Rääts's sonatas blend playful simplicity, postmodern dissonance, minimalist obsession, driving rhythms, and lyrical gestures, creating a unique style that has been compared to Alfred Schnittke, Dmitry Shostakovich, and Steve Reich.
Recording & Production
This album features world premiere recordings of Jaan Rääts's Piano Sonatas Nos. 1, 2, 3, 4, and 10, as well as his 2014 revision of Sonata No. 9.
Performer Biography
Pianist Nicolas Horvath is known for promoting contemporary music, having commissioned over 120 works for his 'Homages to Philip Glass' project, and collaborating with composers like Jaan Rääts.
Composer Biography
Jaan Rääts, an Estonian composer, was part of a group of composers in the 1960s who modernized Estonian music by embracing Western post-war styles and techniques.
Composer Biography
Jaan Rääts held significant positions in Estonian media, working as a recording engineer and chief editor of music programs at Estonian Radio, and as music manager of Estonian Television.
Composer Biography
Jaan Rääts taught composition at the Estonian Academy of Music, becoming a professor in 1990, and his former students include notable composers like Erkki-Sven Tüür.
Composer's Artistic Vision
Jaan Rääts describes his compositional approach as not liking rigid systems, preferring to absorb musical material, filter it, and develop its emotional potential as a springboard for his imagination.
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