Gian Francesco Malipiero, the composer, never seriously studied piano; his first instrument was the violin, which he played from age six.
Cultural Impact
The initial animating spirit for Malipiero's Poemetti lunari was Mario de Maria (Marius Pictor), an artist and photographer renowned for moonlit works, whose designs decorated early published scores.
Performer Biography
Rira Lim, the performer on this album, made her critically acclaimed debut at Carnegie Hall's Weill Recital Hall in 2009 with a program that included Malipiero's four Preludi autunnali.
Composition History
The Poemetti lunari ('Little Lunar Poems') and the first of the Preludi autunnali ('Autumnal Preludes') were initially published as musical supplements in Italian mass-market magazines.
Composer's Artistic Vision
Malipiero, despite his complex relationship with the piano, was deeply in love with certain pianistic sonorities and their luminosity, understanding the keyboard's poetry.
Compositional Technique
Malipiero consciously avoided 'acrobatic virtuosity' in his piano music, which may explain why pianists who perform his works are rare, as it offers few opportunities to show off brilliant technique.
