Mythical pianist Ruth Slenczynska, who celebrates her 97th birthday the following day (15 January), has re-signed to Decca Classics and can unlock her new solo piano album My Existence In Tune on 18 March 2022.

Having recorded for the Decca Gold Label within the Fifties and 60s, Ruth Slenczynska is overjoyed to go back to the label just about 60 years later. Her new album, My Existence In Tune, celebrates her outstanding existence and acting profession which started as a kid prodigy within the Nineteen Twenties and continues 9 a long time later.

“Whoever heard of a pianist my age making any other album?”

“Improbable! Whoever heard of a pianist my age making any other album?” mentioned Ruth Slenczynska. “I’m thankful if they prefer the track. Tune is supposed to convey pleasure. If mine nonetheless brings pleasure to folks, then it’s doing what it’s intended to do.”

Few pianists can declare one of these lengthy profession and atypical existence as Ruth Slenczynska. She used to be born in 1925 in Sacramento, California, to Polish immigrants, gave her live performance debut on the age of 4, and 92 years later she nonetheless plays for audiences world wide. All through her profession Ruth Slenczynska has carried out for President Reagan, President Kennedy, President Carter and Michelle Obama, and has even performed duets with President Truman and the (now former) Empress Michiko of Japan (with whom she is pals).

Ruth Slenczynska is Rachmaninoff’s closing dwelling student

As a kid Ruth Slenczynska used to be taught via one of the vital maximum celebrated pianists in historical past. She is the closing dwelling student of the good Russian composer-pianist Sergei Rachmaninoff, or even stepped in for him on the closing minute when he used to be not able to accomplish. The pair would continuously drink tea in combination and, to at the present time, Slenczynska wears a Fabergé egg necklace Rachmaninoff gave to her whilst she used to be learning with him.

My Existence In Tune is encouraged via Ruth Slenczynska’s private connections with Rachmaninoff, in addition to American composer Samuel Barber, who used to be her fellow pupil and buddy. Slenczynska heard Barber’s now world-famous Adagio for Strings in the study room, sooner than it even had its name. Barber as soon as mentioned to her, “Whilst you play in entrance of the general public, I need you to turn them how gorgeous the track is, no longer how smartly you play.” Slenczynska famous, “It used to be the most productive track lesson I ever had.”

Ruth Slenczynska additionally explores the track of Chopin all over her new album, together with a work she carried out on the memorial carrier of Vladimir Horowitz, some of the largest pianists of all time and a life-long buddy. She at all times favored her Polish roots and Chopin holds a prized position in her repertoire. All through her formative years her father made her play the 24 Études sooner than breakfast on a daily basis and he or she went directly to earn a name as one of the vital celebrated Chopin interpreters. The album additionally options items via Debussy, Grieg and Bach which conjure private recollections of a few of her nice piano mentors: Egon Petri, Alfred Cortot and Josef Hoffman.

Laura Clergymen and Tom Lewis, Co-Presidents of Decca Label Team, mentioned, “It’s outstanding to suppose that Ruth made her live performance debut sooner than the beginning of color films, and round the similar time because the beginning of tv! The truth that she continues to be on the best of her recreation over 9 a long time later is atypical. It’s very onerous to think about somebody, in any career, who has completed one of these sustained length of excellence.”

Dominic Fyfe, Label Director of Decca Classics, added, “We’re privileged to have Ruth document for Decca once more, some sixty-six years since she first recorded for the label in New York. One in every of her earliest manufacturers used to be Thomas Frost and we have been overjoyed to unite her with Thomas’ son David, the multi Grammy award-winning manufacturer, for this new album. Decca has a long-cherished historical past of bringing nice pianists again to the studio, from Shura Cherkassky to Jorge Bolet. Ruth used to be pals with them each and her pianism is likely one of the closing dwelling hyperlinks to that golden generation.”

Ruth Slenczynska’s new album, My Existence In Tune, can be launched on 18 March 2022. Pay attention to the primary unmarried, Rachmaninoff’s ‘Prelude in G main’, now.

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