II. La coquette (Кокетка) III. Polichinelle (Паяц) IV. Le rêveur (Мечтатель) V. La danseuse (Танцовщица)
During his short life of 44 years, Anton Arensky was able to influence some of the most important Russian composers. Among his students at the Moscow Conservatory were Rachmaninoff, Scriabin, Gretchaninov, and Gliere. The Silhouettes is a great example of a Romantic salon miniature genre, and it even proved to be popular with Leo Tolstoy, who was known to dislike the music of his Russian contemporaries. As recalled by Sergei Taneev in a letter. “In the presence of numerous guests at Tolstoy’s estate in Yasnaya Poliana, Alexander Goldenweiser and I played on two pianos the Silhouettes, which had a great success and reconciled Tolstoy's aversion to the new music. He especially loved the "Spanish Dancer" (the last movement) and was reminiscing about it long after."
Originally written for two pianos, Arensky also created a version for one piano four hands, maintaining most of the richness in piano texture and sonorities.Anna and Dmitri Shelest
Classical Music | Music for Duo
Anton Arensky
Suite for Piano Four Hands No. 2, Op. 23, Silhouettes Play
Recorded on 12/31/2015, uploaded on 05/17/2015
Musician's or Publisher's Notes
I. Le savant (Ученый)
II. La coquette (Кокетка)
III. Polichinelle (Паяц)
IV. Le rêveur (Мечтатель)
V. La danseuse (Танцовщица)
During his short life of 44 years, Anton Arensky was able to influence some of the most important Russian composers. Among his students at the Moscow Conservatory were Rachmaninoff, Scriabin, Gretchaninov, and Gliere. The Silhouettes is a great example of a Romantic salon miniature genre, and it even proved to be popular with Leo Tolstoy, who was known to dislike the music of his Russian contemporaries. As recalled by Sergei Taneev in a letter. “In the presence of numerous guests at Tolstoy’s estate in Yasnaya Poliana, Alexander Goldenweiser and I played on two pianos the Silhouettes, which had a great success and reconciled Tolstoy's aversion to the new music. He especially loved the "Spanish Dancer" (the last movement) and was reminiscing about it long after."
Originally written for two pianos, Arensky also created a version for one piano four hands, maintaining most of the richness in piano texture and sonorities. Anna and Dmitri Shelest
More music by Anton Arensky
String Quartet in A Minor, Op. 35
Suite for Two Pianos, Op. 15
Performances by same musician(s)
The Moldau from Má vlast
La Valse
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