Catalogue

Summary:

“Fascinating juxtapositions of a familiar and unfamiliar Czech piano music. Avie’s sound is excellent if a shade clinical. All in all, this is a thoroughly recommendable disc” – Gramophone

“The Czech Republic has produced some outstanding composers, thanks to a chain of remarkable teaching which has its origin in Dvorák. He encouraged Janácek, and looked on his son-in-law Suk as his favourite pupil; Suk taught Martinú and Janácek taught Haas. This extraordinary succession covers more than 100 years of musical development, charted here by pianist Lada Valesova, who contrasts celebrated cycles such as Janácek’s In the Mist and Suk’s Spring with obscure, delicious miniatures, played with an instinctive intelligence that only a Czech can bring to this beguiling repertoire” – The Observer

Intimate Studies is the innovative debut release from Czech pianist Lada Valešová who developed a fresh and intriguing programme of works that link both teacher and student alike during the early part of the 20th century. The CD features 20th century piano music composed by four of her native country’s leading composers: “In the Mist” (Janáček), “Suite for Piano Op.13” and “Allegro Moderato” (Haas), “Film en Miniature H.148” (Martinů) and “Spring Op.22a” (Suk).

Of particular note is the performance of a rare collection of eleven tone poems and studies, some complete miniature works, some unfinished kernels of ideas written by Janacek under the collected title: “Intimate Studies”.

Born in Pilsen in the Western part of the Czech Republic, Lada Valešová is a leading young concert pianist in Europe. She is a graduate of Prague Conservatoire and Prague Music Academy
and studied at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama in London where she was awarded a full three-year scholarship. Lada has won several prizes including two awards at the International Smetana Piano Competition. Her teachers include the Russian pianist and pedagogue Valentina Kameníková and Eugene Indjic, the outstanding pianist and pupil of Arthur Rubinstein. Lada’s piano playing has received high recognition from various artists including the late Sir George Solti and she has had the honour of working with Galina Vishnevskaja and Mstislav Rostropovich.

Lada Valešová is currently a professor at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama, London, UK.

Tracklist:

LEOŠ JANÁCEK (1854–1928)
In the Mists (a piano cycle in four movements)
1. I. Andante (3:57)
2. II. Molto adagio (4:26)
3. III. Andantino (2:33)
4. IV. Presto (5:26)

Intimate Studies
5. I. Palace of the “Malá Strana” (1:27)
6. II. Without Title (0:41)
7. III. Melody (0:24)
8. IV. Merely Blind Fate? (0:56)
9. V. So That One Could Never Return (0:57)
10. VI. Golden Ring (0:17)
11. VII. I Am Waiting for You (0:46)
12. VIII. In Remembrance (1:18)
13. IX. To My Olga (0:40)
14. X. Cradle Song (1:01)
15. XI. Lord Jesus Christ Is Born (0:45)

PAVEL HAAS (1899–1944)
Suite for Piano, Op. 13 (1935)
16. I. Praeludium (2:16)
17. II. Con molta espressione (2:53)
18. III. Danza (2:26)
19. IV. Pastorale (3:25)
20. V. Postludium (3:02)
21. VI. Allegro moderato (1:49)

BOHUSLAV MARTINŮ (1890–1959)
Film en Miniature
22. I. Tango (2:33)
23. II. Scherzo (1:44)
24. III. Berceuse (3:04)
25. IV. Valse (2:26)
26. V. Chanson (1:24)
27. VI. Carillon (1:33)

28. Spring (3:43)

JOSEF SUK (1874–1935)
Spring
29. I. Spring (5:55)
30. II. Breeze (1:57)
31. III. Awaiting (3:34)
32. IV. *** (As Titled by Suk) (2:32)
33. V. Longing (3:37)

Total duration: 75:27

Recorded April 27-29 2008 at St.George’s Bristol, England
Recording produced, engineered and edited by Simon Fox-Gál
Piano technician: Chris Farthing