Simon Ghraichy's childhood was marked by family bereavements and the necessity to flee war, leading to a long-standing fear of water.
Performer Biography
Simon Ghraichy, the pianist on this album, was fascinated by the piano from age four or five in Beirut, where pianos were common in bourgeois families but rarely played.
Compositional Technique
Schumann's Humoreske Op.20 features a unique 'inner voice' (innere Stimme) in its second section, a third stave intended to be sung internally by the pianist.
Album & Artwork
The album title '33' refers to Simon Ghraichy's age at the time of its release, and it was a challenge from his artistic director to reveal his private side through music.
Recording & Production
The album includes a world premiere recording of 'HUGE,' a piece commissioned by Simon Ghraichy from Jacopo Baboni Schilingi, which explores the interior of the piano.
Performer Biography
Simon Ghraichy grew up in a multicultural household, speaking four languages (French, Arabic, English, Spanish) and having Lebanese and Mexican roots.
Interpretation
The album's program was inspired by Simon Ghraichy's realization of the dramatic reality of Schumann's life, particularly his leap into the Rhine, which brought up a childhood family trauma and his phobia of water.
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