V for Valse Vassilis Varvaresos

• Franz Liszt (1811-1886):
• 1 Méphisto-Valse No. 1, S. 514 11:15
• 2 Soirées de Vienne, Valse-caprice d'après Schubert, S. 427: VII. Allegro spiritoso 07:03
• Robert Schumann (1810-1856): Carnaval de Vienne, Op. 26:
• 3 I. Allegro 08:52
• 4 II. Romanze 02:43
• 5 III. Scherzino 02:14
• 6 IV. Intermezzo 02:16
• 7 V. Finale 05:07
• Piotr Illitch Tchaïkovski (1840-1893):
• 8 Six Pièces, Op. 51: VI. Valse sentimentale 04:55
• Alexandre Scriabine (1871-1915):
• 9 Valse, Op. 38 06:54
• Moriz Rosenthal (1862-1946):
• 10 Carnaval de Vienne, humoresque sur des thèmes de Johann Strauss 06:41
• Maurice Ravel (1875-1937):
• 11 La Valse, poème chorégraphique, M. 72 (Arr. Maurice Ravel) 11:22
• Total Runtime 01:09:22

Info for V for Valse

Who said waltz was frivolous? For this recording dedicated to the genre, Vassilis Varvaresos has concocted a program that shatters prejudices. Far from 18th century ballroom dancing, the selected works are filled with sensuality, irony and strength.

It is the fatal side of this musical whirlwind which is highlighted: Liszt and his diabolical waltz; Schumann and his chiaroscuro emotion; the sad elegance of Tchaikovsky; Scriabin and his lush sensuality; Rosenthal's ecstatic freedom on Johann Strauss's themes; and, on the ruins of the past, the poisonous darkness of Ravel's Valse.

This swirling invitation is an ideal playground for the nuanced expressiveness and brilliant virtuosity of the Greek pianist, graduated from Julliard School and CNSM Paris, winner of George Enescu International Piano Competition in 2014, and Piano Masters Competition in 2015.

Vassilis Varvaresos, piano

Vassilis Varvaresos
Greek pianist Vassilis Varvaresos is considered amongst the most promising pianists of his generation. Born in Thessaloniki, Greece in 1983, Varvaresos started studying music at the age of five, and received a scholarship to the Conservatory of Nothern Greece. He continued his studies at the Conservatory with Milena Mollova. He won First Prize in the 1995 Petar Konjovic International Competition in Belgrade, the 1996 Pan-Hellenic Young Artist Competition in Athens, and was chosen as one of 11 young musicians from around the world to perform in Monte Carlo in a special “Little Mozarts” concert organized by Italy’s RAI TV. Varvaresos holds a bachelor of music degree and a master of music degree from the Juilliard School, where he studied with Jerome Lowenthal. His paper on Claude Debussy, which won the Scholastic Distinction Award from the The Juiliard School, was published in Greece by Kodikas Publications. March 2012 marked Varvaresos’ Carnegie Hall recital debut, to both audience and critical acclaim. Immediately following his debut, he was asked to play at the White House for President Barrack Obama.

Booklet for V for Valse