Poul Ruders's 'Kafkapriccio' incorporates music that blends klezmer-influenced riffs with brilliantly colorful and expressive orchestration, reflecting Franz Kafka's interest in klezmer music.
Composer's Artistic Vision
The three works on this album share Poul Ruders's love of instrumental virtuosity, his penchant for extreme contrasts, and his lively engagement with music from the past.
Composition History
Poul Ruders's Piano Concerto No. 3 'Paganini Variations' began as his second guitar concerto in 2000 before being re-composed for American pianist Anne-Marie McDermott in 2014.
Composer Biography
Poul Ruders, a Danish composer born in 1949, has achieved an enviable position among living composers, with his operas produced on major world stages.
Composer's Artistic Vision
Poul Ruders describes Paganini's 24th Caprice theme as having 'brilliant banality,' allowing composers to 'do anything with that tune' while it remains recognizable.
Compositional Technique
Poul Ruders's 'Paganini Variations' is part of a tradition of composers varying Niccolò Paganini's famous 24th Caprice for violin solo, which itself is a series of variations.
Instruments
The title 'Cembal d'Amore' for Poul Ruders's work refers to a 1721 invention by Gottfried Silbermann, an organ and harpsichord builder, that combined clavichord subtleties with harpsichord power.
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