Quotations and Homages (mixed periods version, 75 minutes)

A piano recital featuring newly-written homages by Tom Flaherty, Vera Ivanova, Missy Mazzoli, Isaac Schankler, and Peter Yates, performed together with the earlier works by Bach, Brahms, Chopin, Debussy, Prokofiev, Satie and Stranisky that directly inspired the new compositions.

Most contemporary works on this program are featured on Shpachenko’s new April 2018 Reference Recordings release
Quotations and Homages

(please scroll down for full program information and sneak peaks)

  • Delivered with an authority and unhesitating know-how that left no room for doubt, Shpachenko’s virtuoso program of new music for piano—both solo and electronically fleshed—revealed how convincingly present-day composers can match the prestidigital feats of Liszt and Chopin. Simultaneously, universal statements on life and art, expressed in a heartfelt lyricism still resounding almost audibly, emerged to elevate the afternoon event into something profound… Shpachenko’s thoughtfully ordered offering of uniformly winning pieces, centered on a theme of “quotations and homages,” was an homage to the audience—an inviting, overflowing musical cornucopia, impacting listeners all the more directly in its uninterrupted flow.

    Steven Niles, New Classic LA
  • A bountiful offering of extraordinary piano music combined with highly skilled performances… “6 Fugitive Memories” is a remarkable exposition of historical and influential musical voices, expertly realized by Ms. Shpachenko… The wide variety of density and colors make “Rainbow Tangle” a well balanced tribute to Messiaen’s landmark work… “Down to You is Up” makes effective use of the Velvet Underground material without being derivative, creating a sparkling, original work… “Epitaphs and Youngsters” is a well-balanced multimedia work that memorably captures the essence of its subjects in music, visual art and words… “Bolts of Loving Thunder” displays an impressive range of emotions and exuberance in keeping with a great tradition… “Igor to Please” is visceral and exciting, an amazing ensemble of electronics and piano that calls for virtuosic skill by the soloist.

    Paul Muller, Sequenza21
  • The latest example was pianist Nadia Shpachenko, nominated for a Grammy for her CD Woman at the New Piano: American Music of 2013. Coming in from Southern California, she brought a program of nine different pieces, “Quotations and Homages,” all of recent vintage, including six world premieres Sunday night. The works are responses to music of composers of the past. Despite the conceptual framework, the music covered a broad range of styles — almost entirely tonal. Shpachenko herself is a strong player, with a touch that gives weight and solidity even at low dynamics… It gets wild at times, and Shpachenko played with plenty of power… Shpachenko played expertly with and through the electronics, shaping the dynamics into a rich ambient sound… Eminently worthwhile concert from Shpachenko and her fellow composers.

    George Grella, New York Classical Review

Program

Frédéric Chopin Sonata No. 2 in B-flat minor, Op. 35 (1839) …21 minutes
OR
Frédéric Chopin Sonata No. 3 in B minor, Op. 58 (1844) …26 minutes

Isaac Schankler Future Feelings (2018) …8 minutes
(inspired by Chopin)

Johannes Brahms Rhapsodie in G minor, Op. 79, No. 2 (1880) …6 minutes

Missy Mazzoli Bolts of Loving Thunder (2013, rev. 2016) …8 minutes
(inspired by Brahms)

Johann Sebastian Bach Chromatic Fantasy in D Minor, BWV 903 (1717-1723) …6 minutes

Peter Yates Purpose for speaking pianist and multimedia (2015) …2 minutes
(inspired by Bach and Glenn Gould)

Sergei Prokofiev Selections from Visions Fugitives, Op. 22 (1915-17) …4 minutes

Claude Debussy Voiles from Préludes, Book I (1909) …4 minutes

Erik Satie Gymnopédie No. 1 (1888) …3 minutes

Vera Ivanova Selections from 6 Fugitive Memories (2015) …3 minutes
(inspired by Prokofiev, Debussy and Satie)

Igor Stravinsky Augurs of Spring from The Rite of Spring (1913) …3 minutes

Tom Flaherty Igor to Please (2016) …10 minutes
(inspired by Stravinsky)

Bonus/Encores:

Adam Borecki Accidental Mozart (2014) …4 minutes
(inspired by Mozart)

Daniel Felsenfeld Good Times Just Seem to Pass Me By (1998, rev. 2015) …2 minutes
(inspired by The Velvet Underground)

Nick Norton Piano Piece for Mr. Carter’s 100th Birthday (2008) …9 seconds
(inspired by Carter)

Sneak Peak 1 – “Quotations and Homages” trailer

Sneak Peak 2 – Chopin Sonata No. 3, Op. 58, Live from WGBH

Sneak Peak 3 – “Debutie” by Vera Ivanova