ERIK SATIE (1866–1925)
COMPLETE PIANO WORKS • 2
LE FILS DES ÉTOILES
NICOLAS HORVATH
“This recording is really unique and special because for the very first time Le Fils des étoiles has been performed on a piano from Satie's time and his own instrument maker of choice. Therefore, you could say that this album reconstructs what Satie must have had in mind when he composed this piece – that eerie sound quality, so uncommon and removed from a modern Steinway that somehow flattens the sounds of this weird and wonderful music. In addition, this recording presents the new Salabert corrected version, so double novelty, a double treat! Finally, the liner notes, thanks to Robert Orledge, are simply fantastic, full of unknown information and trivia about Satie!”
– Nicolas Horvath
Le Fils des étoiles: Prélude de l’Acte 2 – L’Initiation
gift of Mme Françoise Cachin, in memory of her mother Ginette Signac, 1996
About this Recording
This second volume of Erik Satie’s complete solo piano music using Satie scholar Robert Orledge’s new Salabert Edition is devoted almost entirely to the enigmatic Le Fils des étoiles. Composed as incidental music for a play set in 3000BC, and announced as having ‘an admirably oriental character’, this is one of Satie’s longest scores and rarely heard complete. At its première the work, which comprises short juxtaposed sections as well as an attractive Gnossienne towards the end of Act I, ‘was met by an icy silence’!
EN L’HONNEUR D’UNE JEUNE DEMOISELLE (XIe SIÈCLE) (1892) (03:08)
(EDITIONS SALABERT, 2016)
TOTAL PLAYING TIME: 77:10
NICOLAS HORVATH
Nicolas Horvath has in recent years become one of the most sought after pianists of his generation. Holder of a number of awards, including First Prize of the Scriabin and the Luigi Nono International Competitions, he is known for organising concerts of unusual length, sometimes over twelve hours, such as performing Philip Glass’ or Erik Satie’s complete piano music. His critically acclaimed Glassworlds cycle, of Philip Glass’ piano music, was nominated for two ICMA awards. In spring 2017 he released his first album of world premiere recordings of piano sonatas by Estonian composer Jaan Rääts, which was recently nominated for the 2018 ICMA awards. Horvath is a Steinway artist.
More recordings on Grand Piano featuring Nicolas Horvath
– The WholeNote
– Gapplegate Classical-Modern Music Review
– Scene Magazine
– Audiophile Audition
