Out now: pianist Andrea Botticelli's "Stimme aus der Ferne - A Voice from the Distance"
Works by Robert and Clara Schumann, Schubert, and Czerny recorded on fortepiano
For her debut album, “Stimme aus der Ferne - A Voice From the Distance” (released May 14, 2021 on Céleste Music), the pianist Andrea Botticelli drew her inspiration from a predecessor of the modern keyboard, the fortepiano. Ms. Botticelli carefully chose the repertoire – works by Franz Schubert, Carl Czerny, and Robert and Clara Schumann - to highlight the unique expressive capabilities of the fortepiano. "The additional pedal creates an incredibly quiet sound, which enhances the intimacy in lyrical moments," writes Andrea Botticelli in the liner notes. "And, the transparent, sparkling upper register of the instrument perfectly suits the lightness and brilliance of the fast passages."
Ms. Botticelli’s album marks a number of “firsts”: the first commercial recording on the Graf fortepiano owned by the Banff Centre for Arts and Creativity in Canada, the debut recording of Robert Schumann's Novellette in F-sharp minor, Op. 21 No. 8, on fortepiano, the first album on her home-grown label, Céleste Music, and, quite possibly the first solo fortepiano album recorded by a Canadian artist. In addition to the Novellette, the album highlights many works - both classics and lesser known gems - from the Romantic period that are rarely performed on a historic instrument.
The Graf was built by Rodney Regier in 2014, and is a replica of a typical Viennese fortepiano from the 1830's.
The title of the album, “Stimme aus der Ferne - A Voice From the Distance” refers to an indication written in the score of the Novellette, by Robert Schumann, and also alludes to the sound of the fortepiano evoking a faraway musical past.
Contact ClassicalCommunications@gmail.com to request a physical CD or digital copy of this recording.
"Stimme aus der Ferne –
A Voice from the Distance"
Andrea Botticelli, fortepiano
Céleste Music (ABOTT-01)
Released: May 14, 2021
Read/download liner notes
View Andrea Botticelli's Digital Press Kit
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TRACKS
FRANZ SCHUBERT
[01-03] Sonata in A major, D. 665
CARL CZERNY
[04-10] Variations on a Theme by Rode, Op. 33 "La Ricordanza"
ROBERT SCHUMANN
[11-23] Papillons, Op. 2
CLARA SCHUMANN
[24] Soirées musicales, Op. 6 II. Notturno
ROBERT SCHUMANN
[25] Novelletten, Op. 21 VIII. Sehr Lebhaft
Celebrated for launching a “Fortepiano Renaissance” (The WholeNote), Canadian pianist Andrea Botticelli combines captivating artistic sensibility with insightful historical research. She has received numerous awards and grants as an emerging artist from the Banff Centre for the Arts and Creativity, Canada Council for the Arts, Early Music America, National Music Centre, Ontario Arts Council, Stingray Music, and the Wirth Institute for Austrian and Central European Studies. Andrea has recently presented concerts across Canada performing on fortepiano models from the early 18th to late 19th centuries, introducing performance on historical instruments and historically informed methods to new audiences. She performs a wide range of repertoire and keyboard instruments from the fortepiano, clavichord, and harpsichord to the modern piano. Andrea’s ability to revive and breathe new life into historical practices and to coax the expressive voice from each different instrument results in performances with a unique sound and an individual expressive style. She is a noted researcher on Beethoven and 19th century performance practices and instruments.