Contrasts 30. Marathon. Kurtag. Games

Performer:

• Emilia Carolina Sitage , piano (PL)

Program:

• György Kurtág (*1926, HU). "Jatekok", coll. VII (separate numbers) (1994–2002)
• Emilia Carolina Sitage (*1978, PL). Improvisations "PrePPiano: according to Kurtag"

The moderator is Polina Kordovska

Album VII is a collection of miniatures that are pearls of piano music. Some of them contain personal, intimate messages - dedicated to composers and friends of Kurtág, others even take the form of birthday gifts. The composer himself says in the introduction that he was inspired to create the cycle by the children's spontaneous piano playing. It allows you to explore sounds and silence in a completely unusual way, often enjoying just a few notes or chords. Extremely precise in form of articulation notation, it nevertheless allows great freedom in terms of pulse and phrasing. Kurtág experiments with playing technique to achieve unusual pulsation and articulation. Remaining in its microcosm of sound, it evokes emotion, but never forgets the intellectual approach to form.

PrePPiano: according to Kurtag

PrePPiano are original concerts completely improvised on a prepared piano using advanced techniques.

The starting point is always contact with an unknown instrument; it is not uncommon for a pianist to ask for (or buy for a concert) an old, forgotten, broken instrument and, following its imperfections, turns the defects into advantages. Each instrument sounds different and responds differently to preparation, new techniques, or encounters with additional instruments. Familiarity with the instrument leads to composition that explores often individual sounds that begin to create a new narrative. The starting point for improvisation this time will be selected miniatures by György Kurtág.

Emilia Carolina Sitage