Camille Saint-Saëns:
Piano transcription of String Quartet No. 7, Op. 59, “Rasumovsky” No. 1 - II. Allegretto vivace e sempre scherzando
Piano transcription of String Quartet No. 6, Op. 18 - II. Adagio ma non troppo

Mily Balakirev:
Piano transcription of String Quartet No. 8, Op. 59, “Rasumovsky” No. 2 - III. Allegretto - Maggiore, Theme russe
Piano transcription of String Quartet No. 13, Op. 130 - V. Cavatina. Adagio molto espressivo

Modest Petrovich Mussorgsky:
Piano transcription of String Quartet No. 16, Op. 135 - II. Vivace, III. Lento assai, cantante e tranquillo

Ludwig van Beethoven:
Theme and Variations on Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart’s Clarinet Quintet, KV 581 - IV. Allegretto con variazioni

After her acclaimed complete recording of Beethoven’s piano sonatas, Mari Kodama returns with a programme consisting of Beethoven string quartets transcribed for piano by Saint-Saëns, Mussorgsky and Balakirev, as well as Beethoven’s variations on the finale of Mozart’s Clarinet Quintet. Most pieces are recorded for the first time. Kaleidoscope is designed as a homage, considering and experiencing Beethoven through the lens of other great composers.

Mari Kodama is one of the most extraordinary pianists of our age, and has an impressive PENTATONE discography, featuring Beethoven’s complete piano sonatas (2003-2014), piano concertos of Loewe and Chopin (2003), Tchaikovsky Ballet Suites for Piano Duo (2016), De Falla’s Nights in the Gardens of Spain (2017) and Martinů’s Concert for Two Pianos (2018).

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This album was recorded in Studio 1, at MCO, Hilversum, The Netherlands, in October 2019.