Pianists corner

Asiya Korepanova in Personal Piano Project – Midnight Pieces Episode #6

Asiya Korepanova in Personal Piano Project

Midnight Pieces – Episode #6

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Midnight Pieces

“Midnight Pieces’ is a project presenting 53 beautiful works from 53 composers (originally meant as one piece for each week of the year, plus one) – music, that is just perfect for night-time listening.

The pieces follow a hidden pattern: within each consecutive 4 works one is famous, one is by a Russian composer, one is obscure work and one is a transcription by yours truly.
These categories mix and match sometimes, but overall there are iconic and less-known pieces by well-known composers, quite a bit of breathtaking pieces by obscure composers and several world premieres of my transcriptions of rare and famous works of different authors.
I felt a need to fight the general fascination of the general audience with piano pieces that are primarily virtuosic encores (Volodos Turkish March etc), and wanted to create a project that fulfills the desire for aesthetic pleasure, for beauty of the music itself. It doesn’t mean there is no virtuosity there – there is plenty, but not as the main point at all.”

Asiya Korepanova.

Asiya Korepanova and Pianists Corner offer you a weekly rendezvous. Each rendezvous will contain 4 pieces.

© Emil Matveev

Episode #6

The composers :

“Liebestraum by Franz Liszt is a timeless song of the joyful dreams of love. It is about passion and tenderness, and all those incredible feelings that fill out hearts when we are in love. I also think that it could be a nostalgic manifest as well, in which case it is even more beautiful.” A.K.

Franz Liszt : Liebestraüme S 541 (1850) – 3. Oh Lieb, so lang du lieben kannst (A-flat major)

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“Feuillet d’Album ( Leaf from an Album) by Alexander Scriabin is a marvel, because it tells a detailed and beautiful story within 100 seconds, almost like in a 5 minute sleep where we see years of life. I am amazed how transparent this music is, and yet how colorful. How fragile, and how it can sweep us away with the power of feelings.” A.K.

Alexander Scriabin : Morceaux Opus 45 (1905) – 1. Feuillet d’Album

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“A “minute waltz”, The Puppet’s Dance by Czech composer Bohuslav Martinu embodies all the elegance of the ballroom epoch. It is tender, fast, features many moods and nuances – and brilliance. I hope it will make you want to dance!” A.K.

Bohuslav Martinů : Loutky I, H 137 (1924) – 5. Puppets Dance (Tanec loutek)

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“This transcription is a part of a major work of mine, which is the complete Rachmaninoff Cello sonata for piano solo. I transcribed the entire Sonata for piano solo because I craved to play it by myself any time I want, without depending on having or not having a cello partner. This slow movement of the sonata, the Andante, gives me chills on stage each time I play it, and I hope it will give you chills, too. The entire sonata will soon come out on a CD, along with the published score of it!” A.K.

Sergei Rachmaninoff / Asiya Korepanova : Andante from Cello Sonata Opus 19

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Previous episodes :

Personal Piano Project

Lang Lang Masterclass at the Royal College of Music: Rachmaninov’s Prelude in G op 32 no 5

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On Wednesday 16 November 2013 the Royal College of Music welcomed brilliant pianist Lang Lang to give an afternoon masterclass in our Britten Theatre.

In this masterclass RCM Junior Department student Anthony Tat plays Rachmaninov‘s Prelude in G op 32 no 5

Compare Rachmaninov Prelude Preludes Opus 32 (1910) 5. Prelude in G major – Moderato

Ruth Slenczynska talks and plays two Rachmaninoff Preludes (1963)

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Outtakes from a 1963 television appearance in which the American pianist Ruth Slenczynska (born January 15, 1925) recalls her meetings with Sergei Rachmaninoff and plays two of his Preludes (Opus 23/9 in E flat minor and Opus 23/2 in B flat major).