Daniil Trifonov and Sergei Babayan, Trifonov’s long-time friend and mentor, released their first full album of piano duets on March 29. “Rachmaninoff for Two” contains performances of the composer’s two Suites for two pianos and the two-piano version of his Symphonic Dances, together with Trifonov’s own transcription of the Adagio from Symphony No. 2. Set for release by Deutsche Grammophon digitally and on 2 CDs, the album pays tribute to one of the world’s most beloved pianist-composers, as part of this year’s Rachmaninoff 150 celebrations. The duo recorded “Rachmaninoff for Two” at the Vienna Konzerthaus soon after performing there in May 2023 as part of their acclaimed series of Rachmaninoff concerts across Europe.
“It’s a gift to have Daniil next to me onstage in this extraordinary music, because you feel there’s someone there who understands you, without looking, without words,” says Babayan. “Maybe it’s because we spent time together as teacher and student, but I don’t think that is necessarily so. It was there from the first lesson, when he brought Chopin and we began working. I had the feeling that he took more from me in two weeks than people who had studied with me for five years.”