Gergiev Festival - Images of September 2003 in Rotterdam
Serge Prokofiev, the Russian composer who recorded for the Duo-Art, died fifty years ago, in 1953.
In September, the Pianola Institute's new Duo-Art push-up was in Rotterdam for the 2003
Gergiev Festival presented by the Rotterdam Philharmonic Orchestra. On the first night, it
provided musical illustrations for the opening talk, given by Harlow Robinson, the
international expert on Prokofiev, and Professor of Modern Languages and History at
Northeastern University.
Scheherezade weaves her magic spell at De Doelen in Rotterdam, as Prokofiev plays on Duo-Art roll.
On every other day, Prokofiev and other historic Russian pianists and composers performed
on Duo-Art rolls for an hour or so before the start of the evening's concert, and music by
Prokofiev and others was played at a normal 88-note Pianola by Rex Lawson and Denis Hall.
Rotterdam concertgoers discovering the foot-operated Pianola with the help of Rex Lawson.
One particularly pleasing aspect of the Pianola Institute's visit was that Prokofiev's
son and grandson, who live in Paris, were able to hear the performances of their own father
and grandfather.
Sviatoslav Prokofiev and Serge Prokofiev, listening with Denis Hall to Prokofiev as he played in 1919.
We are very grateful to Henriette Straub, who helped to organise the 2003 Gergiev
Festival, and who was responsible for inviting the Pianola Institute to take part.
Denis Hall and Henriette Straub enjoy the afterglow of Prokofiev in Rotterdam.
|