Pianist Francine Kay performs Czech music on Things Lived and Dreamt
Release date January 13, 2023 on Analekta
Music by Dvořák, Smetana, Janáček, and Suk, and a work by the rarely-heard Czech woman Vítězslava Kaprálová
"Kay plays with astonishing grace and floating sonorities" — Knut Franke, Fono Forum (Germany)
Pianist Francine Kay performs favorites and seldom-heard works by Czech composers on Things Lived and Dreamt, a new recording from Analekta Records (AN29004, release date January 13, 2023). In addition to the charming and popular Humoresque No. 7 by Dvořák and Smetana’s Polka No. 2, the collection shines a light on Suk's piano masterpiece from which the album's title is taken. Things Lived and Dreamt op. 30 is a set of ten fantastical pieces that Suk himself described as “a sort of artist’s diary”.
A highlight of the album is April Preludes by Vítězslava Kaprálová (1915-1940), a student of Bohuslav Martinů. “If it hadn’t been for her premature death in 1940 at the young age of twenty-five, Vítězslava Kaprálová would undoubtedly have become a major figure in 20th century music,” according to Music Web International.
Leoš Janáček's great Sonata 1.X.1905 (From the Street) runs the gamut of emotional energy as it commemorates the death of a Moravian carpenter who was killed during a civil demonstration.
This is Ms. Kay’s fourth recording on Analekta. Her Debussy recording earned her a JUNO nomination and was Fono Forum's Disc of the Month.
Contact ClassicalCommunications@gmail.com to request a physical CD or digital copy of this recording.
Things Lived and Dreamt
Francine Kay, piano
Analekta (AN29004)
Release date: January 13, 2023
TRACKS
LEOŠ JANÁČEK (1854–1928)
Sonata 1.X.1905 (1905)
[01] Předtucha (Lepressentiment/ The Presentiment) Con moto 5:47
[02] Smrt (La mort / The Death) Adagio 7:16
JOSEF SUK (1874–1935)
Jaro (Printemps / Spring), Op. 22a (1902)
[03] No.5 Vroztoužení (Ledésir/Longing) Allegro non troppo 3:56
ANTONÍN DVOŘÁK (1841–1904) Humoresques, Op. 101 (1894)
[04] No. 4 – Poco andante – fa majeur / F Major 2:32
[05] No.7 – Poco lento e grazioso–sol bémol majeur/G-Flat Major 3:10
[06] No.8 – Poco andante–si bémol mineur/B-Flat Minor 3:03
JOSEF SUK (1874–1935)
Životem a snem (Things Lived and Dreamt), Op. 30 (1909)
[07] I Allegretto moderato – S humorem a ironií, místy rozdurděně (With humour and irony, agitated in places) 2:13
[08] II Allegro vivo – Neklidně a nesměle, bez silnějšího výrazu (Restless and somewhat timid, without strongly marked expression) 1:48
[09] III Andante sostenuto–Tajemně a velmi vzdušně (Mysterious and light and airy) 3:44
[10] IV Poco allegretto – Zamyšleně, později stále výbojněji (Contemplative, then increasingly resolute in mood) 3:07
[11] V Adagio – K uzdraveni mého syna (For my son’s recuperation) – Klidně, shlubokým citem (Calm, with deep feeling) 5:26
[12] VI Moderato quasi allegretto – S výrazem tiché, bezstarostné veselosti (With quiet, carefree cheer) 3:27
[13] VII Adagio non tanto – Jednoduše, později s výrazem drtivé moci (Forthright, later with the expression of overpowering force) 4:27
[14] VIII Vivace – Jemně, švitorně (Delicate, warbling) 2:04
[15] IX Poco Andante – Šepotavě a tajemně (Whispering and mysterious) 3:34
[16] X Adagio – Zapomenutým rovům v koutku hřbitova křečovického (Dedicated to forgotten graves in the Křečovice cemetary – Snivě (Dreamy) 5:04
VÍTĚZSLAVA KAPRÁLOVÁ (1915–1940)
Dubnová Preludia (Préludes d’avril / April Preludes), Op. 13 (1937
[17] I Allegro ma non troppo 2:10
[18] II Andante 3:16
[19] III Andante semplice 2:20
[20] IV Vivo 1:47
BEDŘICH SMETANA (1824–1884)
Czech Dances 1, JB 1 : 107 (1877)
[21] Polka No.2 en la mineur/in A Minor – Moderato 2:17
Total time = 74:09
About the Artist
Noted for her “extraordinary range of color” (Montreal Gazette) and “poetic brilliance” (Toronto Star), the JUNO-nominated pianist Francine Kay is acclaimed for the beauty of her sound and the intensity and depth of her interpretations.
Since making her debut at the Carnegie Recital Hall as winner of the Pro Piano Competition, Francine Kay has been a regular guest at international festivals. Her performances are broadcast frequently on CBC, NPR, the BBC, WFMT, Radio France, and the EBU.
Ms. Kay’s discography on the Analekta label includes recordings of works by Ravel, Satie and Debussy, the latter of which was hailed as "prodigious, incomparably luxuriant in sound, bold and effortless" (Répertoire), and “one of the most outstanding recordings of Debussy’s piano music in recent years.” (Fono Forum)
Francine Kay is on the faculty of Princeton University. She earned her DMA at Stony Brook University, her Masters and Bachelors degrees at The Juilliard School with Adele Marcus, and an Artist Diploma from the Glenn Gould School at the Royal Conservatory of Music. Leon Fleisher, Gilbert Kalish and Marek Jablonski were Francine Kay's musical mentors.
Cover Art: Veronika Holcová; Photo credit: Bo Huang
