Pianist Andrea Botticelli’s debut album: “A Voice from the Distance”

Ms. Botticelli’s album marks a number of “firsts”: the first commercial recording on the Graf fortepiano owned by the Banff Centre for Arts and Creativity in Canada, the premiere recording of Robert Schumann’s Novellette in F-sharp minor, Op. 21 No. 8, on fortepiano, Ms. Botticelli’s debut album and the first on her home-grown label, Céleste Music, and, quite possibly the first solo fortepiano album recorded by a Canadian artist. In addition to the Novellette, the album highlights many works – both classics and lesser known gems – from the Romantic period that are rarely performed on a historic instrument.

“The registration and sound of the fortepiano add a clarity to the repertoire and a distinct character to musical themes written in different parts of the keyboard. For instance, in Variations on a Theme by Rode, Czerny highlights the transparent, sparkling upper register of the instrument by writing extended passages of virtuosity and brilliance.” – from Andrea Botticelli’s Insider Interview

The Graf was built by Rodney Regier in 2014, and is a replica of a typical Viennese fortepiano from the 1830’s.

The title of the album, “A Voice From the Distance” refers to an indication written in the score of the Novellette, by Robert Schumann, and also alludes to the sound of the fortepiano evoking a faraway musical past.

Contact ClassicalCommunications@gmail.com to request a physical CD or digital copy of this recording.

TRACKS

ROBERT SCHUMANN

[11] Papillons, Op. 2 Introduzione. Moderato

[12] Papillons, Op. 2 I. Waltz

[13] Papillons, Op. 2 II. Waltz-Prestissimo

[14] Papillons, Op. 2 III. Waltz

[15] Papillons, Op. 2 IV. Waltz-Presto

[16] Papillons, Op. 2 V. Polonaise

[17] Papillons, Op. 2 VI. Waltz

[18] Papillons, Op. 2 VII. Waltz-Semplice

[19] Papillons, Op. 2 VIII. Waltz

[20] Papillons, Op. 2 IX. Waltz-Prestissimo

[21] Papillons, Op. 2 X. Waltz-Vivo-Più lento

[22] Papillons, Op. 2 XI. Polonaise

[23] Papillons, Op. 2 XII. Finale

CLARA SCHUMANN

[24] Soirées musicales, Op. 6 II. Notturno

ROBERT SCHUMANN

[25] Novelletten, Op. 21 VIII. Sehr Lebhaft

Celebrated for launching a “Fortepiano Renaissance” (The WholeNote), Canadian pianist Andrea Botticelli combines captivating artistic sensibility with insightful historical research. She has received numerous awards and grants as an emerging artist from the Banff Centre for the Arts and Creativity, Canada Council for the Arts, Early Music America, National Music Centre, Ontario Arts Council, Stingray Music, and the Wirth Institute for Austrian and Central European Studies. Andrea has recently presented concerts across Canada performing on fortepiano models from the early 18th to late 19th centuries, introducing performance on historical instruments and historically informed methods to new audiences. She performs a wide range of repertoire and keyboard instruments from the fortepiano, clavichord, and harpsichord to the modern piano. Andrea’s ability to revive and breathe new life into historical practices and to coax the expressive voice from each different instrument results in performances with a unique sound and an individual expressive style. She is a noted researcher on Beethoven and 19th century performance practices and instruments.