Dutilleux - Piano Sonata, op.1

[andhow04]

this piano sonata is most famous for its 3rd movement, Choral and Variations, which is often played as a stand-alone piece (and often not credited as being part of the sonata). the piano writing in that movement is pretty different, IMO, and generally more coherent. the first two movements have some very awkward and strange writing, but overall its a big dramatic piece and probably easy for the audience to listen to. they aren't worried about the details..

it was written for Genevieve Joy and i think she still has the best recording, she gets a sultry smoky sound in many passages that others do not.

the first and second movements have an uncomfortable balance between mechanistic and lyrical writing, i guess he was inspired by prokofiev in some sections, i sensed the Toccata, the slow movement of Sonata 2, some of Sonata 3... i chose to emphasize the lyrical !

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[dizzyfingers]

thanks for posting, great to see professional pianists promoting more obscure, yet worthy, repertoire ...
(i'll listen to the entire sonata, eventually)

there are some composers in your YT video list I've never heard of:
- Dinos Constantinides
- Quentin Kim
- Judith Shatin
etc

[thorn]

Nice playing! I've never heard this before so can't say much more than I enjoyed listening. I played his Sonatine for flute and piano years ago but don't know many of his other compositions. I might give it a go myself!

[andhow04]

thanks for posting, great to see professional pianists promoting more obscure, yet worthy, repertoire ...
(i'll listen to the entire sonata, eventually)

there are some composers in your YT video list I've never heard of:
- Dinos Constantinides
- Quentin Kim
- Judith Shatin
etc

thank you yes those three composers i worked with personally. in defense of Dutilleux i would not say this sonata is obscure, the third movement is played and recorded a lot, it's often described as a great masterpiece of twentieth century sonata writing etc. so i would not call it obscure. in my opinion the platitudes can go a bit far, not a fault of the composer of course, but i would rather listen to this than Boulez sonata any day. that' s my personal preference.

of the other three i always recommend and promote music of Quentin Kim, there are ten solo piano pieces and i think they are all superb. thanks for listening