Phoenix is an ascension towards the light unfolding in the path of life. Can fragility become a strength, like a phoenix rising from its ashes, transforming vulnerability into a powerful rebirth?

This new vibrant programme by Irina Lankova, combining virtuosity and poetry, is a personal musical journey through the works of Rachmaninoff, Scriabin, Mozart and Stravinsky. The pieces are connected by subtle stylistic affinities, coherent musical rhetoric, and an endless emotional palette, creating a unique and captivating narrative.

Listeners will encounter some famous works, as well as rare gems, in a perceptible and enchanted dialogue, and as always with Irina Lankova, "...with that natural and genuine mastery that allows the music to dematerialise and resonate directly with the hearts." (La Libre Belgique)

This programme will be recorded June 2-4, 2025, and the album release is scheduled for September 1, 2025. The album tour already includes the following venues:

21.06.2025 Marrakech, Morocco
08.07.2025 Midis-Minimes Festival at Cercle Royal Gaulois, Brussels, Belgium
09.07.2025 Zomer van Sint-Pieter, Leuven, Belgium
27.07.2025 Liszt en Provence Festival, France
12.08.2025 Eglise Dominicaine Knokke, Belgium
7.09.2025 Domaine de Pétignac, France
18.09.2025 Max Festival, Belgium
03.10.2025 Salle Cortot Paris, France
12.10.2025 Het Concertgebouw Amsterdam, The Netherlands
03.11.2025 Stadtcasino Basel, Switzerland
14.11.2025 Carnegie Hall NYC, USA
21.11.2025 Haarlem Philharmonie, The Netherlands
13.02.2026 Grand Manège, Namur, Belgium
20.05.2026 Konzerthaus Berlin, Germany

More dates and all the details can be found on the page Agenda.

Part I
S.Rachmaninoff
Melodie Op.3 No.3 in E major, Andante con moto (1940)
Etude-tableau Op.33 No.2 in C major, Allegro (1911)
Prelude Op.23 No.6 in E flat major, Andante (1903)
Prelude Op.32, No.12 in G sharp minor, Allegro (1910)
Prelude Op.23 No.4 in D major Andante cantabile (1903)

A.Scriabin
Etude Op.8 No.12 in D sharp minor, Patetico (1894)
2 Poèmes Op.32 (1903)
Andante cantabile
Allegro. Con eleganza
Sonata No.4 in F sharp major, Op.30 (1903)
Andante
Prestissimo volando

Part II

F.Chopin
Romance from Concerto No.1 (1830), arrangement for piano M.Balakirev (1905)
C.Gluck
Melody from Orphée et Eurydice (1774), arrangement for piano G. Sgambati (1878)
W.A.Mozart 
Fantasy in D minor KV 397 (1782)
I.Stravinsky
The Firebird (1910), arrangement for piano G.Agosti (1928)

The program is adaptable in length for either a one-part or a two-part recital.

Can fragility become a strength, like a phoenix rising from its ashes, transforming vulnerability into a powerful rebirth?

I’ve always been drawn to artists who embrace a certain fragility, who allow a crack, an imperfection, to reveal itself. We become acutely aware of our own fragility in moments of failure, during difficult times in life. And yet, it is in these moments that we also become aware of our strength. It takes courage to rise again, to acknowledge and accept our fragility, and in doing so, we allow the light to enter.

This programme is the most eclectic I’ve created so far, combining music by Gluck and Mozart with Chopin, Scriabin, Rachmaninov and Stravinsky. Each work has been selected for a deeply personal reason, and together they form a unique and captivating narrative. The pieces are united by subtle stylistic affinities, coherent musical rhetoric, and an endless emotional palette, merging virtuosity with poetry.

Within this program, you will encounter both well-known works and hidden gems, in a perceptible and enchanted dialogue. I once again stepped outside of my comfort zone by choosing works that challenge me in many ways. The preparation and recording process was an intense journey of self-exploration, a quest for the colours, timbres, and tempos that best express my intentions, the composer’s message, and the most authentic expression of my soul. My piano is not only singing, it also expresses danger, pain, struggle, and liberation. It becomes an ascension toward the light, unfolding in the path of life.

The journey begins with a selection of short works by Sergey Rachmaninov. The Mélodie Op.3 No.3 in E major exists in two versions: the first, from 1892, and the second, from 1940, which I chose for this album. This version resonates with me deeply, as it carries the wisdom and experience of a lifetime, and in my interpretation, I wanted to bring both the depth of the tone and the spontaneity of youth.

Next comes the Etude-tableau Op.33 No.2 in C major (1911), which mirrors the Prelude Op.32 No.12 in G sharp minor (1910). Both pieces evoke for me the air, flight, liberation, and an ascent to the skies. The Prelude Op.23 No.6 (1903) in E flat major is one of the most expressive yet flowing.

This same ascending energy is also present in the 4th Piano Sonata by Alexander Scriabin (1903). The first movement is, for me, a poetic representation of a distant singing star, while the second, Prestissimo volando, is elevating, enigmatic, questioning, and sensual, building to an exalting focosamente guibiloso.

After this first climax, comes the heart of the programme, where fragility is laid bare. Chopin's Romance from his first Piano Concerto (1830), arranged for solo piano by Balakirev (1905), is among the most touching and soulful music I know. Incorporating the orchestral voices into the piano part was a great pleasure to learn. Following this is another piano transcription, Gluck-Sgambati’s Melody (1878) from Orfée et Eurydice (1774). This is one of the most poignant melodies, yet within its pain, there is a surprising and inexplicable light. As I played this piece, I was struck by the similarity between this melody and another in the same D minor - Mozart's Fantaisie (1782). I had to investigate further: could it be that Mozart, during his travels to Paris in 1778, encountered the French version of Gluck’s opera, or at least saw the scores that circulated widely at the time? Indeed, in Mozart’s letters to his father Leopold, there are several admiring references to Gluck and his operas. It became evident to me to include Mozart’s Fantaisie in this program, especially as the dramatic D minor opening leads to the comforting light of the D major.

The final piece of the programme is a journey of liberation and joy. In my youth, I was fascinated by Stravinsky’s Firebird (1910), with its captivating harmonies and rhythms. Later, discovering the piano transcription by G. Agosti (1928) was irresistible. The approach is unique: while the orchestral ideas are present in some passages, the piano transcription brings its own colours and textures. The work begins with the menacing Dance of the Kaschey, then soothes into a magical lullaby, and rises to pure joy in the Finale.

This is the spirit of Phoenix: from fragility to strength, from darkness to light, from struggle to liberation. I hope this album brings you joy and hope.

Irina Lankova