Credits:

Valery Afanassiev

Description:

Live recording of Valery Afanasyev, one of the most gifted artists of our time, on his 2011 tour of Japan. The theme of this unprecedented program is “Funeral,” featuring Liszt and his surrounding composers (before and after Liszt), with a funeral march in the second half. (The content of the program is related to the Great East Japan Earthquake that occurred in March of the same year, but the program had been decided even before the earthquake.) Although some of the pieces in the program have been recorded in the studio (session) in the past, the performance this time reflects the Afanasyev style of recent years, and many fans will be surprised at the transformation of the music. The rhythms are carved relentlessly with a kind of harshness. This is a valuable record of Afanasyev’s position as of 2011. This recital is a hall of mirrors. Even the funeral marches echo each other. Hence, ther