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Rethinking Russia: Sergei Rachmaninov (1873-1943) From St John's Gospel 0:00 Molitva / Prayer (1916) 1:07 Peter Bannister (1966 - ) after S. Rachmaninov From St John's Gospel 3:53 Molitva / Prayer 6:32 Sheet music: https://www.universaledition.com/en/Works/Lauda-and-Litany-Five-Russian-songs/P0208577 "From St John's Gospel" (without opus, written by Rachmaninov at the end of 1914 and published by Jürgenson the following year as part of a collection in aid of war relief - a context which explains the perhaps surprisingly somber tone of Rachmaninov's setting) "No one has greater love than this, to lay down one's life for one's friends." (John 15:13) Molitva / Prayer Written in 1916 but unpublished during Rachmaninov's lifetime, the song was edited and revised by Nina Koshetz (1891-1965), to whom it was dedicated, on the basis of pencil sketches left to her. It was published as one of two "Sacred Songs" by Belwin Mills in 1973. Teach me, O God, to love You with all my mind, with all my thoughts, So that I may devote my soul to You And my whole life with every beat of my heart. Teach me to follow Only Your merciful will, Teach me never to complain About my laborious lot. All those whom You came to redeem With Your purest blood, With selfless, profound love Teach me, O God, to love. (Konstantin Romanov (1858-1915) Peter Bannister - voice/piano Recording: Transept Music Productions 2026 Image: Constantin Somov portrait of Sergei Rachmaninov, 1925 (Wikimedia Commons). See also essay: "Can there be another Russia?" https://drive.google.com/file/d/1QidOpd4sD9w5jvCg7f2e12TSfZtu62Zl/view?usp=sharing (English/français)

Re-thinking Russia Modest Mussorgsky (1839-1881) Molitva (Prayer) 0:00 Peter Bannister (1966 - ) Molitva after M. Mussorgsky 3:21 Peter Bannister - bass-baritone, piano I, Mother of God, now pray Before your image, your radiant light, Not for my own desolate soul, For the soul of a homeless wanderer in the world But I wish to entrust an innocent spirit To the warm intercessor of a cold world. Surround the worthy soul with happiness, Give it attentive companions, Bright youth, tranquil old age, The peace of hope for the kindly heart. (Text: Mikhail Lermontov (1814-1841), modified) Recording: Transept Music Productions 2026 The present recording is part of the project entitled "Re-thinking Russia", an attempt to engage creatively with the classics of Russian musical culture, without shying away from its paradoxical aspects. The coexistence in the life and work of Modest Mussorgsky (1839-1881) of remarkable artistic individuality and undeniable grandeur alongside total alcoholic disorder is a good example; the same might be said of the author of the text of 'Molitva' (Prayer), Mikhail Lermontov, Russia's most famous poet of the Romantic era, who was killed in a duel at the age of 27. The reader and listener alike are confronted by a tension between, these two artists' desire for spiritual elevation and their (self)-destructive impulses - it could be said that they both exemplify broader apparent contradictions which is still very much a part of Russian culture... and which remain largely unresolved. PB See also Four songs after Sergei Rachmaninov – an exercise in ‘re-thinking’ Russia through music (pdf): https://drive.google.com/file/d/1QidOpd4sD9w5jvCg7f2e12TSfZtu62Zl/view?usp=sharing (English/français)

Bass-baritone / piano: Peter Bannister Recording: Les Arches Musicales, Cluny, France Transept Music Productions, May 2026 Four songs after Sergei Rachmaninov – an exercise in ‘re-thinking’ Russia through music (pdf): https://drive.google.com/file/d/1QidOpd4sD9w5jvCg7f2e12TSfZtu62Zl/view?usp=sharing (English/français) 1. It is time (after S. Rachmaninov Op. 14 n. 12) 0:00 The time has come! Show yourself, O Prophet! With the full force of sorrow, With the full force of love, I call out to you! Behold how frail we are, behold how weary, How helpless we are in this agonizing struggle! Now – or never!... Consciousness is dying, Shame is fading, conscience sleeps. Nowhere is there a glimmer, Only nothingness raises its voice... (Semyon Nadson (1862-1887)) Sheet music: https://www.universaledition.com/en/Works/Pora-The-time-has-come-after-Sergei-Rachmaninov/P0356922 2. The Raising of Lazarus (after S. Rachmaninov Op. 34 n. 6) 3:35 O my King and my God! In time you spoke the word of power and the prison of the grave was broken, and Lazarus revived and rose. I pray and the word of power comes, You say to my soul: “Arise” And from the coffin it will arise And appear in the light of your rays And come to life, and its stately praise Will go forth, to You, Father resplendent in glory, And to Thee who died for us. (Text: Aleksey Khomyakov (1804-1860)) Sheet music: https://www.universaledition.com/en/Works/Lauda-and-Litany-Five-Russian-songs/P0208577 3. Christ is Risen (after S. Rachmaninov Op. 26 n. 7) 6:55 "Christ is risen" they sing in church. Yet I am sad... my soul is silent. The world is full of blood and tears, and this hymn before the altars sounds so offensive. Were He present among us to see what our glorious age has achieved – how brother hates brother, how base man has become, and if, here within the gleaming church, He were to hear "Christ is risen", what bitter tears He would weep before the crowd! (Text : D. Merezhkovsky (1865-1941)) Sheet music: https://www.universaledition.com/en/Works/Lauda-and-Litany-Five-Russian-songs/P0208577 4. Let us rest (after S. Rachmaninov Op. 26 n. 3) 10:27 We shall rest! We shall hear the angels, We shall see all heaven in diamonds, We shall see how all earthly evil, All our sufferings will drown in mercy, Which will cover the whole earth, And our life will become peaceful, Tender and sweet, like a caress. I believe, I believe… We shall rest… we shall rest. (Text: Anton Chekhov (1860-1904), Uncle Vanya, Act IV) Sheet music: https://www.universaledition.com/en/Works/My-otdokhnjom-We-shall-rest-after-S.-Rachmaninov/P0208618

Bass-baritone / piano: Peter Bannister Recording: Les Arches Musicales, Cluny, France Transept Music Productions, May 2026 1. Пора! / It is time (Op. 14 n. 12) 0:00 The time has come! Show yourself, O Prophet! With the full force of sorrow, With the full force of love, I call out to you! Behold how frail we are, behold how weary, How helpless we are in this agonizing struggle! Now – or never!... Consciousness is dying, Shame is fading, conscience sleeps. Nowhere is there a glimmer, Only nothingness raises its voice... (Semyon Nadson (1862-1887)) 2. Воскрешение Лазаря / The Raising of Lazarus (Op. 34 n. 6) 1:32 O my King and my God! In time you spoke the word of power and the prison of the grave was broken, and Lazarus revived and rose. I pray and the word of power comes, You say to my soul: “Arise” And from the coffin it will arise And appear in the light of your rays And come to life, and its stately praise Will go forth, to You, Father resplendent in glory, And to Thee who died for us. (Text: Aleksey Khomyakov (1804-1860)) 3. Христос воскрес / Christ is Risen (after S. Rachmaninov Op. 26 n. 7) 3:37 "Christ is risen" they sing in church. Yet I am sad... my soul is silent. The world is full of blood and tears, and this hymn before the altars sounds so offensive. Were He present among us to see what our glorious age has achieved – how brother hates brother, how base man has become, and if, here within the gleaming church, He were to hear "Christ is risen", what bitter tears He would weep before the crowd! (Text : D. Merezhkovsky (1865-1941)) 4. Мы отдохнём / Let us rest (Op. 26 n. 3) 10:27 We shall rest! We shall hear the angels, We shall see all heaven in diamonds, We shall see how all earthly evil, All our sufferings will drown in mercy, Which will cover the whole earth, And our life will become peaceful, Tender and sweet, like a caress. I believe, I believe… We shall rest… we shall rest. (Text: Anton Chekhov (1860-1904), Uncle Vanya, Act IV)

Kurtág György (1926 - ) seven excerpts from Játékok Books V/VI Peter Bannister - piano I. Fanfares 0:00 2. Doina 0:44 3. Organ and Bells in memory of Doctor Laszlo Dobszay 3:01 4. Prelude and Choral 4:29 5. A Voice in the Distance (for Alfred Schlee's 80th birthday) 6:16 6. Paean 8:03 7. Les Adieux (in Janáček's Manier) 8:53 Recorded at Les Arches Musicales, Cluny, France, April 2026 Transept Music Productions 2026

Peter Bannister (1966 - ) Miłosierdzie Pańskie (The Lord's Mercy) text: St Faustyna Kowalska (1905-1938) Aleksandra Zamojska (soprano) Peter Bannister (piano) I will forever sing of the Lord’s Mercy Before all the people, For it is the greatest attribute of God And for us an unceasing miracle. Thou gushest forth from the Divine Trinity, But from one loving womb. The Lord’s Mercy will be revealed in the soul In all its fullness, when the veil falls. From the fount of Thy Mercy, O Lord, Flows all happiness and life, And so let all creatures and all creation Sing out a song of mercy in delight. The entrails of God’s Mercy are opened for us Through the life of Jesus stretched out on the Cross. O sinner, you should not doubt or despair, But trust in Mercy, for you too can become holy. Two streams in the form of rays gushed forth From the Heart of Jesus, Not for Angels, neither Cherubim nor Seraphim, But for the salvation of sinful man. (Text: St Faustyna Kowalska (1905-1938), Dzienniczek / Diary n. 522. English translation PB) Recording: Transept Music 2025

Johannes Brahms (1833-1897) Vier ernste Gesänge (Four serious songs) Op. 121 I. Denn es gehet dem Menschen wie dem Vieh 0:00 2. Ich wandte mich 4:32 3. O Tod, wie bitter bist Du 8:42 4. Wenn ich mit Menschen- und mit Engelzungen redete 12:16 Essay "Life beyond Schopenhauer: considering the Met's Tristan und Isolde and Brahms's Vier ernste Gesänge": https://qr-codes.io/5xKsOM Peter Bannister - bass-baritone, piano Recorded at Les Arches Musicales, Cluny, France Transept Music 2026

Johannes Brahms (1833-1897) Complete Late Piano Works Op 116, 117, 118, 119 Peter Bannister - piano Capriccio Op. 116 n. 1 0:00 Intermezzo Op. 116 n. 2 02:20 Capriccio Op. 116 n. 3 5:55 Intermezzo Op. 116 n. 4 09:11 Intermezzo Op. 116 n. 5 13:13 Intermezzo Op. 116 n. 6 16:05 Capriccio Op. 116 n. 7 19:00 Intermezzo Op. 117 n. 1 21:27 Intermezzo Op. 117 n. 2 25:37 Intermezzo Op. 117 n. 3 29:29 Intermezzo Op. 118 n. 1 35:01 Intermezzo Op. 118 n. 2 36:46 Ballade Op. 118 n. 3 42:03 Intermezzo Op. 118 n. 4 45:35 Romanze Op. 118 n. 5 48:24 Intermezzo Op. 118 n. 6 52:13 Intermezzo Op. 119 n. 1 57:15 Intermezzo Op. 119 n. 2 1:00:39 Intermezzo Op. 119 n. 3 1:05:20 Rhapsodie Op. 119 n. 4 1:07:06 Recorded at La Tanière, Flagy (France), April 2023 Release: Transept Music, March 2026 Download program notes ("Clara Schumann's 'grey pearl' : the final piano works of Johannes Brahms"): https://qr-codes.io/FzAh66