Pianist Galina Chistiakova has won over 30 international competitions, including the Maria Callas Grand Prix (Greece, 2008) and the Ferruccio Busoni International Piano Competition (Italy, 2013).
Interpretation
For this album, pianist Galina Chistiakova chose Alexander Ghindin's 2001 transcription of Maurice Ravel's 'La Valse' instead of Ravel's own reduction for solo piano.
Composition History
The 'Improvisations' by Francis Poulenc, featured on this album, were composed over an unusually long period of 27 years, with the complete edition published in 1960.
Compositional Technique
Claude Debussy, whose 'Estampes' are on this album, was fascinated by East Asian music, particularly the Javanese gamelan orchestra, and incorporated the pentatonic scale system into his own compositions.
Historical Context
The music scene in Paris at the turn of the 20th century was international, with new artistic directions influenced by non-European music presented at world exhibitions and the bold couplets of Parisian cabarets.
Composer's Artistic Vision
Erik Satie, whose 'Gnossiennes' are featured on this album, was acknowledged as a pioneer by both Debussy and Ravel, inspiring them with his originality and his special place outside the usual music world.
Performer Biography
Galina Chistiakova, the pianist on this album, began her piano studies at the age of three with her mother, Liubov Chistiakova.
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