Ralf Schnell’s core repertoire focuses on the works of Rachmaninov, Chopin, and Brahms, but also includes works from other composers ranging from Felix Mendelssohn-Bartholdy to Morton Feldman.
Ralf Schnell also frequently partners with singers for Lied repertoire, focusing on Brahms, Schubert, and Strauss.
Below you will find a selection of current and future projects!
Sergej Rachmaninov – Pictures and Fairy Tales
A lot of Rachmaninov’s music was inspired by myths and stories of his native Russia, but also by literature and art from other cultures and countries. For my program ‘Pictures and Fairy Tales’ I have selected twelve pieces from his Études-Tableaux and Préludes whose inspiration, virtuosity and beauty stand out to me.
The program starts with Rachmaninov’s most famous piece, the Prélude op. 3 no. 2 in C sharp minor. We visit a farmers’ market with op. 32 no. 4. Very rarely performed is the melancholic and intensely beautiful op. 39 no. 2 ‘The Sea and the Sea Gulls’. The centerpiece of the program is the Étude-Tableau op. 39 no.5 – brutal, gut wrenching, earth shattering emotionality. The final piece, the last of the Préludes op. 32 no. 13, completes the frame that Rachmaninov himself set for his Préludes: it’s final bars in D flat major correspond to the final bars of op. 3 no.2 in C sharp minor.
Morton Feldman, ‘For Bunita Marcus’
‘For Bunita Marcus’ is a late masterpiece by American composer Morton Feldman. This intensely beautiful and truly epic piece of music (depending on the piano, the concert hall, and the audience, it lasts anywhere from 75 to 90 minutes) is a continuous stream of music from beginning to end. Morton Feldman creates a space that appears to have no time, no metre, no specific rhythm. For Bunita Marcus fascinates with a reduced, in places almost minimalist sound and at the same time emotionality that gets under the skin.
For Bunita Marcus is rarely performed or recorded due to its extraordinary demands on the pianist. My CD with this program has been recorded in March 2023 at the Voces8 Centre and is available in stores, on Apple Music and Spotify, and in my web shop as of November 24th, 2023.
Ralph Vaughan Williams, ‘Songs of Travel’
In March 2024 I had the great pleasure to partner with the Voces8 Scholars once again in a very special project: the recording of Vaughan Williams wonderful song cycle ‘Songs of Travel’.
Future Projects
Ballades
It would be all too easy to choose the most well known Ballades by Chopin and Brahms for a full recital program, but this would neglect all those other Ballades out there. I have chosen two by Chopin and two by Brahms, to be accompanied by a number of lesser known but equally beautiful pieces. Debussy is definitely among these, also the unfinished Ballade by Scriabin. Let me know if you have any suggestions!
Bells
Bells have played an important role in many cultures. They were used to alert for dangerous situations such as fire, but also to rejoice and celebrate. Many composers have quoted bells accordingly in their works.
For this program I have chosen pieces by Rachmaninov, Stravinsky, Mussorgsky, Augusta Read Thomas and others.
Concerts for Children
This project is particularly dear to me. Playing for children is always very special and among the most treasured experiences in my career as a pianist. For these programs I never choose music written for children. Every great piece of music tells a story or paints a picture. We have three to four pieces in a concert, and we spend equal time talking about the music and listening to the music. We will learn about the composer and the instrument, we will listen to and discuss the essential elements of each piece, so when we finally listen to the entire piece, we will be able to appreciate and enjoy the music with a deeper understanding – and much more fun!