The programme on this CD includes several works that, dating from the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, represented important turning-points in the musical output of their composers.
Composed in 1814, Beethoven’s opus 90 is one of the earliest works from the composer’s third creative period. Beethoven innovates through his creative effort and wide-ranging experimentation, but also by breaking free from the traditional structure of the tripartite sonata, introducing a method of thematic development based on a cellular principle.
The Sonata n° 5 also represents a crucial period in Scriabin’s stylistic development. Contemporary with Le Poème de l’extase, this work is characterized by experimental work on tone-colour and harmony typical of the very early twentieth century. Scriabin leaves romantic inspiration (Chopin and Liszt) behind him so as to reach out to a symbolist trend that pushes music to the limits of its possibilities of expression and density of sound in order to achieve a climate of spiritual and æsthetic ecstasy. This change was to lead Scriabin to new stages in the development of contemporary music and to a progressive movement away from tonality.
Faithful to traditional models and compositional methods (especially those of Beethoven and Schumann), Brahms had already in his Sonata op. 5 found a style that was both personal and efficient. Schumann later described his 4 Ballades op. 10 as being “strangely novel”.
Lastly, this programme concludes with three pieces from the repertory of the ‘Group of Five’ composers founded by Balakirev. His own Alouette, like Borodin’s Au Couvent and Scherzo are little gems of romantic inspiration, imbued with a typically Russian manner.
A laureate of many international competitions, Roberto Giordano was one of the most appealing musical personalities of the Queen Elisabeth Competition for piano in 2004; his performances left no-one indiffe-rent. Cyprès invites you to discover a young, authentic musician at the start of a highly promising career.
