Albert Leman; Sofia Gubaidulina - Echoes of a Hidden Legacy (Ilona Timchenko)

Information

Composer: Albert Leman; Sofia Gubaidulina

• Leman - Verhaeren Suite
• Gubaidulina - Chaconne
• Leman - Schallwellen (Waves of Sound)

Ilona Timchenko, piano

Date: 2026

Label: Challenge Classics

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Echoes of a Hidden Legacy is a deeply personal recording by Ilona Timchenko that honors the overlooked musical legacy of Albert Semyonovich Leman through world premiere recordings of his piano cycles Verhaeren Suite and Schallwellen (Waves of Sound), both composed for and dedicated to her. Performing on Leman’s own final piano, Timchenko creates an intimate artistic connection that bridges generations and restores the composer’s voice with emotional depth and clarity. Inspired by the poetry of Émile Verhaeren, the music combines psychological intensity with contemplative modernity. The album also features Sofia Gubaidulina’s Chaconne, written during her studies with Leman, symbolically linking teacher and student. More than a recording, the project stands as an act of artistic rediscovery, celebrating resilience, mentorship, and the enduring expressive power of contemporary music.

Ilona Timchenko is an internationally acclaimed pianist celebrated for her poetic interpretation, technical brilliance, and wide-ranging repertoire from Baroque to contemporary music. Educated at the Moscow Conservatory, the Prince Claus Conservatoire, and the Koninklijk Conservatorium, she further refined her artistry with renowned musicians including Michel Beroff and Lazar Berman. Timchenko has performed at prestigious venues such as Wigmore Hall, Musikverein, and Concertgebouw, and has appeared with leading orchestras across Europe. A dedicated advocate for contemporary music, she has premiered numerous new works, including compositions dedicated to her, and became the first pianist to publicly perform all 24 Preludes and Fugues by Dmitri Shostakovich in Italy. Alongside her international concert career, she serves as Head of the Piano Department at the CSM de Galicia and teaches at Forum Musicae.

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