Soul, you’re more beautiful, deeper, after snowstorms,
Like Nature, you have storms, too.
And over both still lie a melancholy air
like clouds that disperse but slowly.
Peter Altenberg
Like Nature, you have storms, too.
And over both still lie a melancholy air
like clouds that disperse but slowly.
Peter Altenberg
"played with aplomb, panache and complete conviction” - Fanfare Magazine
"interpretation filled with sensual longing, anguished yearning, anxious dread and provocative energy” - All Music Guide
"interpretation filled with sensual longing, anguished yearning, anxious dread and provocative energy” - All Music Guide
"I have always been fascinated by the artistic spirit of early 20th century Europe. Time of changes, time of experiments – the beginning of modern times!
In the next few pages I have included a painting and a poem to accompany each of the compositions on this CD. My intention is not to complement or represent the music through these works; rather my hope is that they help portray the artistic climate of the time and place in which the composers wrote these pieces.
Debussy’s impressionistic “Images II” was composed in 1907 – same year as Monet’s “Water-Lilies, Nymphéas” and at a time when the young Apollinaire was becoming one of the most popular members of the artistic community of Paris. Klimt and Altenberg were part of Vienna's cultural elite and were especially influential on young Berg at the time he wrote his sonata op.1 – 1908. The expressionism of Schoenberg’s op.11 from 1909 corresponds to the emotional intensity of two other Vienna artists from that time - Schiele and George (one of Schoenberg’s favorite poets). And finally, Ciurlionis’ idea about synthesis of music and color reminds us of Scriabin’s grandiose, but unfinished project for synthesis of all arts – Mysterium. Included here is the first verse of Scriabin’s text to the Prefatory Action which was intended as the prelude to the Mysterium." - Svetozar Ivanov
