Composer: Frédéric François Chopin, Bill Evans, Nikolay Kapustin, Robert Mitchell, Melanie Spanswick
Performer: Yuki Negishi
Format: FLAC (tracks)
Label: Quartz
Catalogue: QTZ2139
Release: 2022
Size: 995 MB
Recovery: +3%
Scan: yes
Kapustin: Piano Sonata No. 1, Op. 39 “Sonata-Fantasia”
01. I. Vivace
02. II. Largo
03. III. Scherzo. Vivace
04. IV. Allegro molto
05. Spanswick: Enigma
06. Mitchell: Our Hearts Dance the Infinite
07. Chopin: Berceuse in D-Flat Major, Op. 57, B. 154
Chopin: Piano Sonata No. 2 in B-Flat Minor, Op. 35, B. 128
08. I. Grave. Doppio movimento
09. II. Scherzo. Piu lento
10. III. Marche funebre. Lento
11. IV. Presto
12. Evans: Peace Piece
The brilliant Nikolai Kapustin wrote music for himself. The tiring sense of having to explain the exact place where the divide between his obvious deep love and influence of Jazz and Classical lies must have left him feeling resentful of ever agreeing to talk about his unique work. Kapustin simply did not wish to put energy into it – compared to the actual act of composition. And that answer is – there is not a divide – so perhaps listening without a divide can put us closer to the magical place from which he operated. A place that could only come from infinitely curious spirit, a famously rigorous Classical training in Russia, and not only an influence but a love and highly developed Jazz talent – combined – but expressed primarily through a Classical means.
Melanie Spanswick composed in February 2019 especially for Japanese pianist Yuki Negishi, is a miniature programmatic work inhabits an atmospheric, dreamy sound world. It employs the full range of the keyboard and seeks to showcase the enigmatic resonance of the instrument.