‘My teacher Nadia Boulanger was absolutely against Rachmaninov’s music, and when I was asked to
play the Third Concerto, this was for her the worst catastrophe that could possibly happen… But, I find a
great nobility in Rachmaninov’s music, and when I worked with Mlle Boulanger on his Corelli Variations,
she started changing her opinion completely.’
– Idil Biret in her memoirs, 2006

‘Astonishing piano recordings: Rachmaninov’s Paganini Variations, Op. 43 for piano and orchestra
is a popular work, but one almost never hears his equally estimable Corelli Variations, Op. 42 for solo
piano. These Decca recordings by the young Turkish pianist Idil Biret are a remarkable, sparkling
demonstration of talent: her Rachmaninov is brilliant, direct, bright... She is never daunted and avoids
kitsch. And the 6 Moments musicaux, Op. 16 is no less a discovery…’
– Joachim Kaiser, Süddeutsche Zeitung, 1974

‘Idil Biret’s complete Rachmaninov is unsurpassed for aristocratic, passionate pianism and exacting
musicianship.’ – Richard Dyer, Boston Globe, 2000