Antonín Dvořák: From the Bohemian Forest & Dumky Artur Pizarro & Rinaldo Zhok

• Antonín Dvořák (1841 - 1904): From the Bohemian Forest, characteristic pieces, Op. 68, B. 133:
• 1 From the Bohemian Forest, characteristic pieces, Op. 68, B. 133: I. In the Spinning-Room 04:22
• 2 From the Bohemian Forest, characteristic pieces, Op. 68, B. 133: II. By the Black Lake 05:46
• 3 From the Bohemian Forest, characteristic pieces, Op. 68, B. 133: III. Witches' Sabbath 04:12
• 4 From the Bohemian Forest, characteristic pieces, Op. 68, B. 133: IV. On the Watch 03:29
• 5 From the Bohemian Forest, characteristic pieces, Op. 68, B. 133: V. Silent Woods 06:33
• 6 From the Bohemian Forest, characteristic pieces, Op. 68, B. 133: VI. In Troubled Times 04:22
• Dumky, Op. 90, B. 520:
• 7 Dumky, Op. 90, B. 520: I. Lento maestoso - Allegro quasi doppio movimento - Lento maestoso - Allegro 04:40
• 8 Dumky, Op. 90, B. 520: II. Poco Adagio - Vivace non troppo - Poco Adagio - Vivace 08:03
• 9 Dumky, Op. 90, B. 520: III. Andante - Vivace non troppo - Andante 06:55
• 10 Dumky, Op. 90, B. 520: IV. Andante moderato - Allegretto scherzando - Meno mosso 05:10
• 11 Dumky, Op. 90, B. 520: V. Allegro - Meno mosso, quasi tempo primo 04:28
• 12 Dumky, Op. 90, B. 520: VI. Lento maestoso - Vivace - Lento - Vivace 04:58
• Total Runtime 01:02:58

Info for Antonín Dvořák: From the Bohemian Forest & Dumky

Artur Pizarro and Rinaldo Zhok are two great pianists brought together by their solo CDs on Odradek: Artur Pizarro’s acclaimed Rachmaninov series, and Rinaldo Zhok’s disc of Liszt-Verdi transcriptions. Both pianists were also taught by the great Aldo Ciccolini, whose legacy continues to influence them. Inspired by the other’s interpretations, they decided to collaborate, forming the Pizarro-Zhok Piano Duo in 2014.

Both pianists are passionate advocates for music written for piano four hands (as distinct from music for two pianos). This repertoire, too often underrated, is described by the artists as representing “the most profound and complex form of making music together”. Dvořák is amongst the most prolific composers of music for piano four hands, achieving a rare balance between musical depth and sensitivity, and an appealing honesty and immediacy.

This album features one of the great masterpieces for piano duo, Dvořák’s From the Bohemian Forest, which takes the listener on a dream-like journey into a vivid musical landscape. Dvořák’s poetic music sheds the conventions and inhibitions of the piano-writing of his time, creating an array of striking effects which transport the listener into beautiful Bohemian woods. In the process, Dvořák requires that the pianists act as one, with a single concentration of purpose and precise execution of intricate technical demands. The results are breathtaking.

The album also features Dvořák’s own arrangement for piano duo of his Dumky Trio – an arrangement which is not a transcription, but may be regarded as parallel version, equal to the Trio in gravitas and significance. As the artists put it: “This is equivalent to a painter who portrays the same subject several times, highlighting different perspectives, aspects and techniques.”

Since its formation, the Duo Pizarro-Zhok has already performed at the Teatro Municipal Baltazar Dias in Funchal, the Belém Cultural Center in Lisbon; with the Orquestra de Câmara Portuguesa, conducted by Pedro Carneiro, the Orquestra Clássica da Madeira conducted by Pedro Andrade; and in the inaugural concert of the Orquestra Sinfónica de Cascais conducted by Nikolay Lalov.

“An absorbing and entertaining disc — let’s hope these two have more in store for us.” (Gramophone, Harriet Smith)

Artur Pizarro, piano
Rinaldo Zhok, piano

Artur Pizarro
Born in Lisbon, Portugal in 1968, Artur Pizarro gave his first public performance at the age of three and made his television début on Portuguese television at the age of four. He had been introduced to the instrument by his maternal grandmother, pianist Berta da Nóbrega, and her piano-duo partner, Campos Coelho who was a student of Vianna da Motta, Ricardo Viñes and Isidor Philipp. From 1974 to 1990 Artur studied with Sequeira Costa who had also been a student of Vianna da Motta and of Mark Hamburg, Edwin Fischer, Marguerite Long and Jacques Février. This distinguished lineage immersed Artur in the tradition of the ‘Golden Age’ of pianism and gave him a broad education in both the German and French piano schools and repertoire. During a brief interruption of his studies in the USA, Artur also studied with Jorge Moyano in Lisbon, and in Paris worked with Aldo Ciccolini, Géry Moutier and Bruno Rigutto.

Artur won first prizes in the 1987 Vianna da Motta Competition, the 1988 Greater Palm Beach Symphony Competition and won first prize at the 1990 Leeds International Pianoforte Competition, which marked the beginning of an international concert career.

Artur Pizarro performs internationally in recital, chamber music and with the world’s leading orchestras and conductors including Sir Simon Rattle, Philippe Entremont, Yan Pascal Tortelier, Sir Andrew Davis, Esa-Pekka Salonen, Yuri Temirkanov, Vladimir Fedoseyev, Ilan Volkov, Franz Welser- Most, Tugan Sokhiev, Yakov Kreizberg, Yannick Nézet-Séguin, Libor Pešek, Vladimir Jurowski, Ion Marin, John Wilson and the late Sir Charles Mackerras.

Artur is an active chamber musician and has performed at chamber music festivals throughout the world. Artur Pizarro has recorded extensively for Collins Classics, Hyperion Records, Linn Records, Brilliant Classics, Klara, Naxos, Danacord, Odradek Records and Phoenix Edition.

Artur Pizarro has received various awards from his native Portugal for services to classical music and culture including the Portuguese Press Award, the Portuguese Society of Authors award, the Medal of Culture of the City of Funchal and the Medal of Cultural Merit from the Portuguese Government. Artur Pizarro is currently teaching piano and chamber music at the Academia Nacional Superior de Orquestra in Lisbon.

This album contains no booklet.