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Work of the Week – Nikolai Kapustin: Concerto No. 5
- 7 Aug 2023
Can classical music and jazz harmonise simultaneously? Nikolai Kapustin's Concerto No. 5 proves it's possible. The piece is set for its German debut, performed by the Junge Norddeutsche Philharmonie under the baton of Kiril Stankow. This remarkable event took place on August 6, 2023, in Bunderhee as a part of the Tidal Concerts, with Frank Dupree gracing the solo piano.
Kapustin's music ingeniously blends jazz elements into the formal structures of classical music. It marries the motoric rhythms of the former with the virtuosity inherent in the latter. His innovative approach includes notating improvisations, based on his belief that they flourish better when written down. The result is a compelling fusion, a "composed jazz" that merges diverse tones and moods.
Interweaving classical music and jazz: Concerto No. 5 by Nikolai Kapustin
Renowned for his versatile talent, Frank Dupree (pictured) is a defining musician of his generation, effortlessly transcending traditional boundaries of musical genres. Initially trained as a jazz drummer, he later turned his focus towards the expansive piano repertoire. He has been instrumental in promoting Kapustin's music, evidenced by his recordings of several Kapustin compositions in recent years.
“In good-humoured syncopations, the right hand paws out a chordal theme, underneath which the left hand shakes and shakes its eighth-note chains like a happy dog shaking its toy - as in a frenzied Bach prelude - all this in a captivatingly clear, almost graceful piano movement that reveals a tidy thinker with a sense of punchlines.” - Jan Brachmann, FAZ
Following its premiere, the Junge Norddeutsche Philharmonie is set to perform Concerto No. 5 again on August 9, 10, and 11. Come September, the piece will see another rendition, this time by the Deutsche Staatsphilharmonie Rheinland-Pfalz, with Dupree reprising his role as the soloist.
Links:
Nikolai Kapustin: Composer Profile
Concerto No. 5: Work Details and Online Score
Website Junge Deutsche Philharmonie
Photo: Marco Borggreve
