Many of Sergei Rachmaninov's works have been influenced by myths and stories from his native Russia, but also by pictures, fairy tales and works of art from other cultures. "Sergej Rachmaninov: Pictures and Fairy Tales" is a selection of twelve Preludes and Etudes-Tableaux whose inspiration and intensity of expression stand out. Each of these pieces tells their own story or paints their own picture. For some of these works, we do know the composer's inspiration, the picture or story that he had in mind when writing each piece. For many, we don't, which gives us the opportunity to think about our own inspirations, our memories, hopes or dreams, and this is precisely the composer's intention.

Besides each telling their own story, the twelve pieces of "Pictures and Fairy Tales" are arranged to be part of a consecutive, overarching narrative that, in some form or another, is the baseline of so many of our fairy tales: a story of hope, love and happiness that is challenged by a catastrophic event, and the long, emotional, but lastly successful process of finding back to happiness.

Based in Germany, Ralf Schnell is a world-renowned classical pianist and composer, celebrated for his exceptional mastery of Rachmaninov, Chopin, and Brahms. His performances are a testament to his deep understanding of these composers' intricate works. "This is the best Chopin I have ever heard!" states Karl Ulrich Schnabel, on a performance of Chopin's Second Sonata from Schnell. Schnell's mentors, including Darryl Rosenberg and Laurent Boullet, have shaped his unique approach to performance and composition. Influenced by the legendary Arthur Rubinstein, Schnell's style is characterised by its narrative approach. His recital programmes are thematic journeys, performed without breaks, allowing audiences to truly immerse themselves in the Classical music culture, in a unique way.