Matan Porat - LUX (2018)

Pianist Matan Porat invites us on a musical journey from morning until the dead of night. His program, selected as much for its variety as for the smooth tonal transitions between each piece, is a work of art in itself. Gregorian chant opens and closes the day, while Schumann gently moves us into light with his introspective but radiant “Gesänge der Frühe.” Music by Beethoven, Debussy, Scriabin, Liszt, Thomas Adès—plus Bartók’s unnerving portrait of nighttime (“The Night’s music”) and an exciting world premiere recording of Matthias Pintscher’s “Whirling tissue of light”—provide fascinating individual interpretations of different times of day. Each is played with clarity, sensitivity, and a beautiful sense of narrative.

Composers
Adès, Thomas (b.1971)
Bartók, Béla (1881-1945)
Beethoven, Ludwig van (1770-1827)
Debussy, Claude Achille (1862-1918)
Liszt, Ferencz (1811-86)
Pintscher, Matthias (b.1971)
Schumann, Robert (1810-56)
Scriabin, Alexander Nikolayevich (1872-1915)

Works
Adès: Darknesse Visible
Bartók: Out of Doors Sz81: No.4: Night Music
Beethoven: Piano Sonata No. 21 in C major, Op. 53 'Waldstein'
Debussy: Prélude à l'après-midi d'un faune
Debussy: Préludes - Book 1: No. 10, La cathédrale engloutie
Liszt: Transcendental Study, S139 No. 11 'Harmonies du soir'
Pintscher: Whirling tissue of light
Schumann: Gesänge der Frühe (5), Op. 133
Scriabin: Piano Sonata No. 4 in F sharp major, Op. 30

Tracklist:
1. Gregorian chant: Introitus Lux Fulgebit (Arr. for piano)
2. Gesänge der Frühe, Op. 133: I. Im ruhigen Tempo
3. Préludes, Livre 1, L. 117: X. La Cathédrale engloutie
4. Piano Sonata No. 21, Op. 53: III. Rondo. Allegretto moderato - Prestissimo
5. Whirling tissue of light
6. Piano Sonata No. 4, Op. 30: I. Andante
7. Piano Sonata No. 4, Op. 30: II. Prestissimo volando
8. Prélude à l'après midi d'un faune, L. 86 (Arr. for piano)
9. Études d'exécution transcendante, S. 139: XI. Harmonies du soir
10. Darknesse Visible
11. Out of Doors, Sz. 81: 4. The Night's music
12. Gregorian chant: Exortum est in tenebris (Arr. for piano)
13. Piano Sonata No. 14, Op.27 No.2 "Moonlight": I. Adagio sostenuto