Program: Piano Series - Roger Cui

Piano Series: Roger Cui Born as a German speaking Hungarian, Franz Liszt was an important figure in the 19th century European Romanticism. Tonights programme will commence with two pieces from his Italian Pilgrimage, Sposalizio and Après une lecture du Dante. These will be followed by three selected etudes from Études d'exécution transcendante (Transcendental Etudes): Paysage, Wilde Jagd, and Ricordanza. The recital will conclude with one of Liszt's most monumental piano solo work, Reminiscene de Don Juan.

Composed between 1835 and 1838, Deuxième annèe Italie is the second suite of Anneés Pélerinage (Years of Pilgrimage). Its first piece, Sposalizio was inspired by Raphael's painting Marriage of the Virgin. The painting was completed for the Franciscan church of San Francesco, Cittâde Castello in 1504. It depicts the marriage ceremony between Mary and Joseph.

Après une lecture du Dante relates to Dante Alighieri's famous epic poem the Divine Comedy. Originally conceived

by Franz Liszt as a small piece, which was entitled Fragments after Dante, Liszt revised the work in 1849 and gave it its current title, which is derived from Victor Hugo's own work of the same name. The piece is divided into two main subjects. The first, a chromatic theme in D minor that typifies the wailing of souls in Hell. Liszt often associated the key signature of D minor to themes of death. Evidences could be found in his other compositions including Totendanz, and the opening in his Réminiscenes de Don Juan. The second theme represents Beatrice, Dante's beloved wife whose soul was captured by the devil. Dante's selfless descend to Hell was to save Beatrice's soul from being forced to be the devil's bride.

The transcendental etudes by Franz Liszt are some of the most challenging and demanding pieces composed for the piano. Reflecting some of Liszt's quintessential romantic ideologies, they could be divided into three categories of spiritual enlightenment. Etudes of the nature, etudes of the supernatural, and etudes of human emotions.

Paysage (Countryside, or pastoral) develops from simple and calming melodic motifs into a climax towards the end of the etude, which is an evocation of human's instinctive reaction whilst surrounded by the beauty and tranquility of the nature.

Wilde Jagd (Wild Hunt) depicts the hellish ride of a Nordic (Germanic) folklore. The folklore often involves a chase led by a mythological figure named Odin in Germanic legends, escorted by a ghostly or supernatural group of hunters engaged in pursuit.

Ricordanza (Memory) is an etude of nostalgia. The Italian title suggests a Bel Canto style of melodic composition by Liszt. Ferruccio Busoni described it as "a bundle of lost love letters," which harkens back to Liszt's failed love affair with one of his pupils, Lydia Carella. It is full of romantic intimacies and reminiscence of an adolescent love from the past.

Réminiscence de Don Juan is Franz Liszt's re-imagined version of Mozart's opera Don Giovanni. Rather than retaining Mozart's original musical idea of condemning Don Juan's adulterous conduct, Liszt chose to re-arrange the order of the story narrative. Liszt's rearrangement begins where Mozart's opera ends with Commendatore's condemnation of Don Juan (Di rider finirai pria dell'aurora! Ribaldo audace! Lascia a' mortified la pace). The love duet between Don Juan and one of his sexual conquest, Zerlina (Là ci dare na mano) follows and is developed into two variations. These lead to the celebratory ending of the piece (Fin ch'han dal vino).