After a creative crisis, Valentin Silvestrov developed a new style he calls 'metaphorical' and 'meta-music,' often indirectly referencing past eras.
Composer's Artistic Vision
Silvestrov's music aims to restore melody, which he believes has largely disappeared from modern 'serious' music, presenting it in its purest form in his Bagatelles.
Compositional Technique
Silvestrov's late works frequently use small forms called Bagatelles, which he assembles into 'cycles of cycles' to create a 'new type of large-scale form'.
Performer Biography
The pianist Alexei Lubimov has performed Valentin Silvestrov's music for over half a century, ranging from small pieces to orchestral works.
Interpretation
Alexei Lubimov, the pianist, conceived this album as an imaginary dialogue between Silvestrov and various composers, creating a larger form from Silvestrov's Bagatelles.
Composer Biography
Valentin Silvestrov, the Ukrainian composer featured on this album, was initially a radical figure in the Soviet avant-garde of the 1960s.
Compositional Technique
Silvestrov's scores are extremely precise, with detailed notations for articulation, tempo, dynamics, and the use of the pedal, reflecting his earlier dodecaphonic experiences.
