Khatia Buniatishvili – Kaleidoscope – Mussorgsky, Ravel, Stravinsky (2016) [Qobuz FLAC 24bit/96kHz]

This is not exactly an easy program offered up to us by diabolical Georgian pianist Khatia Buniatishvili (* 1987): Pictures at an Exhibition by Mussorgsky, Ravel’s La Valseand the Three movements from Petrushka by Stravinsky – three of the biggest and fiercest works of the piano repertoire. After her Liszt and Chopin albums, the new album shows that young and spirited musician has a bright future, even though her career has already seen her appear on some of the world’s brightest stages, with orchestras of the highest order. To compar her to a young Martha Argerich is not far from the truth… It is up to the listener to decide whether he/she wishes to be led astray into extreme extraordinary sounds, rhythms and rubato, all of which are embraced by Buniatishvili, but it is clear that her charm, power and persuasion are most compelling.

Tracklist

Modest Mussorgsky (1839-1881)
Pictures at an Exhibition
1 Promenade 01:49
2 I. Gnomus 02:14
3 Promenade 01:02
4 II. Il vecchio castello 05:48
5 Promenade 00:29
6 III. Tuileries (Dispute d’enfants après jeux) 00:50
7 IV. Bydlo 04:23
8 Promenade 00:53
9 V. Ballet des poussins dans leurs coques 00:59
10 VI. Samuel Goldenberg und Schmuyle (Deux juifs – L’un riche et l’autre pauvre) 02:44
11 Promenade 01:30
12 VII. Limoges – Le Marché (La Grande Nouvelle) 01:13
13 VIII. Catacombae (Sepulcrum romanum) 02:07
14 Cum mortuis in lingua mortua 01:43
15 IX. La Cabane sur des pattes de poule (Baba-Yaga) 02:43
16 X. La Grande Porte (de l’ancienne capitale Kiev) 04:53