Filmed live in concert from Sasso San Gottardo, a fortress inside Gotthard Pass, Switzerland, home to the largest naturally occurring mountain crystals in Europe, "Rachmaninov Inside the Alps" presents an evening of music by Sergei Rachmaninov and George Gershwin. The program features Rachmaninov's beloved Sonata for Piano & Cello along with his ever popular Vocalise, performed by cellist Fjodor Elesin and pianist Katie Mahan, followed by Gershwin's ever popular Rhapsody in Blue, arranged for piano solo by Katie.

Under the tutelage of M. Rostropovich, Fjodor Elesin began his musical path at the St. Petersburg State Conservatory and at the age of 13 performed as soloist with the National Symphony Orchestra of St. Petersburg. He became known as "the king of the cello" after releasing a CD performed on the personal cello of the last Russian Tsar Nicholas I and has subsequently performed as soloist in prestigious concert halls including Carnegie Hall, the Berlin Philharmonie, and St. Martin-in-the-Fields, among others.

"Rachmaninov Inside the Alps" Program:
Sergei Rachmaninov Sonata for Piano and Cello Op. 19
Sergei Rachmaninov Vocalise Op. 34, No. 14, arr. for cello and piano
George Gershwin Rhapsody in Blue, arr. for piano solo by K. Mahan
Encore - Rachmaninov IV. Allegro mosso