Adam Skoumal - piano recital

When comparing major composers of the classical period, we notice that W. A. Mozart (1756-1791) never paid too much attention to solo piano output, as Beethoven or Haydn did. The reason might be strictly economical: the audience in Vienna preferred large scale works such as opera arias or concertos with orchestra. If Mozart was asked to play a solo piece, he chose to improvise. His solo piano sonatas were usually written for his students, rather than for public performance. In spite of this fact, we can find a few important and serious works, which we shouldn't call finger exercises. One of them, Sonata in C minor K 457, was dedicated to  Thérèse von Trattner, wife of an important Viennese publisher and owner of a concert hall. In Allegro, the typical sonata form introduces contrasting motives. An extensive, meditative Adagio reminds us of a slow movement by Beethoven. In the Finale, we can first hear a distant, sad melody, which later leads to an abrupt change of mood and leading to a dramatic ending.

Klement Slavicky (1910-1999) is considered to be one of the most important Czech composers of the 20th Century. His piano works show a deep knowledge of the instrument and have been appreciated by several generations of pianists. Unfortunately, his compositions were intentionally suppressed for many years during the communist era. His most successful works undoubtedly include the triptych "Three Pieces for Piano" (1947). Burlesca and especially the closing Toccata are full of action, demanding from the interpreter the very limit of piano performance, while the middle Intermezzo has a stiffling, anxious atmosphere, preceding the closing movement like the calm before the storm.

Robert Schumann (1810 – 1856) wrote his Sonata No. 2 in G minor Op. 22 during the years of his growing love for Clara Wieck. The young lady-virtuoso convinced the composer to rewrite the last movement of the sonata, claiming its incomprehensibility to both musicians and the general audience. Schumann wrote a more “ordinary” finale, which is usually performed nowadays, although it lacks a bit of the composer's distinctive musical language of that period, such as his use of unusual harmonies and modern rhythmical patterns. Tonight, we will hear the older version of the sonata, where the opening Allegro, lyrical Andantino and sarcastic Scherzo are followed by the original Presto Passionato, published later by Johannes Brahms.

Romantic Pieces were written shortly after finishing my piano studies in 2003. The cycle is influenced by composers-pianists such as Rachmaninov (Prelude), Scriabin (Album Leaf) and Prokofiev (Exotic Dance). Variations on a Folk Song was composed in New York in 1998, especially to serve as a virtuoso piece for piano competitions.