Pianist’s schedule keeps him on the move

SCHENECTADY — Russian pianist Alexander Melnikov’s schedule reads like a day tripper flitting through countries every other day. This includes a stop Sunday at Union College’s Memorial Chapel as part of the Union College Concert Series.

“I’ve not always been so busy. Only lately,” Melnikov said from Berlin, Germany, where he’s based.

Whether his German management has done an exceptional job getting him gigs or it’s an expanding popularity stemming from the 24 compact discs he’s released on the Harmonia Mundi label over the last decade, many of which have won awards, including BBC Magazine calling his 2011 Shostakovich disc one of the best recordings of all time, he doesn’t know.

“It’s the million-dollar question,” he said laughing. “Sometimes it’s too much, especially when I come to the United States. The traveling is very tough. If I could fly from Montreal to San Francisco myself [Melnikov has a pilot’s license] or even drive, I would. But the weather is a problem.”

His program, too, has its challenges. He’s performing Rachmaninoff’s “Chopin Variations, Op. 22” for the first time in public. While he’s recorded Debussy’s “Preludes” (to be released) and Rachmaninoff’s “Corelli Variations, Op. 42” (released last year), which are both on the program, the Chopin Variations written around 1903 when the composer was only 30 is completely new for him.

“I knew about both the Corelli and Chopin variations even in Russia (Melnikov graduated from the Moscow Conservatory in 1997), but this repertoire was not given its due,” he said. “The Chopin was considered a very under-rated work but I became rather fascinated. It’s quite mesmerizing and extremely difficult.”

The piece is based on the first eight bars of Chopin’s “Prelude in C minor, Op. 28 No. 20,” which Melnikov said was “a little pompous,” but what Rachmaninoff did with it is pure fantasy.

“It’s so rich, so full of contrapuntal passages. It’s a successful work but incredibly difficult,” he said. “I heard a recording of it, but it’s different when you play it. It’s brought me an enormous pleasure to learn.”

A Melnikov tour is unlike most pianists’ tours in that he breaks it up by being an accompanist for either of his longtime colleagues: violinist Isabelle Faust or cellist Jean-Guihen Queyras. For this two-week North American tour, five of his eight concerts will be with Queyras.

“Chamber music enriches me,” Melnikov said.

Later in March, sandwiched between Brussels and London, he returns for three performances with one orchestra: Seattle Symphony.

“They keep inviting me. I guess they like me,” he said. “Ten years ago I knew nothing about the northwest corner. The United States is so big and complex and everyone knows about Boston, New York City and Philadelphia. But Seattle is a very special orchestra. There are really treasures out there and it’s become my favorite corner of the world.”

A pianist’s tour also means a different piano at every venue. What if he gets a dud?

“Having come from the Soviet Union, if you knew the number of pianos I had to try — nothing scares me if something goes wrong,” he said. “Most of the venues I’m playing at I know the pianos. Some are nice, others I must struggle with. But if there’s a problem, I can tune it myself. I’m more worried about my travel schedule.”
Even if there’s bad weather, Melnikov is still upbeat.

“I’ve had tours before and it’s been OK,” he said. “I never have time for vacation, so my main concern is always to play well. When I don’t, I don’t feel good. It’s very primitive about me . . . but it’s why I try to do my best.”

Alexander Melnikov
WHEN: 3 p.m. Sunday Jan. 29
WHERE: Union College Memorial Chapel
HOW MUCH: $30, students under 30 free
MORE INFO: 388-6080; www.unioncollegeconcerts.org