Anna Fedorova invites us to explore a musical journey with her in the first half of her program for Steinway Society on October 5, 2024. This journey is an intricate look at the depths of the human psyche through the lens of three master composers: Maurice Ravel, Alexander Scriabin, and Manuel de Falla. Each piece, in its own unique way, delves into themes of darkness, mystery, and the mystical.
Maurice Ravel: Gaspard de la nuit
Fedorova begins our journey in the shadowy world of Gaspard de la nuit, a collection of three piano pieces inspired by the tales of Aloysius Bertrand. The opening movement, “Ondine,” evokes the ethereal beauty and seductive allure of a water nymph. Ravel’s delicate touch and shimmering arpeggios create a mesmerizing underwater world. The second movement, “Le Gibet,” is a macabre dance of death, with its haunting melody and dissonant harmonies. Finally, “Scarbo,” the most virtuosic of the three, depicts a mischievous goblin who torments an observer lying in his bed. Ravel’s intricate polyrhythms and explosive dynamics capture the frenzied energy of Scarbo’s attack.
Alexander Scriabin: Sonata No. 9, “Black Mass,” Op. 68
Our journey takes a darker turn with Scriabin’s Sonata No. 9. This enigmatic work is a testament to Scriabin’s exploration of mystical themes and chromatic harmonies. Pianist Yevgeny Sudbin intrigues us with his description of Scriabin as “one of the most enigmatic and controversial artistic personalities of all time. Once one is bitten and the venom, in the form of his sound world, enters the body and soul, the effects become all-encompassing…” All of this is evident in Black Mass.
Black Mass is perhaps Scriabin’s most well known piece, its title “Black Mass” attributed to Scriabin’s friend, pianist Alexei Podgayetsky. The Naxos Records blog describes it as this: The sonata opens with the mystery of a distant legend, leading to a muffled fanfare and music that mounts in intensity until the appearance of the second theme. These elements recur, intermingled, with increasing use of single repeated notes, leading to a savage Alla marcia, with the material of the opening bars returning only in brief conclusion.
(For more on this piece, read our earlier program notes )
Manuel de Falla: El amor brujo, Suite for Piano
Our journey this evening next takes us to the Spanish countryside. Manuel de Falla’s El amor brujo is a ballet inspired by Andalusian folklore, telling the tale of a woman who is haunted by the ghost of her lover. The piano suite captures the fiery passion and exotic rhythms of Spanish music. (For a brief overview about Manuel de Falla, read the New World Symphony’s synopsis).
History of El amor brujo
There are contradictory notes on the order of the movements in this piece. This is attributed to the way Falla introduced the versions: Gitaneria (gypsy dancing, 1915), First revision (removing spoken parts and replacing words with orchestra, 1916), then modifications that eventually lead to the one-act ballet pantomímico best known today, mainly by enlarging its orchestration (1924).
However, in 1922, before the now-well-known Ballet premiered, Falla made a suite for piano with movements: Pantomima, Danza del terror, Romance del pescador and Danza ritual del fuego.
At our Steinway Society concert on October 5, 2024, the order will be the suite for piano: Pantomime – in which the spirit’s power wanes, as suggested by the asymmetric 7/8 meter), Danza del terror (Dance of Terror), El círculo mágico (Romance del pescador – Romance of the Fisherman) and Danza ritual del fuego (Ritual Fire Dance – to exorcize the spirit). Prepare for love, passion and haunting spirits.
Conclusion
Through all these works of Ravel, Scriabin, and Falla, Anna 
Fedorova is our musical guide. She takes us into the depths of the human psyche and the power of music to evoke powerful emotions. Her mastery of this music will leave us with a sense of wonder and a renewed appreciation for the beauty and complexity of the human experience.
More information about Steinway Society concerts is available at www.steinwaysociety.com.
