My Life in Music

American pianist Ruth Slenczynska, who turned 97 at the beginning of 2022, has had a remarkable musical life and makes a touching return to Decca after 66 years. The last living piano pupil of the great Russian composer/pianist Sergei Rachmaninoff, she brings a touching authenticity to her program, especially the opening pieces by Rachmaninoff himself. Indeed, listening to Slenczynska’s iridescent playing, it’s possible to imagine the great master guiding her interpretations. Following on are two charming pieces by her fellow student Samuel Barber, before Chopin’s “Berceuse,” a gentle nod to Slenczynska’s great friend, the legendary piano virtuoso Vladimir Horowitz. Pieces by Debussy, Bach, and Grieg all pay homage to some of Slenczynska’s piano mentors, including Alfred Cortot and Josef Hofmann. This is a precious and beautiful album that offers a last magical glimpse into a bygone musical world.