Fantasies

Fantasies for solo piano is in three contrasting movements. The dramatic first movement is metrically free, with virtuosic cadenzas. The second is a night piece, and beneath its gentle mood lie hints of strangeness. The third movement pits three very different materials against each other — rapid runs, thickly textured chords, and a short, quirky motif, which compete for territory. Fantasies was performed at the Moscow Autumn Music Festival and subsequently recorded by Elena Ivanina on North/South Recordings N/S R 1017. A stellar performance by the premier Armenian pianist Hayk Melikyan can be heard on YouTube.