Marinova, K.: 4 Rhapsodies Kristina Marinova

• Ernõ Dohnyáni (1877 - 1960): Four Rhapsodies Op. 11:
• 1 Dohnyáni: Four Rhapsodies Op. 11: I. Allegro non troppo, ma agitato 09:57
• 2 Dohnyáni: Four Rhapsodies Op. 11: Ii. Adagio capriccioso 06:42
• 3 Dohnyáni: Four Rhapsodies Op. 11: Iii. Vivace 05:33
• 4 Dohnyáni: Four Rhapsodies Op. 11: Iv. Andante lugubre 07:23
• Astor Piazzolla (1921 - 1992):
• 5 Piazzolla: Tango Rhapsody (Adiós Nonino) 09:14
• Franz Liszt (1811 - 1886):
• 6 Liszt: Rhapsodie Espagnole (Spanish Rhapsody) 13:36
• George Gershwin (1898 - 1937):
• 7 Gershwin: Rhapsody in Blue 16:14
• Total Runtime 01:08:39

Info for Marinova, K.: 4 Rhapsodies

Collection of four of the finest works in the solo piano repertoire, the four rhapsodies present the highest range of technical demands, as well as contrasted moods, colours, and tonal progressions. Inspired by extroverted romantic notions, these pieces express spontaneous inspiration and bursts of improvisation. As a result, it is exceedingly rare to hear a live performance of the complete works.

Liszt’s Spanish Rhapsody requires a mastery of technical acumen and rapport with the piano. It is a brilliant interplay between drama, dance, and tender lyrical reflection. The dark and somber theme, La Follia de Espagna, sounds at the beginning of this work, after the rumbling arpeggiated introduction. It is a famous melody used by Corelli, Vivaldi, CPE Bach and Rachmaninoff. Conceived as a collection of four, Dohnanyi's rhapsodies have been rarely performed in concerts. Rich in beautiful colours and nuances, they are exceedingly demanding both technically and emotionally, requiring pianists to show drastic, rapid, and continuous metamorphosis in emotion and seamlessly recasting moods. George Gershwin originally titled the piece “American Rhapsody”changing it later to Rhapsody in Blue. “Blue” was slang for music unafraid to show its “ risqué “side Originally written for solo piano and jazz band, the composition is famous for synthesis of jazz and classical ideas. Argentinian composer, Astor Piazzolla, transformed the traditional tango into a new style called “ Tango Nuevo” incorporating jazz and classical elements, extended harmonies and dissonances, using plethora of non-traditional forms. Dedicated to his late father, Piazzolla developed a form ABABC, frequently found in his works. In the fast A sections he used tango rhythms, in the slow sections lyrical solos.

Kristina Marinova, piano

Kristina Marinova
has been described as a virtuoso pianist with an extreme energy and youthful vibrance. Her crystal clear and beautiful sound enhances her stormy expressions and performances, full of grace and style, all the while giving the opportunity to find the richest worlds of timbre and colors and while becoming one with the music.

Kristina is enjoying a multifaceted career as a concert pianist, collaborative pianist, music educator, lecturer, music director, conductor, and vocal coach. She is the President of WPTA Collaborative Piano ( World Piano Teachers Association) .

The pianist, recognized as one of the most accomplished citizens of Bulgaria, appeared in a concert series as part of the festival “Chamber Music Encounters” celebrating Plovdiv as the Capital of European Culture in 2019.

Kristina has appeared in major music festivals as a performer and educator and has collaborated with some of the most prominent musicians in the world. She has also been awarded numerous prizes and fellowships including the Virtuoso Etudes Piano Competition, German Compositions Piano Competition, Piano Solo Concerto Competition for the Bulgarian Symphony Orchestra, the Ohrid Summer Festival, UCA Piano Concerto Competition and UCA Piano Competition, and the Arts on Tour- Arts Council. As a soloist, she has performed in Europe and in the United States, sharing the stage with world renowned musicians such as Kristine Lewis, Monica Yunus, Weston Hurt, Cheryse McLeod Lewis, Andrea Dyachenko, and Tarn Travers. One of her most memorable experiences was performing the entire Goldberg Variations, BWV 988 by Johann Sebastian Bach.

Currently, Kristina is working on a new concert series in New York, several CD productions, a new music festival and numerous collaborative concerts. She has also been engaged with the creative direction and composition for the music for a documentary film about the first supermodels of Palmolive.

Kristina has served as the Music Director at the Chotard Institute of Music for the gifted youth and Assistant Director at Wildwood Park for the Performing Arts. For the past decade, she has worked as a full time faculty member at the UALR Music Department,where she served as a piano instructor, conductor, music director for the Opera theatre and the University Concert Choir.

At the university, Kristina has been involved with various creative, innovative artistic projects and community outreach. She was the founder of the Marinova Music Institute for gifted children and the Outreach Program for the Performing Arts at the UALR. At the program, she has presented numerous musical seminars at schools, hospitals, and retirement centers focusing on musical cognition: the Educational, the Healing, and the Inspirational power of music. She became the facilitator for the Artist Inc, the first professional training program for artists of all disciplines. Her students have been widely recognized and have won countless competitions and awards including acceptance into many of the top graduate music programs around the country and abroad. During her tenure she also served as the official pianist for the Metropolitan Opera National Council Auditions and the National Association of Teachers of Singing.

Kristina entered the world of art at the age of four. She was accepted to the National Academy of Music and Dance for Gifted Children “Dobrin Petkov” and went on to attend the National Conservatory of Music in Sofia, Burgaria. The pianist holds a Masters Degree in Piano Performance from the University of Michigan, where she was offered a full graduate fellowship and later was invited to specialize at the Keyboard Collaborative Arts Program at the University of Southern California(USC).

Kristina has worked with Alan Smith, Kevin Fitzgerald, Boris Romanov, Svetlana Kosseva , Iovcho Krushev, Viktor Chuchkov , Maestro Georgi Dimitrov, Aiko Onishi, Neil Rutman, Arthur Greene ,Martin Katz ,Edward Parmentier, Pablo Ziegler, and Gustavo Casenave.

This album contains no booklet.