The Ricercari, Op. 46, a virtuosic set of variations, was composed during a difficult period in Mihalovici's life in exile during World War II.
Composer's Artistic Vision
Marcel Mihalovici's piano music often reflects his biography, with the piano featuring prominently throughout his career, and his wife, internationally renowned pianist Monique Haas, serving as an inspiration and interpreter.
Recording & Production
All but one of the works on this album are first recordings, highlighting previously unreleased piano music by Marcel Mihalovici.
Historical Context
During the German occupation of France (1940-44) in World War II, Marcel Mihalovici and his wife, pianist Monique Haas, were active members of the 'Comité de Front national de la musique,' a cultural resistance group.
Performer Biography
Matthew Rubenstein, the pianist on this recording, has performed on four continents, championed neglected twentieth-century composers, and recorded albums of works by Aribert Reimann and Heinz Tiessen.
Composer Biography
Marcel Mihalovici, born in Bucharest, moved to Paris in 1919 on the advice of George Enescu, Romania's most famous native composer, to study at the Schola Cantorum.
Compositional Technique
Mihalovici's Passacaille (pour la main gauche), Op. 105, for left hand alone, was directly inspired by Albrecht Dürer's famous engraving Melencolia I, with the theme representing the angel and variations representing surrounding objects.
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