Midnight Julia Kociuban & Ilya Maximov

• Sergei Prokofiev (1891 - 1953): Cinderella:
• 1 Prokofiev: Cinderella: Introduction 02:12
• 2 Prokofiev: Cinderella: Quarrel 03:21
• 3 Prokofiev: Cinderella: Winter 04:11
• 4 Prokofiev: Cinderella: Spring 02:13
• 5 Prokofiev: Cinderella: Cinderella’s Waltz 05:54
• 6 Prokofiev: Cinderella: Gavotte 02:18
• 7 Prokofiev: Cinderella: Gallop 04:14
• 8 Prokofiev: Cinderella: Valse lente 04:04
• 9 Prokofiev: Cinderella: Finale 06:01
• Sergei Rachmaninoff (1873 - 1943): Symphonic Dances, Op. 45:
• 10 Rachmaninoff: Symphonic Dances, Op. 45: Non allegro – Lento – Tempo I 10:59
• 11 Rachmaninoff: Symphonic Dances, Op. 45: Andante con moto (Tempo di valse) 08:21
• 12 Rachmaninoff: Symphonic Dances, Op. 45: Lento assai – Allegro vivace – Lento assai – Allegro vivace 13:24
• Total Runtime 01:07:12

Info zu Midnight

This is the first collaborative album recorded by the husband-and-wife duo. Julia Kociuban and Ilya Maximov boldly explore the masterpieces of Russian composers. They give them a voice, believing in the power of music to express more than words.

The album features two works, completely different in nature, yet sharing many common characteristics. Both reflect turbulent moments in the lives of their creators, reflecting transformation, memory, irony, intimacy, and emotional sincerity. Symphonic Dances is a moving testament to the torn between a love of Russian tradition and the awareness of a cut-off path to homeland, intensified by reflections on transience and death. Cinderella is an escape into a fairytale land during the harsh times of war. What ultimately unites both works—and what inspired the album's title—is the atmosphere of the North. In Rachmaninoff's case, it lies within the music's mystical and dark character; in Prokofiev's, it lies within a fleeting, magical soundscape brimming with brilliance, satire, tenderness, and timeless longing. Pletnev's virtuoso arrangement captures the theatrical sweep of a ballet suite, while his own transcription of Rachmaninoff's Dances, while losing the orchestral color, simultaneously gains the atmosphere of an intimate conversation.

Both masterpieces present a challenge to the performers on every level—technical, intellectual, and expressive. Both emerge decisively victorious, confirming the caliber of virtuosos in the thriving international careers. Both compositions also foster a celebration of the intimate bond between the two artists and affirm their artistic identities, echoing the dilemmas and choices of both great composers. Heirs to the spirit of the Russian piano school, associated with the Mozarteum in Salzburg and performing on the most important stages in Europe, America, and Asia, proudly present their first collaborative album, encouraging reflection on artistic and personal truth. This truth transcends politics and ideology, confronting the listener with pure beauty worth experiencing.

Julia Kociuban, piano
Ilya Maximov, piano

Julia Kociuban
is considered as one of the leading polish pianists of her generation. Her debut solo album “Schumann, Chopin, Bacewicz” was praised by critics as one of the most interesting piano debuts of the past years and her recording of Grażyna Bacewicz’s Piano Sonata No. 2 was described as the best recording of a piece in the world. Two latest CDs with Bacewicz and Tansman Piano Concertos and Quintets were nominated for the Polish Music Industry Prize “Fryderyk”. In 2022 artist released her second solo album “Polish Polonaises”.

Kociuban has already been invited to perform in renowned European concert halls including the Herkulessall in Munich, the Konzerthaus of Vienna and of Berlin and the Laeiszhalle in Hamburg. She has also performed in America and Asia and at the most known international music festivals in the world, including La Rouge d’Antheron, La Folle Journee, Kissinger Sommer, The Young Euro Classic Piano Festival, The Ludwig van Beethoven Easter Festival.

She performs regularly solo recitals, in chamber music and as soloist with renowned orchestras (including Wiener Symphoniker, ORF Vienna Radio Symphony Orchestra, NDR Sinfonieorchester Hamburg). She has collaborated with such great conductors as Howard Griffiths, Hans Graf, Nemme Järvi, Kristjan Järvi, Lahav Shani, Heribert Beissel, Aziz Shokhakimov, Ken-David Masur, Antoni Wit, Jerzy Maksymiuk, Paweł Przytocki, Marek Pijarowski among others. She has recorded for many European radio and television stations as well as for the international labels such as Sony Classical, Gramola and DUX.

Julia Kociuban graduated from the Royal College of Music in London, Universität Mozarteum in Salzburg and Fryderyk Chopin University of Music in Warsaw where she studied with Dmitri Alexeev, Pavel Gililov and Piotr Paleczny. In 2019 she received her doctoral degree in music, and a year later she completed postgraduate studies for cultural managers at the Warsaw School of Economics. Alongside her solo career Julia Kociuban teaches at the Bacewicz University of Music in Lodz (Poland). She is also a founder and director of BISMA Bacewicz International Summer Music Academy.

Ilya Maximov
born in Yekaterinburg, Russia, began his music education at the age of 6 in the special music school for talented children.

At 8, he played his first concerto with the Yekaterinburg Philharmonic. Upon graduation, he entered both the Gnessin Music Institute in Moscow (class of Vladimir Tropp) and the Conservatory Superior del Liceu in Barcelona (class of Stanislav Pochekin).

Currently, Maximov is pursuing an artist’s diploma at the Royal College of Music in London under the tutelage of Dmitry Alexeev.

Maximov has won top prizes at many international competitions and has performed with orchestras and given recitals across the globe. In May of 2010, he won the public prize at the Musical Olympus Foundation festival in Saint Petersburg and in 2011 participated in the foundation’s concerts in Singapore, New York City and Berlin.

Booklet für Midnight