Tracks 1-10 were recorded in February 2015 at the Krzysztof Penderecki European Music Centre in Lusławice on a Steinway & Sons Model D-274 piano.
Composer Biography
Ukrainian composer Vasyl Barvinsky (1888-1963) was a victim of Stalinist repression; all his compositions were burned, and he was exiled to Siberia for ten years.
Performer Biography
The Barvinsky Duo is a Polish-Ukrainian ensemble that promotes music by Polish composers like Fryderyk Chopin and Ukrainian composers, especially Vasyl Barvinsky.
Historical Context
The selection of works on this album, particularly those by Vasyl Barvinsky and Aleksandra Brejza, alludes to the current war in Ukraine.
Album & Artwork
The album title, "Conversations," reflects the idea that art facilitates a dialogue between the composer, performer, and listener.
Composition History
Aleksandra Brejza's "Dead Butterflies" for piano commemorates Ukrainian children who died in the war, inspired by a ceremony in Kyiv where bells symbolizing children's souls were hung on a tree.
Interpretation
The inclusion of Sergei Rachmaninoff's "Vocalise" is a symbolic gesture, as works by Russian composers are currently rarely performed in protest against Russia's war policies.
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