This album is the third volume in a series dedicated to recording the complete piano works of Heino Eller, an Estonian composer.
Recording & Production
This recording was supported by the Alexander Kelly Memorial Award in 2007, the Cultural Endowment of Estonia, and the Estonian Theatre and Music Museum.
Historical Context
After Stalin's death in 1953, the anti-formalism campaign in Soviet music gradually receded, allowing composers like Heino Eller to create music beyond the narrow confines of 'Socialist Realism'.
Notable Performances
The Ten Lyric Pieces by Heino Eller form his largest cycle for piano, but they were never printed, and the performer on this album, Sten Lassmann, was the first to perform the cycle in its entirety in 2010.
Composition History
The Ten Lyric Pieces were written by Heino Eller during the German occupation in World War II, reflecting the tragic loss of his wife, Anna, who was arrested and executed by the Nazis.
Performer Biography
Sten Lassmann, the pianist on this recording, has been engaged since 2008 in a project to make the first-ever recording of the complete piano works of Heino Eller, which was also his PhD project.
Historical Context
Many of Heino Eller's works from 1940 to 1970 were simple and folk-like due to the Soviet demand for 'Socialist Realism' in the arts.
