On Thursday, May 26, 2016, at 8.30pm, at the Philological Society of Parnassos A unique piano recital by the internationally renowned Russian pianist Vladimir Viardo was organized by the "Friends of Merimna" association, on Thursday, May 26 at 8.30pm 2016, at the Parnassos Literary Association. The multi-awarded pianist lead us on a melancholic, nostalgic and at the same time mystical journey from the 19th to the 20th century, in a piano recital dedicated to the great composers Frédéric Chopin, Franz Schubert [transcribed by F. Liszt] and Olivier Messiaen.
With the same sensitivity, this great artist donated the proceeds from the recital to Merimna, in order to strengthen the services of "Pediatric Palliative Care at Home" and "Bereavement Support Counseling Center". Both these and all the services provided by "Merimna" are free of charge and are aimed at children and teenagers who suffer from a serious and life-threatening illness or experience the loss of a loved one.
Starting with the "Barcarolle", one of the best-known late works of F. Chopin (1810-1849), Viardo introduced us from the very beginning to a completely romantic and slightly nostalgic atmosphere.
This was followed by a series of works by F. Schubert (1797-1828) transcribed by F. Liszt (1811-1886) of admirable poetry and sensitivity: "The City" (Die Stadt) in poetry by H. Heine, "Making her appearance in the distant horizon/ Like an image in the fog [...] Wrapped in the evening twilight"; "The Eve" (Aufenthalt) in poetry by L. Rellstab, a bitter and bitter song about love that met rejection; "The Miller and the stream" (Der Müller und der Bach), a piece about the peace that only death can bring to a heart wounded by love;
"Margarita at the Loom" (Gretchen am Spinnrade), in text from Act I, scene 15 of J. W. Goethe's Faust, about Margarita's bitter reconciliation with the harsh truth that she and Faust will never be together again, and finally "Song on the Water" (Auf dem Wasser zu singen), based on the poem by F. L. zu Stolberg-Stolberg, with the narrator reflecting on the passage of time, sitting in a boat floating on the water.
The second part was dedicated exclusively to the French composer and organist O. Messiaen (1908-1992), one of the greatest composers of the 20th century and one of the leading figures of the "New France" musical movement, which influenced many composers of the younger generation . Eight preludes for piano, compositions belonging to the early work of the composer, inspired in mood and colors by the great Debussy, with a rather mystical, ecstatic and sometimes even eerie character, will reveal to the public a special musical vocabulary, which cannot than to fascinate.
Vladimir Viardo's piano recital took place with the support of EPTA Greece.
