The Messenger

For her latest studio album, Hélène travels to Salzburg where she creates a fascinating juxtaposition between the eternal W.A. Mozart and the Ukrainian composer Valentin Silvestrov (b. 1937). Hélène has long had a passion for Silvestrov's music, which some call post-modernist or even neoclassical. 'Like Arvo Pärt, Silvestrov's music is harmonic, which far from being a weakness, is an enlightenment in its own right and very powerful in its simplicity', says Hélène. The composer's own words hint at why this is for her so intriguing: 'I do not write new music. My music is a response to and an echo of what already exists'. In selecting the music for this album, Hélène has carefully chosen music by Mozart that fits into an overall dramaturgy: from Mozart's famous unfinished D minor Fantasy, Helene transitions seamlessly into the great D minor concerto K. 466 - one of the most popular amongst Mozart's 27 concertos (and one of only two in a minor key). The C minor Fantasy here signals 'the end of Mozart' and a new beginning.

1. Fantasia in D Minor, K397 - Hélène Grimaud
2. I. Allegro
3. II. Romance
4. III. Rondo: Allegro Assai
5. Fantasia in C Minor, K475 - Hélène Grimaud
6. The Messenger (For Piano and Strings)
7. Wedding Waltz
8. Postlude
9. Morning Serenade
10. The Messenger (For Piano Solo) - Hélène Grimaud