In the early 19th century, music-making moved indoors and the genre of the Nocturne changed due to the rise of the middle classes and new Romantic ideas about the night.
Performer Biography
Alexei Kornienko, the pianist and conductor on this album, divides his career between piano and conducting and is a sought-after conductor for premieres of complex works.
Composition History
The Irish composer John Field (1782-1837) was one of the first to use the title 'Nocturne' for a collection of single-movement character pieces for solo piano.
Recording & Production
This album features world premiere recordings of new works by Alfred Huber, Dieter Kaufmann, and Oscar Jockel, commissioned by the Brucknerhaus Linz.
Historical Context
Nocturnes, Notturnos, or Nachtstücke were originally performed outdoors in parks, palace gardens, or courtyards in the 17th and 18th centuries.
Composer's Artistic Vision
Composer Oscar Jockel's piece, 'all the darkness we can hear - all the silence we can see', attempts to make the essential audible through absence, similar to how the sky is only visible in the absence of light.
Performer Biography
Elena Denisova, the violinist on this album, sees herself as an 'ambassador of tonal sensuality' and has had many works dedicated to her by international composers.
