Sergei Prokofiev - Visions Fugitives, Op. 22

Pianist: Matti Raekallio
Visions fugitives, Op. 22, is a cycle of twenty piano miniatures by Sergei Prokofiev. The seventh piece was also published for harp. They were written between 1915 and 1917, individually, many for specific friends of the composer, and premiered by him as a cycle lasting some twenty minutes on April 15, 1918, in Petrograd. Gutheil published both the piano set and the one piece for harp in 1917 in Moscow.
The cycle brings dissonant harmonies akin to music by Prokofiev's contemporaries Schoenberg and Scriabin but retains original concepts of tonality and rhythm. The miniatures are vignette-like, whimsical, effervescent and bright. The overall effect is in the Impressionist style, not unlike work by Debussy. Because of the almost uniformly mellow style, performers must be willing to work on the relatively difficult technique required to capture its essence.
1. Lentamente 0:00
2. Andante 1:13
3. Allegretto 2:40
4. Animato 3:45
5. Molto giocoso 4:40
6. Con eleganza 5:01
7. Arpa - Pittoresco 5:29
8. Comodo 7:30
9. Allegretto tranquillo 9:16
10. Ridicolosamente 10:23
11. Con vivacita 11:23
12. Moderato assai 12:30
13. Allegretto 13:47
14. Feroce 14:39
15. Inquieto 15:41
16. Dolente 16:24
17. Poetico 18:46
18. Con una dolce lentezza 20:23
19. Presto agitatissimo e molto accentuato 22:22
20. Lento irrealmente 23:05
Information from Wikipedia (en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Visions...) released under CC BY-SA 3.0

[@jeffgrigsbyjones]

The Visions Fugitives are completely enchanting. Richter performed some of the individual movements, and he could make you believe this was the greatest cycle of miniatures ever. But he never gave us the complete cycle. Raekallio plays up the fever-dream elements of this work and gives it a compelling mystery and irresolution. Sometimes I'd wish for a lighter touch, but the variety of sonic effects really works for the rhapsodic, conversational quality of the Visions Fugitives. No two notes are alike. I love it.

[@valerieheinderyckx4506]

Merci...c'est vraiment merveilleux...❤

[@mediumsizedgrape]

this is a great interpration. much more free and improv like than others.