Elusive Affinity

On an album bookended by two heart-stoppingly lovely Bach transcriptions of Vivaldi and Marcello, Anna Gourari explores some major musical voices of our time, along with their connections and influences. Schnittke’s Five Aphorisms for Piano is inspired by the poet Joseph Brodsky while Rihm’s Zwiesprache honors his friends with gentle intensity. Rodion Shchedrin’s Diary - Seven Pieces for Piano was written for Gourari and, needless to say, she plays them with huge affection. Kancheli and Pärt provide little interludes of crystalline purity and quiet drama. The recording is as fine as the playing—wonderfully thought-provoking.