Nov 2016
Judith Jáuregui immerses herself in the ecstasy of Scriabin with her new album
With X, Judith Jáuregui delves deep into the work of Russian composer Alexander Scriabin: a genius entrapped by delirium and ecstasy, one of arts’ most extravagant characters. To frame his figure, Jáuregui has chosen to include in the album works by one of Scriabin’s great inspirations, Frederic Chopin, and to reflect the mark that his visionary art left on the 20th century, specifically through the piano of the young Karol Szymanowski.
Scriabin wrote his famous Poem of Ecstasy between 1905 and 1908 when he was already steeped in the world of theosophy. Sonata no. 5, which is the starting point of X, is from that era and it links directly to the poem through a fragment included in the music sheet (“I call you to life, oh mysterious forces!” reads its first line). Together with this sonata, the Preludes Op. 15 and the Fantasy Op. 28 round off the works of Scriabin chosen for the album; and between these two we find Ballad no. 1 and Nocturne no. 20, Op. Posth. by Chopin, and the Preludes Op. 1 by Szymanowski.
This fourth album by the Spanish pianist, which is carefully related to her previous discography, has meant a second collaboration with Christopher Alder, one of the world’s most renowned producers and winner of ten Grammy Awards.
Recorded in the Beethoven Saal in Hannover (Germany), home to many historic recordings, it is published by Jáuregui's own record label, BerliMusic, and it enjoys support from the BBVA Foundation, which thereby fulfils its goals of launching top young performers and contributing to improve art and culture.