On the same day, pianists Khatia Buniatishvili and Bertrand Chamayou released albums with similar musical identities. These two multi-track programs curate similar moods but possess very different colors and ambiances. In departures from the two pianists’ previous releases, they move away from complete works showcasing their virtuosity, to more reflective, restrained and introverted programs of miniatures. Both albums are not collections of encores and shouldn’t be viewed or listened to as such; They are carefully considered and are ideal for quiet and nocturnal listening.
Each pianist presents a highly personal journey. As the ‘Labyrinth’ title suggests, Buniatishvili’s album makes many musical turns into unexpected areas with a potpourri of styles, and the occasional duet with Gvantsa Buniatishvili. Chamayou presents an almost seamless musical sequence, entitled “Good Night!” — taken from the title of the Janáček’s “On An Overgrown Path” (book 1), which opens the album. Whereas Buniatishvili programs a compilation of musical characters, akin to Mussorgsky’s “Pictures At An Exhibition”, Chamayou’s program takes the theme of the berceuse or lullaby, interweaving a variety of them — the expected Chopin through works by Busoni, Liszt, Martinů and Balakirev. Chamayou mainly avoids cliches, but chooses to include Brahms’ lullaby (“Wiegenlied”) in the sensitive arrangement by Max Reger.
Buniatishvili brings an eccentric eclecticism to her program, with a selection of Bach arrangements which sit comfortably alongside Ennio Morricone, Heitor Villa-Lobos, György Ligeti and Philip Glass. Like Chamayou, Buniatishvili avoids sentimentality, though straying dangerously on occasions, as with Rachmaninoff’s “Vocalise”, with an insightful execution that avoids anything too saccharine.
Related Classical Music Reviews
- Review: “Encounter” – Igor Levit, Piano
- Review: Vikingur Ólafsson Plays Rameau and Debussy
- Review: “Encores” – Nelson Freire, Piano
Buniatishvili doesn’t stray too far from conventional tonalities. Her Ligeti etude ‘Arc-en-ceil’ (rainbow) is as far as she strays harmonically. She does sidestep into a jazz idiom in her own arrangement of Serge Gainsbourg’s “La Javanaise”; Chamayou explores atonality in the austere “Wiegenmusik” by Helmut Lachenmann, which does in many ways break the spell of sleeplessness he has otherwise conjured.
It’s interesting to note that most tempo choices employed by both pianists may not be ones that you usually expect when the pieces are heard in the context of their complete opus, but there is a clear thread of expression which weaves together to make an interesting, individual and intriguing journey in an arching narrative. Buniatishvili includes John Cage’s 4”33’, which on the surface may seem rather odd, but the prolonged ‘silence’ makes the final track a postlude to the entire experience.
The levels of sensitivity these pianists show is highly distinctive and creative. Anyone who has found Buniatishvili’s Schubert and Rachmaninoff not to their taste should investigate this album, as it shows a completely different and refreshing facet to this artist. Compared to her ‘Motherland’ album, there has been a noticeable change in her approach, less introspective and more engaging than her usual exuberant style.
These albums are intriguing examples of albums for the streaming age (though both are available on CD and Vinyl), combining a range of styles, genres and harmonic languages that are diverse and approachable. Even for those highly familiar with piano repertoire, there are a number of pieces across both recitals that may be new and refreshing. Pianists may notice how closely recorded both programs are, the sounds of the dampers are often noticeable, but the bass and mid-range of their pianos are well balanced. Commendable efforts, then, both deliver distinguished listening experience.
“Labyrinth” – Khatia Buniatishvili, piano
Sony Classical, CD 19439795772
“Good Night!” – Bertrand Chamayou, piano
Erato / Warner Classical, CD 9029524243
Read more classical music reviews or visit The Classic Review Amazon store
Follow Us and Comment:
Get our periodic classical music newsletter with our recent reviews, news and beginners guides.
We respect your privacy.
