Echoes of Life (CD)

For her tenth Deutsche Grammophon release, pianist Alice Sara Ott returns to the music of Frédéric Chopin. She approaches Chopin’s 24 Préludes op. 28 from a fresh perspective, finding a personal thread that parallels the music’s dramatic arc and wide-ranging moods. The pianist frames the Préludes within a contemporary context by interspersing them with seven works by 20th- and 21st-century composers.

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“Echoes Of Life is a personal reflection on the thoughts and moments that influence and change our lives. It also portrays the journey and transformation I took to become the person and artist I see myself as today. In interpreting music from composers who, in their own time, challenged the system and redefined music, I see it as my role as a classical musician to carry this spirit forward by not insisting on reproducing bygone traditions and limitations.” – Alice Sara Ott

TRACK LIST

1 In the beginning was
Tristano, Francesco
(*1981)

2 24 Préludes op. 28
1.     Agitato (C major)
2.     Lento (A minor)
3.     Vivace (G major)
4.     Largo (E minor)
Chopin, Frédéric
(1810 – 1849)

3 Musica Ricercata, I.   Sostenuto · Misurato · Prestissimo
Ligeti, György
(1923 – 2006)

4 24 Préludes op. 28
5.     Molto allegro (D major)
6.     Lento assai (B minor)
7.     Andantino (A major)
8.     Molto agitato (F-sharp minor)
9.     Largo (E major)
Chopin, Frédéric
(1810 – 1849)

5 Valse lento molto cantabile
Rota, Nino
(1911 – 1979)

6 24 Préludes op. 28
10.   Molto allegro (C-sharp minor)
11.   Vivace (B major)
12.   Presto (G-sharp minor)
13.   Lento (F-sharp major)
14.   Allegro (E-flat minor)
15.   Sostenuto (D-flat major), 'Raindrop'
Chopin, Frédéric
(1810 – 1849)

7 Prelude in C Sharp Major
Gonzales, Chilly
(*1972)

8 24 Préludes op. 28
16.   Presto con fuoco (B-flat minor)
17.   Allegretto (A-flat major)
18.   Molto allegro (F minor)
Chopin, Frédéric
(1810 – 1849)

9 Litany (In Memory of Michael Vyner), I. Adagio
Takemitsu, Tōru
(1930 – 1996)

10 24 Préludes op. 28
19.   Vivace (E-flat major)
20.   Largo (C minor)
Chopin, Frédéric
(1810 – 1849)

11 Für Alina
Pärt, Arvo
(*1935)

12 24 Préludes op. 28
21.   Cantabile (B-flat major)
22.   Molto agitato (G minor)
23.   Moderato (F major)
24.   Allegro appassionato (D minor)
Chopin, Frédéric
(1810 – 1849)

13 Lullaby of Eternity
(Requiem in D minor, K.626: Lacrimosa arr. Ott)
Mozart, Wolfgang A.
(1756-1791)