Evgeny Kissin | piano
Following his first Shostakovich concert with friends last month, Kissin now pays tribute to the musician in a solo performance.
Bach Partita No. 2 BWV 826
Chopin Nocturnes No. 3 Op. 15 & No. 2 op. 9, Scherzo No. 4 Op. 54
Chostakovitch Sonata No. 2 Op. 61, Preludes & Fugues No. 8, No. 15 & No. 24
Evgeny Kissin presents a dazzling programme in this solo recital of work by Shostakovich. Last month he played four sonatas for duets, but tonight he goes head to head with pieces for solo piano. The second half of the concert will be devoted to the huge Sonata No. 2, which places the emphasis on pared-back, serene language, and it will be followed by three of the twenty-four preludes and fugues in Opus 87. Each piece is composed in two parts, a prelude then a fugue, with their own distinctive features. Although it was written as an homage to Bach, the cycle has no qualms about introducing harmonies drawn from Russian folk and religious music. No. 8 uses a Klezmer theme and No. 15 is a sort of burlesque waltz. No. 24, the last piece in the cycle, probably most closely reflects the composer’s intentions. It initially stay true to Bach, then drifts into a type of romanticism before wrapping up with a quasi-symphonic finale. Bach and Chopin will precede this Shostakovich showcase in a clear return to its roots.
Productions Internationales Albert Sarfati