Having recorded for the Decca Gold Label in the 1950s and 60s, Ruth is thrilled to return to the label nearly 60 years later to release a brand new solo piano album, recorded in 2021, entitled My Life in Music. The album celebrates her remarkable life and performing career which began as a child prodigy in the 1920s and continues nine decades later.
When asked about her new album, Slenczynska said,
“Unbelievable! Whoever heard of a pianist my age making another album? I’m grateful if they like the music. Music is meant to bring joy. If mine still brings joy to people, then it is doing what it is supposed to do”
Born in 1925 in Sacramento, California, to Polish immigrants, Slenczynska gave her concert debut at the age of four (just as the world entered the Great Depression), performed on television aged five and at six made her European concert debut in Berlin. 92 years later, the extraordinary pianist still performs to audiences around the world.
As a child, Ruth Slenczynska was taught by some of the most celebrated pianists in history. She is the last living pupil of the great Russian composer-pianist Sergei Rachmaninoff, and even stepped in for him at the last minute when he was unable to perform due to an injury. The pair would often drink tea together and, to this day, Slenczynska wears a Fabergé egg necklace the great musician gifted to her.
My Life in Music is inspired by Slenczynska’s personal connections with Rachmaninoff, as well as American composer Samuel Barber, who was her fellow student and friend. Slenczynska heard Barber’s now world-famous Adagio for Strings in the classroom, before it even had its title.
Slenczynska also explores the music of Chopin throughout the new album, including a piece she performed at the memorial service of one of the greatest pianists of all time, Vladimir Horowitz, a life-long friend. Chopin’s music formed Slenczynska’s musical foundations, with her father making her play all 24 Études before breakfast every morning. Slenczynska went on to earn a reputation as one of the most celebrated Chopin interpreters. The album also features pieces by Debussy, Grieg and Bach which, for her, conjure memories of some of her great piano mentors: Egon Petri, Alfred Cortot and Josef Hoffman.
A phenomenal performing career has seen Slenczynska appear at some of the most prestigious concert halls around the world, as well as for the likes of President Reagan, President Kennedy, President Carter and Michelle Obama, and has even played duets with President Truman and the (now former) Empress Michiko of Japan (with whom she is friends). She has also written extensively with many articles published and two books to her credit.
Still an active performer, Slenczynska performed at the 2021 Chopin International Festival and Friends in October 2021 in the Polish Embassy in in New York and is set to celebrate her 97th Birthday with a recital at Lebanon Valley College, PA, on 6 February.
Laura Monks and Tom Lewis, Co-Presidents of Decca Label Group, say,
“It’s remarkable to think that Ruth made her concert debut before the birth of colour movies, and around the same time as the birth of television! The fact that she is still at the top of her game over nine decades later is extraordinary. It’s very hard to think of anyone, in any profession, who has achieved such a sustained period of excellence.”
Label Director of Decca Classics, Dominic Fyfe, says,
“We are privileged to have Ruth record for Decca again, some sixty-six years since she first recorded for the label in New York. One of her earliest producers was Thomas Frost and we were delighted to unite her with Thomas’ son David, the multi GRAMMY award-winning producer, for this new album. Decca has a long-cherished history of bringing great pianists back to the studio, from Shura Cherkassky to Jorge Bolet. Ruth was friends with them both and her pianism is one of the last living links to that golden era”.

《维瓦尔第：四季》本碟是德国“小提琴女神”安妮·索菲·穆特与其音乐领路人欧洲指挥大帝卡拉扬早年为EMI留下的一款珍贵唱片。收录了音乐史上流行度最高的小提琴协奏曲——维瓦尔第创作的《四季》！意大利作曲家维瓦尔第本人就是音乐史上一位技艺精湛的小提琴家，同时也是小提琴协奏曲这种音乐演奏形式的发明者。《四季》是他卷帙浩繁的小提琴作品中流行度与艺术成就最高的一部！！据统计，《四季》很可能是全世界被唱片公司录制次数最多的小提琴作品！！

★ 全世界知名度最高、最好听的小提琴协奏曲，群众基础雄厚！！
★ 全世界最富号召力的小提琴女神穆特完美演绎！！
★ 全世界人气最旺的指挥大师卡拉扬指挥维也纳爱乐乐团激情协奏！！
★ 唱片史上最著名的《四季》版本之一！！

穆特与卡拉扬大师于80年代录制的这款唱片在该曲目诸多版本中始终备受瞩目，演奏风格华美无比，用音符轻松描摹出一年中的春、夏、秋、冬！！录制本唱片时的穆特正值弱冠之年，她淳朴本真的音乐演绎与此曲田园诗般的艺术意境相得益彰，为自己也为乐迷留下了一幅隽永的音乐画卷。

安东尼奥·维瓦尔第
四季（作品8号，第1至第4首）
E大调第一协奏曲“春”
01 快板
02 广板
03 快板
G小调第二协奏曲“夏”
04 不很快的快板
05 柔板
06 急板
安妮·索菲·穆特/小提琴
维也纳爱乐乐团
赫伯特·冯·卡拉扬
F大调第三协奏曲
07 快板
08 很慢的柔板
09 快板
10 不很快的快板
11 广板
12 快板