Szymanowski & Ravel: Piano Works

Featuring

Matthias Roth
Karol Szymanowski
Maurice Ravel

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Compositional Technique

Ravel's 'Miroirs' marked a significant change in his harmonic development, even disconcerting musicians accustomed to his earlier style.

Composition History

Maurice Ravel's 'Miroirs' was composed in Paris between 1904 and 1905, a period heavily influenced by his circle of friends, known as the 'Apaches'.

Historical Context

The turn of the 20th century was a time of great upheaval in Europe, marked by both an apocalyptic mood and a spirit of optimism, influencing various artistic movements.

Composer Biography

Karol Szymanowski, born in Tymoszówka (now Ukraine), began his musical studies in Warsaw at age eighteen and became a leading musician of the Young Poland artists' movement.

Composer's Artistic Vision

Szymanowski's early piano works show influences from Chopin, Scriabin, Wagner, Reger, and Brahms, yet he developed a distinctive individual style with his sense of tonal color and dramaturgic processes.

Performer Biography

Matthias Roth, the pianist on this album, was born in Toggenburg, Switzerland, and studied at the Zurich University of the Arts, winning the Landolt Prize.

Cultural Impact

The name 'Apaches' for Ravel's circle of friends was coined by a newspaperman who jokingly called out 'Attention les Apaches!' during a late-night stroll.