 4 in B minor: Allegro assai 5 No. 5 in E flat minor: Appassionato 6 No. 6 in A minor: Allegro
0 I. Noctuelles. Très léger ! II. Oiseaux tristes. Très lent @ III. Une barque sur l’océan. D’un rythme souple
# IV. Alborada del gracioso. Assez vif $ V. La Vallée des cloches. Très lent
7 No. 7 in C minor: Lento lugubre 8 No. 8 in D minor: Allegro moderato 9 No. 9 in D major: Allegro moderato. Tempo di marcia
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