Pictures [CD+DVD]

Bilder sind schlicht zu bescheiden, wenn man dieser Aufnahme eine passende Beschreibung geben wollte.
Tongemälde wäre da schon zutreffender, müßte sich aber immer noch den Vorwurf der Untertreibung gefallen lassen.
Erscheint das, was man bei Mussorgsky hören kann brillant in der Ausführung, doch noch vertraut und bekannt, erstrahlen Janàceks Bilder in trauriger Schönheit und trifft Prokofiev den Zuhörer mit einem Feuerwerk. Und schließlich die DVD, die eindrucksvoll unter Beweis stellt, welche Atmosphäre das emotionsgeladene, impulsive Spiel des Pianisten live im Konzertsaal aufzubauen vermag. Diese Atmosphäre vermittelt einen noch intensiveren Zugang zu den Stücken, und wie gesagt:
Bilder sind einfach untertrieben.
Allein die DVD hätte 6 Sterne verdient!
Anhören! Weitersagen!

In remembrance of his friend Victor Hartman, Russian composer Modest Mussorgsky called his suite in ten movements, as `Pictures from an Exhibition' in 1874.

Today, although more than a hundred years have been passed, since it's initial publication and performance, the piece is still popular and in this recording, it has become extraordinary live and contemporary, with the clever touch of the renowned Turkish pianist/composer Fazil Say.

When listening to the piece, you can feel the magical encounter by opposing shores of the Black Sea, between the composer and the performer. Each of the movements have become, a colorful, dynamic story in themselves, absorbing the music lovers completely.

The album also contains two other performances, Piano Sonata `1.X 1905' from the Czech composer Leos Janacek and Piano Sonata 7 by Sergey Prokofiev

Both sonatas are performed with a high degree of virtuosity, while Janacek sonata is reflecting deep emotions, in Prokofiev the listener experiences a rather shady and scary atmosphere dominating the piece.

In "Pictures" there is also a live concert recording in DVD form and bonus material on how recording has been made. The latter one, backstage video is especially interesting for music lovers and inspiring for young musicians.
"Pictures" has received the "Album Of The Month" award in France. The "Choc de Classic" prize is one of the most prestigous classical music awards in Europe.

Fazil Say, Biography:

Born in 1970 in Ankara, Say started playing the piano at the age of four, continued his music training in Ankara State Conservatory as a student of "Special Status for highly talented kids" and graduated from piano and compositon in 1987.

As he continued his studies in Dusseldorf Music Academy with German scholarship, he got his diploma in Germany in 1991 as "Concerto soloist" and became a piano and chamber music teacher in 1992 in Berlin Performing Arts and Music Academy.
Say, who won Europe Young Concert Soloists Competition in 1994, got the first place in the World Competition that was done in New York in 1995 and had a big step in his career.

Besides playing the piano, he composed many oratorios, piano concertos, pieces of music for chamber, orchestra and piano and many other songs. Some of his composed pieces include Nazim and Metin Altiok Oratorios, four piano concertos, his orchestra piece "Albert Einstein" commisioned by Zurich Orchestra and his ballet named "Patara" which is commissioned by Wien Mozart Commitee and was composed for Mozart's 250th birth year celebration.

With his concerts in all over the world and his outstanding CDs, he became a world famous pianist and is honoured with more than 20 international prizes.
Say is admired by thousands of musiclovers and he performed with with orchestras like New York Philharmonic, Detroit Symphony, Berlin Symphony, Czech Philharmonic, Israil Philharmonic, St.Petersburg Philharmonic, National France Orchestra and Tokyo Symphony which are conducted by many famous conductors. He performed an open air concert as the closing of 2007 Florence Festival with Florence Orchestra conducted by Zubin Mehta and had an audience of more than twenty thousand listeners.

Again in 2007, he was the head of the piano jury of Montreaux Jazz Festival. His CD which also includes Say's composed piano piece that was inspired by Turkish Folk singer and poet Asik Veysel's song named "Black Earth" was listed in 6th place in American Billboards.

In 2008, he was chosen as "Culture Ambassador" by European Union and he aims to set up a new bridge between eastern and western cultures.

Detailed information: fazilsay.com

Earlier recordings: http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=fazil+say&x=0&y=0

Biography book in German: http://www.amazon.de/Fazil-Say-Pianist-Komponist-Weltb%C3%BCrger/dp/3894877081/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1324476313&sr=1-1