The album's front cover features a photo of the 'Pillars of Creation' in the Eagle Nebula, taken by the Hubble Space Telescope in 2014, and the series design concept was chosen by Vyacheslav Artyomov himself.
Composition History
The Capriccio on the '75 New Year Eve was inspired by the exile of Artyomov's school friend, a composer and pianist, whose departure from the Soviet regime in 1975 meant 'forever'.
Recording & Production
Many of the recordings on this album are live concert recordings from the House of Composers in Moscow, made between 1976 and 1982.
Composer's Artistic Vision
Artyomov's music is rooted in the Russian stream of consciousness, particularly influenced by the music of the Orthodox church, which remained a potent vein for musical expression even during Soviet rule.
Historical Context
Artyomov was blacklisted as one of the 'Khrennikov's Seven' at the Sixth Congress of the Union of Composers for participating in Western festivals, which deprived him of performances and earnings.
Composer Biography
Vyacheslav Artyomov, the composer, initially pursued physics and mathematics, but music became his primary focus at a decisive moment in his life.
