Alexander Konstantinovich Glazunov became famous at the age of sixteen when his First Symphony was performed under the direction of Mily Balakirev.
Composer Biography
Mily Alexeyevich Balakirev (1837-1910) was a versatile figure, famous as a composer, pianist, conductor, and founder of the 'Mighty Handful' group of composers.
Performer Biography
The Aurora Quartet is an international ensemble of pianists founded by Julia Severus in 2002, dedicated to the tradition of four-pianist performances.
Composition History
Most works on this album were written by the composers themselves for two pianos eight hands, except for Tchaikovsky's Italian Capriccio, which was transcribed by his colleague Eduard Langer.
Composer Biography
Pyotr Il'yich Tchaikovsky, born in 1840, initially studied law and worked at the Ministry of Justice before pursuing music at the new Conservatory in St Petersburg.
Historical Context
Playing music for two pianos eight hands was a widespread and popular tradition in the nineteenth century, with numerous original compositions and transcriptions created.
Composer's Artistic Vision
The 'Mighty Handful' was a group of composers, led by Mily Balakirev, whose aim was to explore and strengthen Russian roots in contemporary music.
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