Composer: Johann Sebastian Bach, Frédéric François Chopin, Claude Achille Debussy, George Gershwin, Alexander Scriabin, Vestard Shimkus, Dmitri Shostakovich
Performer: Vestard Shimkus
Format: FLAC (tracks)
Label: Artalinna
Catalogue: 402737
Release: 2020
Size: 476 MB
Recovery: +3%
Scan: yes
01. Chopin: Prelude in C-Sharp Minor, Op. 45. Sostenuto
Scriabin: Preludes, Op. 74
02. I. Douloureux déchirant
03. II. Très lent, contemplatif
04. III. Allegro drammatico
05. IV. Lent, vague, indécis
06. V. Fier, belliqueux
Debussy: Preludes, Livre II, L. 131
07. V. Bruyères (Calme – Doucement expressif)
08. XII. Feux d’artifice (Modérément animé)
09. Gershwin: Prelude in E-Flat Major, “Novelette in Fourths”
10. Gershwin: Prelude in A-Flat Major, “Melody No. 17”
11. Gershwin: Prelude in G Minor, “Fragment”
12. Gershwin: Prelude in G Major, “Rubato”
Gershwin: Preludes
13. I. Allegro ben ritmato e deciso
14. II. Andante con moto e poco rubato, “Blue Lullaby”
15. III. Allegro ben ritmato e deciso, “Spanish Prelude”
Shimkus: North Wind. The Gothic Prelude and Fugue
16. I. Prelude
17. II. Fugue
Bach: Das wohltemperierte Klavier I, Prelude and Fugue No. 8 in E-Flat / D-Sharp Minor, BWV 853
18. Prelude in E-Flat Minor
19. Fugue in D-Sharp Minor
Bach: Das wohltemperierte Klavier I, Prelude and Fugue No. 9 in E Major, BWV 854
20. Prelude
21. Fugue
Shostakovich: 24 Preludes and Fugues, Op. 87, Prelude and Fugue No. 14 in E-Flat Minor
22. Prelude
23. Fugue
Shostakovich: 24 Preludes and Fugues, Op. 87, Prelude and Fugue No. 15 in D-Flat Major
24. Prelude
25. Fugue
For this recital in Paris, in April 2019, the Latvian pianist Vestard Shimkus imagined a program focused on preludes and fugues. A first part devoted to preludes confirmed his affinity with Scriabin (Preludes Op. 74) and his performance in Debussy also displayed a bewildering art of suggestion. In the second part, introduced with a majestic composition by the pianist, two excerpts from J. S. Bach’s Well-Tempered Clavier, which preceded two of Shostakovich’s Preludes and Fugues, performed with an impressive dramatic force. A very original journey, spanning three centuries of musical creation, by one of the most fascinating personalities of the classical scene.