Pancho Vladigerov: Impressions

Album review

For a little-known, or even unknown, composer to have a chance of emerging from oblivion, they need to be played by exceptional performers, which is what we have here with this new recording by the excellent pianist Etsuko Hirosé, whose talent has long been widely recognised.

Born in Japan, she now lives in France, where she studied under Bruno Rigutto and Nicholas Angelich, before receiving valuable advice from Alfred Brendel. And on this recording, she has put all her art and talent at the service of the Bulgarian composer Pancho Vladigerov (1899-1978) on an album entirely dedicated to him. Admired by Richard Strauss and Shostakovich, the music of this composer, "multicoloured, imaginative and full of life" according to Etsuko Hirosé, skilfully blends the most diverse elements between Western music and jazz, with a touch of "Hollywood" music.

In 10 Impressions, Op. 9 which was composed in 1920, Vladigerov recounts his own quest for love in this cycle with evocative titles such as languor, embrace, caress, elegance, confession, passion... At the keyboard of a superb Bechstein with velvety tones, Etsuko Hirosé knows how to give all their intimate and secret character to these magnificent pieces. The Bulgarian Suite, Op. 21 of 1926 draws its inspiration from the rich reservoir of national folklore to create 'triumphant musical dynamite that will explode and spread throughout the world', in the words of one particularly enthusiastic music critic. This proud and patriotic work is followed in this programme by the Prelude in F minor, Op. 15 No. 1, composed by an eighteen-year-old who dreamed of meeting Rachmaninov and who here clearly confesses his admiration for his great Russian elder. © François Hudry/Qobuz