Valentin Silvestrov's cycle "Silent Songs," written between 1974 and 1977, sparked controversy due to its 'traditional' structure, coming from a leading figure of the 'Soviet avant-garde.'
Recording & Production
The selection from Valentin Silvestrov's "Silent Songs" on this album was recorded at a concert in the Turbine Hall on the Stienitzsee, just outside Berlin, in the summer of 2022.
Interpretation
Silvestrov's performance directions for "Silent Songs" require a subdued, soft vocal sound that merges with the una corda piano sound, creating an illusion of a 'song-breath.'
Composer's Artistic Vision
Silvestrov describes his "metaphoric style" or "metamusic" as not just the musical text, but its realization and 'pronunciation,' with a 'semantic overtone hovering over the music.'
Composer Biography
Valentin Silvestrov, the Ukrainian composer, made a dramatic flight from Kyiv to Berlin a few months before the recording, where he celebrated his eighty-fifth birthday.
Composer's Artistic Vision
Silvestrov considered poetry itself to be the 'real heroine' of "Silent Songs," aiming for the poem to 'sing itself' rather than providing a new interpretation.
Compositional Technique
Silvestrov's "Silent Songs" feature nearly two hours of slow, quiet music-making, intentionally forgoing outward contrasts and maintaining equal footing between voice and piano.
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