Pianist Inna Faliks brings together some of the most accomplished composers of past and present in Reimagine Beethoven and Ravel, to be released on June 11, 2021
Faliks performs commissioned works by Billy Childs, Timo Andres, Paola Prestini, Richard Danielpour and others alongside Beethoven's Bagatelles Op. 126
Billy Childs’ “Pursuit”, inspired by current events,
released as a single on May 28
When pianist Inna Faliks asked Billy Childs to reimagine Ravel’s “Scarbo” (from Gaspard de la Nuit), he latched on to the image of Scarbo as an evil goblin. “It turned into - in my mind - a sadly familiar American storyline, in which a Black man is being pursued,” said Childs. His composition “Pursuit” brings out the urgency of the moment, simultaneously crafting a new work as fiendishly difficult to play as Ravel’s notorious finger-buster. “Pursuit” will be released as a single on May 28, 2021 on Navona Records.
The versatile Faliks also commissioned Timo Andres, Paola Prestini, Richard Danielpour and a half dozen others to compose responses to Ravel's Gaspard de la Nuit and Beethoven's Bagatelles, op. 126. The world premiere recordings, alongside her performance of the Bagatelles, are collected on her new album, Reimagine: Beethoven and Ravel (Navona NV6352; release date June 11, 2021).
In this homage to Beethoven and Ravel, the Ukrainian-born American pianist ties together three centuries of music and a range of social commentary and interpretations with her acclaimed artistry and impressive technique.
Faliks chose Bagatelles Op. 126, the last work that Beethoven wrote for piano, as a jumping off point. "This group of six pieces fascinates me with its childlike wonder, wit, moodiness, charm, rhythmic energy, transcendence, and experimentation," wrote Faliks in the album's liner notes.
She commissioned six of her colleagues at UCLA, where she is head of piano studies: Peter Golub, Tamir Hendelman, Richard Danielpour, Ian Krouse, Mark Carlson, and David Lefkowitz. Each composed a response to a single bagatelle. "Interspersing the new Bagatelles with the original felt like the most organic way to present them," said Faliks. "I hope that the emerging dialogue between then and now highlights the unique character of the original while forming a wholly new sonic adventure."
Expanding the scope of the project, Ms. Faliks turned to an iconic work - Gaspard de la Nuit - which she chose for Ravel's use of rich experimentation and sonic contrasts, as well as its vast pianistic challenges, all traits she sought in the responses. Each of the composers was inspired by a particular aspect of Ravel's music, which itself was inspired by poetry by Aloysius Bertrand.
These three composers - Paola Prestini, Billy Childs, and Timo Andres - are all recognized for their works that are relevant beyond the notes, connecting to current events and societal issues. In addition to Childs’ “Scarbo: Pursuit”, Timo Andres’ “Le Gibet: Old Ground" examines how Bertrand's poem romanticizes the image of a hanged corpse at sunset, which Timo chose to end with a fragment of Billie Holiday's "Strange Fruit". Paola Prestini's "Ondine: Variations on a Spell" similarly draws inspiration from Ravel's music and Betrand's poetry.
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Reimagine: Beethoven and Ravel
Navona Records (NV6352)
Release date: June 11, 2021
Inna Faliks, piano
“Adventurous and passionate” (The New Yorker) Ukrainian-born American pianist Inna Faliks has made a name for herself through her commanding performances of standard piano repertoire, as well genre-bending interdisciplinary projects, and inquisitive work with contemporary composers. After her acclaimed teenage debuts at the Gilmore Festival and with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, she has performed on many of the world’s great stages in recital and with many major orchestras, performing with conductors Leonard Slatkin, Keith Lockhart and many others.
Ms. Faliks collaborates with and premieres music by some of today’s most significant composers, including Billy Childs, Richard Danielpour, Timo Andres and Clarice Assad. She is known for her poetry-music series Music/Words, and has worked with a number of prominent poets. She regularly tours her monologue-recital Polonaise-Fantasie, the Story of a Pianist, which tells the story of her immigration to the United States from Odessa (recorded on Delos). Besides Reimagine, her discography includes all-Beethoven and Rachmaninoff/Ravel/Pasternak discs for MSR Classics, and the Master and Margarita project, featuring three world premieres on Sono Luminus.
In addition to her other impressive accomplishments, Faliks is a respected educator and is head of Piano Studies at UCLA. She is also a published writer, with articles and essays appearing in Los Angeles Times and The Washington Post, among other media outlets. Inna Faliks is a Yamaha Artist, and is represented by John Gingrich Management.