Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky - Sheng Cai plays Tchaikovsky

Information

Composer: Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky

• Dumka, Op. 59 "Russian Rustic Scene"
• Six Pieces for Solo Piano, Op. 19
• Grand Sonata in G Major, Op. 37
• Swan Lake, Op. 20: Act II: No. 10, Scene (Moderato) (arr. Sheng Cai)
• The Nutcracker, Op. 71: Act 2: No. 14a, Pas de deux (arr. Mikhail Pletnev & Sheng Cai)

Sheng Cai, piano

Date: 2025

Label: ATMA Classique

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In Sheng Cai plays Tchaikovsky, pianist Sheng Cai reveals the rarely heard brilliance of Tchaikovsky’s piano works. The album features the monumental Grand Sonata in G major, the evocative Six Pieces for Solo Piano, and the passionate, folk-inspired Dumka. It also includes two ballet transcriptions: Mikhaïl Pletnev’s dazzling Nutcracker Suite and Cai’s own adaptation of a scene from Swan Lake, recorded here for the first time. Through this program, Cai captures Tchaikovsky’s poetic depth, lyrical warmth, and orchestral imagination, offering a fresh and expressive perspective on the composer’s neglected piano repertoire.

Chinese-Canadian pianist Sheng Cai studied at the Royal Conservatory of Music in Toronto, Juilliard’s pre-college division, and the New England Conservatory, where he earned his bachelor’s degree on full scholarship under Anton Kuerti, Gary Graffman, and Russell Sherman. A top-prize winner in numerous competitions, he debuted at fifteen and has performed over 35 concertos with orchestras worldwide. He has appeared in major venues across North America and Europe, with performances broadcast internationally. His acclaimed recordings on the ATMA Classique label feature works by Liszt, Grieg, and Rachmaninoff. Cai also champions neglected composers such as Enescu, Medtner, and Villa-Lobos.

High Resolution 24-bit / 96 kHz