Tchaikovsky's set of 12 character pieces entitled The Seasons came as a commission from the editor of the musical journal Le Nouvelliste, Nikolai Bernard. It was Bernard who gave Tchaikovsky the specific title of each of the pieces -- each based on activities taking place in a specific month of the year -- the overall title of the set, as well as later adding an excerpt of poetry to accompany each movement. One might expect such a rigid framework to encumber Tchaikovsky's creative freedom, but in fact, he thrived. Each of the short little gems is a musical world all its own. Guiding listeners through the 12 months is pianist
Hideyo Harada, whose interpretive skills are as varied and multifaceted as Tchaikovsky's compositions. Most impressive is her incredible control over voicing, effortlessly bringing the melody to the forefront while maintaining a robust, well-rounded backdrop. Her attention to detail, nuance, and rubato certainly do not go unnoticed.
Harada brings this same level of precision and intricacy to her performance of
Rachmaninov's Variations on a Theme of Corelli. Despite the ever-increasing technical demands
Rachmaninov puts on pianists through the course of the 20 variations,
Harada never lets difficulty overshadow musical beauty. Audite's SACD sound is warm and detailed, with perhaps just a bit too much reverb.