Nicolai Kapustin: Aquarela do brasil, Op. 118

[naturlaut]

[goldentone]

This is the first I've heard Kapustin played, and I loved it.  Fantastic!

[rachfan]

Hi naturlaut,

I second goldentone, this is fantastic.  You might well be the first contributor posting a Kapustin piece here, so it's very welcome indeed.  I've always been intrigued by this composer's blend of classical and jazz styles.  Wonderful playing!  Bravo!

[naturlaut]

I love Kapustin, though it's a pain to memorize.  There is a whole other level of complexity and musical profundity on top of its apparent and immediate accessibility.  The themes have an organic quality as though drawn from our subconscious in that they impart a sense of familiarity almost right away.  Actually, some of his recent works are extreme difficult, and this (Op. 118) is an odd one among them.

[rachfan]

Another facet of Kapustin is that while some have heard his exciting tour de force pieces like the Aqaurela do brasil that you offer here that are very difficult in terms of tempo, complexity, and execution, lesser known are some of his very lyrical jazz-like preludes that cast beautiful blue moods.  Kapustin has always denied being a "jazz pianist" as such, and offers good reasons to support that, such as not being too good an improviser, which is essential in the art of jazz.  Kapustin points out that he actually writes and publishes compositions.  So we have to accept that at face value.  But he still comes awfully close to true jazz! 

[cherub_rocker1979]

Thanks for playing Kapustin.  There's lots of good things in your playing.  Have you heard John Salmon's Kapustin CD?

[naturlaut]

I have the CD with the 15th Sonata, which, to me, is a very complex work.  Did he record another one after this?

Thanks for your kind comments.  It wasn't easy to pull it off...

[cherub_rocker1979]

That CD came out last year and he hasn't said anything to me about recording a new one.  He's an amazing pianist and I'm very happy to be studying with him.  Salmon has recorded three CDs of piano works by Dave Brubeck who also writes jazzy pieces.

[bench warmer]

Very nice.

 When I 'play at' this piece, I get so far and it''s like being lost in the woods: "Where in Hell am I ?  What's this part supposed to sound like?."

It's Easy for me... to get lost in the details of the notes. I can appreciate the effort it took to make it sound smooth and flowing.

[theory_guy]

Nice.

[naturlaut]

Very nice.

 When I 'play at' this piece, I get so far and it''s like being lost in the woods: "Where in Hell am I ?  What's this part supposed to sound like?."

It's Easy for me... to get lost in the details of the notes. I can appreciate the effort it took to make it sound smooth and flowing.

This was my first Kapustin... 
Playing Kapustin makes one realize the variety of pianistic possibilities.  I wouldn't say it's the hardest thing to play or memorize, but the pianism is certainly different from playing Rachmaninoff or Godowsky, if you know what I mean.  It is intense in a different way.

[Petter]

I love Kapustin. The crossover blend is very appealing and inspiring. Props on your choice of repertoire again.