The composer, Dennis Eberhard, drew a parallel between the Kursk disaster and the 1986 Challenger explosion, linking them through a poem by Russian poet Yevgeny Yevtushenko.
Composition History
The Piano Concerto, "Shadow of the Swan," is dedicated to the memory of the 118 sailors who perished in the Russian submarine Kursk disaster in August 2000.
Composition History
The piece "Prometheus Wept" was commissioned by Performers and Artists for Nuclear Disarmament as a remembrance of the victims of the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki.
Composition History
Dennis Eberhard, the composer, decided to write the Piano Concerto, "Shadow of the Swan," for pianist Halida Dinova after being impressed by her ability to evoke deep emotions in her performances.
Composer's Artistic Vision
The work "Shadow of the Swan" aims to fuse American and Russian cultures by connecting a Russian technological disaster (Kursk) with an American one (Challenger) through the lens of an American composer and a Russian poet.
Compositional Technique
"Prometheus Wept" combines Greek mythology, specifically the story of Prometheus, with biblical text from Revelations, expressed through a Russian Orthodox-inspired chant.
Performer Biography
Halida Dinova, the pianist on this recording, is praised for her unique combination of technical virtuosity and inspired interpretations, and has toured extensively across continents.
You might also enjoy...
Escot, P.: Piano Concerto / Your Kindled Valours Bend / Cristhos / Cogan, R.: Polyutterances / String Quartet, "America Is"
Nono: Como una ola de fuerza y luz / Manzoni: Masse: ommagio a Edgar Varèse
Gabriela Ortiz: Yanga
Francis Poulenc: Piano Concerto & Concert Champêtre
Donaueschinger Musiktage 2006, Vol. 1
Dallapiccola: Liriche vocali
Veljo Tormis: Reminiscentiae
Music of Schoenberg, Dallapiccola, Crumb, Boulez & Others
