Chisato Kusunoki was invited by Murad Kazhlaev to his birthplace, Baku, and performed his music in Azerbaijan and Dagestan, including at the Makhachkala Murad Kazhlaev School of Music for Talented Children.
Composer Biography
Murad Kazhlaev was a skilled pianist who frequently drove the famous pianist Sviatoslav Richter around old Baku, as Richter was a patient of Kazhlaev's father.
Recording & Production
This album includes world premiere recordings of some of Murad Kazhlaev's piano pieces.
Composition History
The Dagestan Album (1973) by Murad Kazhlaev uses folk material he collected himself during trips around the Caucasus from five different ethnic groups.
Composer Biography
Murad Kazhlaev, born in Baku, Azerbaijan, is of Lak ethnicity, one of the tribal peoples of Dagestan, a region rich in folk art.
Performer Biography
Chisato Kusunoki, the pianist on this album, has a particular interest in exploring lesser-known works by late romantic composers, including Medtner and Kazhlaev.
Recording & Production
The recording for this album was prepared under the composer Murad Kazhlaev's guidance in Moscow and Makhachkala, incorporating his updated revisions to the printed scores.
