Frederic Rzewski

Nanosonatas, The People United Will Never Be Defeated...

Archive 2010
Opéra Bastille
octoberoct 1

Frederic Rzewski
Nanosonatas,Books , V, VI, VII, VIII for piano
creation of Book VIII, commissioned by Festival d’Automne à Paris
The People United Will Never Be Defeated
36 variations on the Sergio Ortega Chilean song El pueblo unido jamás será vencido
Frederic Rzewski, piano
Corealisation Opéra national de Paris ; Festival d’Automne à Paris

Sergio Ortega provided the inspiration for the work which epitomizes Rzewski and has wide appeal and unifying force, reconciling academic and popular forms of expression, combining counterpoint and melody, bringing together the most diverse musical styles plus the full technique of 19th century piano. In the Nanosonatas each book has seven musical micro-forms or moments, as Rzewski offers a performance to be both seen and heard as his encounter with the piano turns recital into theater.