These ten arrangements are a welcome addition to Rachmaninoff’s small but significant output of original works for cello and piano. Klaus Simon comments that Rachmaninoff’s songs are some of the most beautiful in the whole repertoire and especially suitable for cello. The instrument's sound is so flexible and beautiful for melody, and with its warm sound and potential for intense vibrato and tasteful portamenti it is ideally suited to the task. The order of this edition is a suggestion by the arranger which has worked very well in concerts; performers should feel free to choose their own combination.
Let me rest here alone, op 26, no 9 (Я опять одинок / Je suis à nouveau seul / Lass mich alleine hier ruhen)
Oh, never sing to me again, op 4, no 4 (Не пой, красавица! /Ne chante pas, ma belle ! / Oh, singe nie wieder für mich)
Before my window, op 26, no 10 (У моего oкнa / À ma fenêtre / Vor meinem Fenster)
Did you hiccup, Natasha? (no op) (Икалось ли тебе? / Tu as le hocquet, Natacha ? / Hast Du Schluckauf gehabt, Natascha?)
Lilacs, op 21, no 5 (Сирень / Les Lilas / Flieder)
Daisies, op 38, no 3 (Маргариты / Margeriten / Les Marguerites)
How fair this spot, op 21, no 7 (Здесь хорошо / Tout est si beau ! / Wie schön dieser Ort ist).
So many hours, so many fancies, op 4, no 6 (Давно-ль, мой друг / Il y a longtemps, mon ami / So viele Stunden, so viele Fantasien)
Melody, op 21, no 9 (Мелодия / Mélodie / Melodie)
Midsummer Nights, op 14, no 5 (Эти летние ночи / Ces nuits d’été / Mittsommernächte)