Dvořák A. Poetic Tone Pictures Op.85 / L.O.Andsnes piano

Antonín Dvořák - Poetic Tone Pictures Op.85

1. Twilight Way

2. Toying

3. In the Old Castle

4. Spring Song

5. Peasants' Ballad

6. Reverie

7. Furiant

8. Goblins' Dance

9. Serenade

10. Bacchanalia

11. Tittle-tattle

12. At the Hero's Grave

13. On the Holy Mountain

Leif Ove Andsnes piano

The 13 postcards for piano that make up Dvořák’s Poetic Tone Pictures were written in the Spring of 1889, and signal a shift in style from a composer moving away from formal constructions towards a more free, inspired aesthetic. Among these charming pieces are evocations of magic and mystery (The Old Castle), rustic dances (Furiant and Peasant Ballad), nostalgic mood pieces (Twilight Way), and tragic reminiscences (At a Hero’s Grave). The works range from the deeply profound to the playful, from lighthearted to furious - "I feel a very strong, wonderful narrative in them," says Leif Ove Andsnes, who firmly believes Dvořák conceived the pieces of this ‘exceptional’ set as a cycle to be played together.

(Sony Classical 2022)