Evgeny Soifertis

Performers

Notes on the performers

Evgeny Soifertis was born in Kiev, where at the age of thirteen he won first prize in the Beethoven Competition. He later continued his studies at the Moscow Conservatory before moving to Holland. More recently he has made his home in London. In Europe he has given concerts in Italy, at the Flanders Festival and at many venues in the Netherlands, including the Concertgebouw. In the United Kingdom he has performed at Wigmore Hall and taken part in prestigious festivals all over the country.

Programme

Programme notes

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart

Piano Sonata in F major K. 280

1. Allegro Assai
2. Adagio
3. Presto

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart’s Piano Sonata No. 2 in F major, K 280 / 189e, (1774) is a piano sonata in three movements. The work was written down along with other piano sonatas during the visit Mozart paid to Munich for the production of La finta giardiniera from late 1774 to the beginning of the following March.

Source: Wikipedia

Frédéric Chopin

Mazurkas, Op. 24

1. G minor
2. C major
3. A flat major
4. B flat minor

The Op. 24 mazurkas by Frédéric Chopin were published in 1836, when the composer was 26 years old.

The first mazurka of the Op. 24 set is in G minor with a tempo marking of Lento. The piece soon modulates to the relative major key (B-flat major) which soon shifts to a closely related key, E-flat major.

The second mazurka of the set is in C major with a tempo marking of Allegro non troppo, opening with a quiet alternation of C and G major sotto voce chords. The trio is in D-flat major. The trio is closed by using repeated notes, generally open fifths. The piece is also notable for its vague yet distinctly diatonic harmony, as the opening 56 bars of the piece do not feature a single accidental.

The third mazurka of the set is in A-flat major, with a tempo marking of Moderato non Troppo.

The fourth mazurka of the set is in B-flat minor, ending on the dominant note (F) alone.

Source: Wikipedia

Alexander Scriabin

Étude op. 8 no. 8 A flat major
Étude op. 42 no. 5 C sharp minor
Étude op. 42 no. 4 F sharp major
Étude op. 8 no. 12 D sharp minor

The Étude No.8, in A flat major, is really an album-leaf or a nocturne, a “mourning after” that is a fitting quietus to its predecessor.

Étude No.5, in C sharp minor, is the most famous of the Op.42 eight. Here Scriabin’s canvas is galactic and his strokes are colossal. The cosmic ship is buffeted by giant breakers, waves that boom and bellow with primal authority. The ship’s journey is rebellious and daring, its destiny and destination uncertain. This rousing, climactic étude is for us a vicarious ride in Scriabin’s Promethean theme park.

The Étude No.4, in F sharp major, is a placid respite, a brief moment of serenity, like Monet’s lily pond, that Scriabin daintily paints for us with notes.

Étude in D-sharp minor, Op. 8, No. 12, is an étude for piano composed by Alexander Scriabin in 1894.[1] It features many technical challenges, including numerous jumps in the left hand, repetitive chord strikes, and abundant octaves. It is a particular favorite among pianists and audiences alike. This piece was a favorite encore of Vladimir Horowitz.

Source: Naxos Direct

Franz Liszt

Spanish Rhapsody

Rhapsodie espagnole (Spanish Rhapsody), S.254, R.90, is a composition for solo piano composed by Franz Liszt in 1858. The piece is very suggestive of traditional Spanish music, and was inspired by Liszt’s tour in Spain and Portugal in 1845. When played, this piece takes roughly 11–14 minutes and contains many technical challenges, including rapid chords, thirds and octaves. It has long been a part of the standard repertoire and often sees play in piano competitions. Ferruccio Busoni arranged the piece for piano and orchestra in 1894.

Source: Wikipedia