Songs of Rain Karolina Errera & Lilit Grigoryan

• Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky (1840 - 1893): 6 Romances, Op. 6, TH 93:
• 1 Tchaikovsky: 6 Romances, Op. 6, TH 93: No. 4, A Tear Trembles (Transcr. for Viola & Piano) 04:07
• Sergei Rachmaninoff (1873 - 1943): 6 Romances, Op. 4:
• 2 Rachmaninoff: 6 Romances, Op. 4: No. 3 In the Mysterious Silence of the Night (Transcr. for Viola & Piano) 03:25
• John Dowland (1563 - 1626): The First Booke of Songes:
• 3 Dowland: The First Booke of Songes: No. 4, If My Complaints Could Passions Move (Transcr. for Viola) 02:43
• Benjamin Britten (1913 - 1976): Lachrymae, Op. 48:
• 4 Britten: Lachrymae, Op. 48: Lento (1) 01:59
• 5 Britten: Lachrymae, Op. 48: Allegretto, andante molto 00:59
• 6 Britten: Lachrymae, Op. 48: Animato 01:23
• 7 Britten: Lachrymae, Op. 48: Tranquillo 02:17
• 8 Britten: Lachrymae, Op. 48: Allegro con moto 00:46
• 9 Britten: Lachrymae, Op. 48: Largamente 00:31
• 10 Britten: Lachrymae, Op. 48: Appassionato 00:50
• 11 Britten: Lachrymae, Op. 48: Alla valse moderato 01:01
• 12 Britten: Lachrymae, Op. 48: Allegro marcia 00:52
• 13 Britten: Lachrymae, Op. 48: Lento (2) 00:48
• 14 Britten: Lachrymae, Op. 48: L'istesso tempo 03:39
• Sergei Prokofiev (1891 - 1953): Romeo and Juliet, Op. 64:
• 15 Prokofiev: Romeo and Juliet, Op. 64: Death of Juliet (Transcr. V. Borisovsky for Viola & Piano) 08:24
• Johannes Brahms (1833 - 1897): 8 Lieder and Songs, Op. 59:
• 16 Brahms: 8 Lieder and Songs, Op. 59: No. 4, Nachklang (Transcr. for Viola & Piano) 01:59
• 17 Brahms: Violin Sonata No. 1 in G Major, Op. 78 "Regen" (Transcr. for Viola & Piano): I. Vivace, ma non troppo 11:42
• 18 Brahms: Violin Sonata No. 1 in G Major, Op. 78 "Regen" (Transcr. for Viola & Piano): II. Adagio 08:13
• 19 Brahms: Violin Sonata No. 1 in G Major, Op. 78 "Regen" (Transcr. for Viola & Piano): III. Allegro molto moderato 09:30
• Total Runtime 01:05:08

Info for Songs of Rain

A cloudy sky and raindrops beating on the window: this itself is practically music, and for centuries, the sound of rain from the clouds has inspired not only painters but also poets and composers. On her debut GENUIN album, violist Karolina Errera and her piano partner Lilit Grigoryan present a selection of highly emotional music from John Dowland to Benjamin Britten. The prizewinner of numerous international competitions has placed a wide range of original works and arrangements on the program of this album – moving works that are best suited by both the warm sound of viola and piano, as well as the playing culture of the two interpreters!

Karolina Errera, viola
Lilit Grigoryan, piano

Karolina Errera
has a rare gift of combining her wonderful musical talents with outstandingly good taste and a humble and modest personality that is not so common nowadays. – Tabea Zimmermann

Standing on stage and abandoning oneself to the transient moment of the music – this particular feeling has accompanied Karolina Errera throughout her entire life: since she performed as a five-year-old for the first time, to her years as a student at the Kronberg Academy and as a chamber musician at prominent festivals, to her collaboration with the Berliner Philharmoniker.

Born in Moscow, the violist grew up in a Russian-Dominican family and was shaped at an early age by different musical influences from all over the world. Karolina Errera received her musical training from Tabea Zimmermann at the Hanns Eisler School of Music Berlin, after which she studied at the Kronberg Academy. Karolina Errera enjoys developing her artistic personality in various formations. As an academy member of the Berliner Philharmoniker, she has learned to be part of a larger whole while still remaining true to her own style. What fascinates her about chamber music is the shared creative moment and the direct communication with each other. As a soloist, she seeks to tell the story behind the works.

Karolina Errera won numerous prizes including first place at the distinguished Yuri Bashmet Competition and second place at the Markneukirchen International Instrumental Competition. She has played in concert halls such as Wigmore Hall in London, the Konzerthaus Berlin and the Berliner Philharmonie. Moreover, she regularly appears as a guest at international festivals including the Verbier Festival, the Heidelberger Frühling, the Seiji Ozawa Matsumoto Festival, the Moritzburg Festival and the Krzyżowa-Music Festival.

Parallel to her busy concert schedule, the violist never loses sight of her goal: to play music for everyone and to invite the listeners to delve into the colorful world of classical music with her. For this, the viola is the perfect instrument.

Lilit Grigoryan
distinguished by her abundant strength and a clear, assertive musical language, is one of the outstanding artists of her generation. She has been highly praised by the press for her “beyond-her-years performance” (BBC Music Magazine).

Lilit Grigoryan has toured across the globe and played at venues such as the Konzerthaus Berlin, Hamburg’s Elbphilharmonie, the Philharmonie Essen, the Laeiszhalle in Hamburg, the Concertgebouw in Amsterdam, and the Steinway Halls in New York, London and Hamburg. As a soloist, she has performed with numerous orchestras and made appearances at various prestigious festivals. Lilit Grigoryan is also a devoted chamber musician and collaborates with artists such as Maria João Pires, Viviane Hagner, Sarah Christian, Hiyoli Togawa and Andrei Ioniţă.

Released in 2012, her debut CD features works by Scarlatti, Schumann, Bartók and Khachaturian. In 2017 and 2018, two chamber music recordings enjoyed critical acclaim. Lilit Grigoryan released Variations sérieuses in November 2018, which includes works by Bach-Busoni, Beethoven, Mendelssohn, Bizet and Szymanowski. The recording was received with great enthusiasm by international reviewers. Her new recording from 2021 with the cycle Música callada by Frederic Mompou has already garnered a great deal of media attention. Shortly after its release, the CD reached Apple Music’s Top 10 monthly selected best albums.

The pianist considers her most influential teachers to have been Arkuhi Harutyunyan, Sergei Sarajyan, and later Matthias Kirschnereit at the Rostock University of Music and Drama and Maria João Pires. With the latter, she continues to enjoy an intense and inspiring collaboration. In 2008, Lilit Grigoryan received the prestigious RA President Youth Prize; she has also been recognized for her accomplishments by the State Duma of the Russian Federation and the Mayor of the City of Yerevan.

Lilit Grigoryan teaches at the Rostock University of Music and Drama.

Booklet for Songs of Rain