Loves Me Not
Navona, 2023
8/10
The Bulgarian native and pianist Kristina Marinova brings plenty of therapeutic ideas to the melodies of these works that span 3 centuries, from Bach to Rachmaninoff.
“Prelude in E minor, Op. 28 No. 4”, by Frédéric Chopin, opens the listen with the warm keys emitting a stirring emotional appeal that’s quite fluid, and Christoph Willibald Gluck and Giovanni Sgambati’s “Melodie from Orphée et Eurydice “Dance of the Blessed Spirits” follows with cozy melodies illuminating the meticulous key progressions.
Closer to the middle, “Étude in D-sharp minor, Op. 8, No. 12” is a fuller piece that’s mesmerizing in Marionva’s interpretation of the Alexander Scriabin original, while Sergei Rachmaninoff’s “Elegie, Op. 3 No. 1” carries an absorbing intimacy that’s populated by the cautious piano playing.
Approaching the end, Claude Debussy’s “Rêverie, L. 68” allows for a hypnotic presence of agile key manipulation for the album’s best, and Marinova arranges “Recuerdos de la Alhambra”, originally by Francisco Tarrega, for the strong attention to mood via the quivering keys of the charming finish.
Though the pieces here are often tinted with melancholy, there’s much hope and the idea of new starts to be found buried in Marinova’s superb playing and timeless vision.
Travels well with: Richard Galliano- Madreperia; Courtney Carey- I Wanna Be Ready