Andrejs Osokins - Gershwin & Debussy: Two Worlds (2021)

A personal selection of piano pieces by George Gershwin and Claude Debussy, played by the young virtuoso Andrejs Osokins.

The early twentieth century is known as an era of continuous musical revolutions when a growing number of talented musicians were eager to present new and exciting discoveries to their audiences. This program unmistakably reveals this spirit of experimentation.

Latvian classical concert pianist Andrejs Osokins is a laureate of the world's most prominent piano competitions, including Arthur Rubinstein International Piano Master Competition in Tel Aviv, the Long-Thibaud International Competition in Paris, the Leeds International Piano Competition and the Queen Elisabeth International Piano Competition in Brussels, as well as a laureate of the 5th International German Piano Award presented by International Piano Forum in Frankfurt. Osokins was described by critics as impeccably stylish, praised for his powerful intellect and charisma, wide expressive sound palette, notably convincing in many different styles of music. Osokins is an Associate of the Royal Academy of Music (ARAM), London. In 2008 Andrejs Osokins was awarded with The Great Music Award, which is the highest form of state recognition in the field of music in Latvia.

Andrejs has had the honour of performing with prestigious orchestras including the National Orchestra of Belgium, the Orchestre Philharmonique de Radio France, Manchester's The Hallé Symphony Orchestra, the London Philharmonic Orchestra, Dublin's RTÉ National Symphony Orchestra, Kremerata Baltica orchestra, Latvian National Symphony orchestra, and under button of Sir Mark Elder, Vladimir Fedoseyev and Marin Alsop to name a few.

The pianist has previously released albums on the DUX and Skani labels, also distributed by Proper, including Dedication (DUX0984), and The Three Osokins (LMIC060).

Tracklist
1. Children's Corner, L. 113: VI. Golliwog's Cakewalk (03:09)
2. Do It Again (01:48)
3. Oh, Lady Be Good (01:35)
4. Sweet and Lowdown (00:59)
5. Estampes, L. 100: I. Pagodes (04:46)
6. Estampes, L. 100: II. La soirée dans Grenade (05:09)
7. Estampes, L. 100: III. Jardins sous la pluie (03:46)
8. That Certain Feeling (01:38)
9. I'll Build a Stairway to Paradise (00:44)
10. Somebody Loves Me (01:29)
11. I Got Rhythm (01:23)
12. Préludes, Book 1, L. 117: VII. Ce qu'a vu le vent d'Ouest (03:29)
13. Préludes, Book 1, L. 117: VIII. La fille aux cheveux de lin (02:47)
14. 3 Preludes: I. Prelude I (01:36)
15. Preludes for Piano: Rubato (01:01)
16. Preludes for Piano: Novelette in Fourths (02:40)
17. Preludes for Piano: Melody No. 17 (02:29)
18. Preludes for Piano: Fragment (00:29)
19. 3 Preludes: II. Blue Lullaby (03:24)
20. 3 Preludes: III. Spanish Prelude (01:18)
21. L'Isle Joyeuse, L. 106 (05:23)
22. Suite bergamasque, L. 75: III. Clair de lune (04:55)
23. Rhapsody in Blue (Arr. for Piano) (04:09)
24. The Man I Love (Arr. for Piano) (03:43)