Customer Rating: 
Summary: Brilliant program of surprising delights
Comment: As far as I know[I do not have the booklet] this is the first recording of the Lutoslawski Piano Sonata. And what a debut it is!!! Its style might be considered like late Prokofiev's sonata's[a mix of the eight and nine] mixed in with an unexpected[for Luto] lyricism and beauty. This is obviously before Luto found his own voice, though there are hints of it. Regardless of anything external, this is a marvelous sonata, no matter who composed it, or when, or why.
The other dominant work here is Dichotomie, composed by Esa-Pekka Salonen. Salonen has revealed himself to be a composer with an incredible ear for sonority, orchestration, and effect. Dichotomie is, basically a piano reduction of his orchestral work Foreign Bodies[an excellent and compelling work]. Again, I would suggest it has an affintiy to Prokofiev with its driving toccata-like rhythms, though on an entirely more complex level. I would be curious to know whether the orchestral FB came first, or this. It also reminds me of Stravinksy in a sense. Again, this is music that is connected, continous, and accessible-no blimp, bloop, disconnected chords smashes. Everyone can listen and enjoy.
Salonen contributes two other pieces, YTA II and Three Preludes. The three preludes are interesting, though perhaps not as individual or initialy penetrating as Dichotomie or the Sonata. Of much interest to Salonen fans and also those who are loving the fact that good music is being written for the piano again.
Some of my favourite works on this disc are Steven Stucky's Four Albums[scenes?}. Again, it is remarkable how consistent and interrelated this entire program is. It is astonishing and worthy of the highest praise that Cheng recognized the compatibility of Lutoslawski, Stucky, and Salonen, especially considering there is a forty year[or more] gap in the compositions. Recommended for all, especially those looking for new music to enjoy and for those who think that all new music is ugly or void of emotion or kitschy.
And the playing is sensational. Bye.
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