Late Night – GrauSchumacher Piano Duo

Friday, 14 December 2018 | Herkulessaal der Residenz | 10.00 pm

iCal

Programme

Claude Debussy [1862–1918]

Prélude à l’après-midi d’un Faune [1890–94]
Version for two pianos

Bernd Alois Zimmermann [1918–1970]

Monologe (Hommage à Debussy) [1964]
for two pianos

Claude Debussy

Trois Nocturnes [1897–99]
Arranged for two pianos by Maurice Ravel

Performers

GrauSchumacher Piano Duo:
Andreas Grau and Götz Schumacher, piano

About the programme

Famed for their well-conceived programmes, the GrauSchumacher Piano Duo will present a recital in search of the artistic ties between Claude Debussy and Bernd Alois Zimmermann, two visionary composers connected by the year 1918, marking the death of one and the birth of the other. More than that, Zimmermann admired Debussy’s powers of musical renewal and drew on them in a great many ways. With his symphonic poem Prélude à l’après-midi d’un faune, Debussy threw open the floodgates to musical modernism. No less innovative are his Trois nocturnes, whose sensual illumination of the realm of night pointed far into the future. Maurice Ravel prepared piano versions of both works, devoting special attention to their bold harmonies and melodic writing. Zimmermann’s Monologues also emerged from an instrumental work, namely, Dialogues. Here the composer goes much farther in juxtaposing musical quotations from different eras. He also gives the two pianists ample opportunity to display their sense of colour and touch.