Scriabin's Sonata No. 9, his penultimate sonata, achieves unparalleled sophistication through its complexity, rhythmic decomposition, superposition of themes, and synesthetic perception.
Interpretation
Pianist Blandine Waldmann chose to perform Mussorgsky's original version of "Pictures at an Exhibition" to best convey the necessary harshness and occasional brutality of his musical discourse.
Composer's Artistic Vision
Mussorgsky's "Pictures at an Exhibition" was widely acclaimed for its unique power of expressing modernity, finding contemporary resonance across different cultural and artistic movements since its composition.
Performer Biography
Blandine Waldmann, a French pianist, has won First Prizes at ten international competitions between 2014 and 2018, including the 'Erik Satie' Competition and the 'American Protégé International Competition'.
Recording & Production
This album features recordings made in three different locations and years: Studio Sequenza in Montreuil, France (2017), Saint Étienne church in Bar-le-Duc, France (2014), and the Royal Conservatory in Brussels, Belgium (2006).
Compositional Technique
Brahms, while attached to traditional forms, often created unique modulations and new sounds, particularly in his variations, where each variation functions as an independent miniature.
Album & Artwork
The album title, "Momentum," reflects the pianist Blandine Waldmann's impression of Scriabin's style, which she describes as an oscillation between abstraction, fluidity, and eruption.
