Fazıl Say's "Four Cities" was originally a BBC commission and premiered in June 2012 during the City of London Festival.
Composition History
Shostakovich's 1934 Cello Sonata was composed for and dedicated to Viktor Kubatsky, a former principal cellist at the Bolshoi Theatre.
Composition History
Janáček's "Pohádka" (Fairy Tale) is based on the same epic poem by Vasily Zhukovsky that inspired Stravinsky's ballet "The Firebird."
Composer's Artistic Vision
Fazıl Say, the composer of "Four Cities," describes his work as a musical celebration of four Turkish locations that are "full of personal memories."
Composer Biography
Claude Debussy, the composer of the Cello Sonata, was diagnosed with cancer in 1914 at the age of 52, which severely impacted his ability to compose.
Composition History
Debussy managed to complete three neo-classical chamber sonatas, including the Cello Sonata, out of a planned six, while undergoing radium treatment and morphine injections.
Composer's Artistic Vision
Leoš Janáček, the composer of "Pohádka," only established his unique style after discovering his native country's indigenous folk music.
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