Galina Ustvolskaya - Grand Duet Duet

Review by Belinda Hughes

Galina Ustvolskaya's Grand Duet Duet is a mesmerizing album that showcases the composer's unique and uncompromising style. The album features two of Ustvolskaya's most celebrated works for piano and violin, both performed with great skill and sensitivity by pianist Markus Hinterhäuser and violinist Patricia Kopatchinskaja.

The first piece, Grand Duet, is a haunting and intense work that explores the depths of human emotion. The piano and violin weave together in a series of dissonant and angular phrases, creating a sense of tension and unease that is both captivating and unsettling. Hinterhäuser and Kopatchinskaja bring a raw and unbridled energy to the piece, conveying the full weight and complexity of Ustvolskaya's vision.

The second piece, Duet for Violin and Piano with Tape, is equally powerful and evocative. Here, Ustvolskaya incorporates a pre-recorded tape of her own voice, reciting a poem that adds an extra layer of meaning and intensity to the music. Kopatchinskaja's violin and Hinterhäuser's piano dance around the voice, creating a rich and immersive sonic landscape that draws the listener in and refuses to let go.

Summary by Belinda Hughes

Grand Duet Duet is a stunning album that showcases the immense talent and vision of Galina Ustvolskaya, as well as the skill and dedication of Hinterhäuser and Kopatchinskaja. It is a must-listen for anyone interested in contemporary classical music or the avant-garde, and a testament to the enduring power and relevance of Ustvolskaya's work.