24 FLAC Discount
Peter Jablonski – Ronald Stevenson: Piano Works
Although still little-known beyond the British Isles, Ronald Stevenson (1928–2015) is increasingly recognized by pianists and scholars as one of the most fascinating and significant pianist-composers of the 20th century. A visionary musical thinker and a master contrapuntist, Stevenson combined a profound knowledge of musical tradition with a fiercely original voice. His work spans everything from monumental concert works to miniature character pieces, often rooted in his Celtic heritage and deeply influenced by figures such as Busoni, Blake, and Schweitzer.
In the great tradition of pianist-composers, Stevenson left behind a vast body of transcriptions, re-imaginings, and original works. He believed that pianists should know how to compose, to understand what he called the “choreography of the keyboard.” His music – always full of songlike lines, dense polyphony, and poetic nuance – is a celebration of style, beauty, and musical storytelling.
This critically acclaimed album by award-winning Swedish pianist Peter Jablonski offers a compelling and intimate portrait of the Scottish master, and was awarded a Swedish Grammy for Best Classical Recording – a remarkable testament to both the repertoire and the interpreter.
The recording includes four world premiere recordings and showcases Stevenson’s remarkable range – from the virtuosic Peter Grimes Fantasy (based on Britten’s opera) to the soulful Romance from Mozart’s D minor concerto, as re-imagined by Stevenson in 2002. Other highlights include the Suite from Paderewski’s Manru, 6 Pensées sur des Préludes de Chopin, and brilliant miniatures like Preludette on the name George Gershwin and Ostinato Macabro on the name Godowski.
Jablonski’s performance reveals the richness, humour, lyricism, and sheer inventiveness of Stevenson’s piano writing, offering listeners a rare glimpse into the creative world of a composer whose music is finally receiving the attention it deserves.
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