Características
An encounter with his musical hero, Hungarian composer György Kurtág, inspired pianist Víkingur Ólafsson to create his most personal album to date. The Icelander combines works by Kurtág with Icelandic and Hungarian folk songs, as well as pieces by Bach, Brahms, Mozart, Adès, Schumann, Birgisson and Kaldalons. Recorded on Steinway as well as piano, Ólafsson creates innovative, atmospheric soundscapes. "From Afar" includes three new arrangements and a world premiere recording.
"The narrative arc of this album provides much associative freedom among all who are ready for curiosity. Víkingur Ólafsson is not only a maître of small program gems, but also a lover of quiet tones. His oscillation in the gradual range of piano and pianissimo is impressively demonstrated here. Even when the musical text allows ornamentation, above all trills, it is evident how precisely Ólafsson is master of his expressive possibilities." - Fono Forum
CD 1
Orgelbüchlein, BWV 599/644
1. Christe, du Lamm Gottes, BWV 619 (Arr. Kurtág) – Grand Piano
Robert Schumann
6 pieces en forme de canon, Op. 56
2. No. 1, Nicht zu schnell (Grand Piano)
Johann Sebastian Bach
Sonata for Violin Solo No. 3 in C Major, BWV 1005
3. I. Adagio (Arr. Víkingur Ólafsson) – Grand Piano
György Kurtág
Játékok
4. Harmonica (Hommage á Borsody László) – Grand Piano
Béla Bartók
3 Hungarian Folksongs from the Csik District, BB 45b, Sz. 35a
5. I. Rubato (Grand Piano)
6. II. L’istesso tempo (Grand Piano)
7. III. Poco vivo (Grand Piano)
Johannes Brahms
Fantasias (7 Piano Pieces), Op. 116
8. No. 4, Intermezzo (Adagio) in E Major (Grand Piano)
György Kurtág
Játékok
9. A Voice in the Distance (Grand Piano)
10. Where Life and Death May Dwell (Icelandic Folk Song) – Grand Piano
Johann Sebastian Bach
Organ Sonata No. 1 in E-Flat Major, BWV 525
11. I. (Allegro moderato) (Transcr. Kurtág) – Grand Piano
12. Ave María (Arr. Víkingur Ólafsson) – Grand Piano
György Kurtág
Játékok
13. Little Chorale (Grand Piano)
Vesperae solennes de confessore in C, K.339
14. V. Laudate Dominum omnes gentes (Arr. Víkingur Ólafsson) – Grand Piano
Játékok
15. Sleepily (Grand Piano)
Robert Schumann
Kinderszenen, Op. 15
16. No. 7, Träumerei (Grand Piano)
György Kurtág
Játékok
17. Flowers We Are (Grand Piano)
18. The Branch (Grand Piano)
19. Twittering (Grand Piano)
Robert Schumann
Waldszenen, Op. 82
20. No. 7, Vogel als Prophet (Grand Piano)
Johannes Brahms
Fantasias (7 Piano Pieces), Op. 116
21. No. 5, Intermezzo (Andante con grazia ed intimissimo sentimento) in E Minor (Grand Piano)
György Kurtág
Játékok
22. Scraps of a Colinda Melody – Faintly Recollected (Hommage à Farkas Ferenc) – Grand Piano
CD 2
Orgelbüchlein, BWV 599/644
1. Christe, du Lamm Gottes, BWV 619 (Arr. Kurtág) – Grand Piano
Robert Schumann
6 pieces en forme de canon, Op. 56
2. No. 1, Nicht zu schnell (Upright Piano)
Johann Sebastian Bach
Sonata for Violin Solo No. 3 in C Major, BWV 1005
3. I. Adagio (Arr. Víkingur Ólafsson) – Upright Piano
György Kurtág
Játékok
4. Harmonica (Hommage á Borsody László) – Upright Piano
Béla Bartók
3 Hungarian Folksongs from the Csik District, BB 45b, Sz. 35a
5. I. Rubato (Upright Piano)
6. II. L’istesso tempo (Upright Piano)
7. III. Poco vivo (Upright Piano)
Johannes Brahms
Fantasias (7 Piano Pieces), Op. 116
8. No. 4, Intermezzo (Adagio) in E Major (Upright Piano)
György Kurtág
Játékok
9. A Voice in the Distance (Upright Piano)
10. Where Life and Death May Dwell (Icelandic Folk Song) – Upright Piano
Johann Sebastian Bach
Organ Sonata No. 1 in E-Flat Major, BWV 525
11. I. (Allegro moderato) (Transcr. Kurtág) – Upright Piano
12. Ave María (Arr. Víkingur Ólafsson) – Upright Piano
György Kurtág
Játék