Jean-Nicolas Diatkine - Beethoven & Schumann: Piano Works (2021)

At the time he composed this sonata, Beethoven was already struggling intensely against the handicap of his deafness. After his attack of deep despondency, accompanied by the suicidal thoughts to which the famous “Heiligenstadt Testament” bears witness, his extraordinary vitality regained the upper hand. He then declared to one of his pupils: “I am not satisfied yet with my works; I wish to take a new path”. This renewed energy led first to his Sonata, Op. 53, dedicated to Count Ferdinand von Waldstein, then to the “Eroica” Symphony, Op. 55 and the “Appassionata” Sonata, Op. 57.

“Fantastic costumes”, Verlaine would have said. At a point where tears are never far from laughter, Schumann masks himself and by that very act, unmasks himself. Carnaval is mischievously subtitled “Scènes mignonnes sur quatre notes” (delightful scenes on four notes). This is a reference to the four letters A, S, C, H, which make up the name of the birthplace (Asch) of Ernestine von Fricken, his sweetheart of the moment. In German notation, these letters correspond to A-flat, C and B (As-C-H), or to A, E-flat, C and B (A-Es-C-H). This set of letter-notes can in fact be found in disguise in all the pieces, at the very heart of the musical text, except in “Sphinxes”, where Schumann declares them openly, three times.

Jean-Nicolas Diatkine comes from a family of recognized doctors and considers commitment to others to be the basis of his profession. It seemed impossible for him to do without this basic attitude in the exercise of his profession, which is why he always sees his artistic development as a return to the essential artistic values to which he has devoted himself over the last thirty years.

Tracklist
01. Piano Sonata No. 21 in C Major, Op. 53 "Waldstein": I. Allegro con brio
02. Piano Sonata No. 21 in C Major, Op. 53 "Waldstein": II. Introduzione. Adagio molto
03. Piano Sonata No. 21 in C Major, Op. 53 "Waldstein": III. Rondo. Allegretto moderato - Prestissimo
04. Carnaval, Op. 9: No. 1, Préambule
05. Carnaval, Op. 9: No. 2, Pierrot
06. Carnaval, Op. 9: No. 3, Arlequin
07. Carnaval, Op. 9: No. 4, Valse noble
08. Carnaval, Op. 9: No. 5, Eusebius
09. Carnaval, Op. 9: No. 6, Florestan
10. Carnaval, Op. 9: No. 7, Coquette
11. Carnaval, Op. 9: No. 8, Réplique
12. Carnaval, Op. 9: No. 9, Papillons
13. Carnaval, Op. 9: No. 10, Lettres dansantes
14. Carnaval, Op. 9: No. 11, Chiarina
15. Carnaval, Op. 9: No. 12, Chopin
16. Carnaval, Op. 9: No. 13, Estrella
17. Carnaval, Op. 9: No. 14, Reconnaissance
18. Carnaval, Op. 9: No. 15, Pantalon et Colombine
19. Carnaval, Op. 9: No. 16, Valse allemande
20. Carnaval, Op. 9: No. 17, Paganini
21. Carnaval, Op. 9: No. 18, Aveu
22. Carnaval, Op. 9: No. 19, Promenade
23. Carnaval, Op. 9: No. 20, Pause
24. Carnaval, Op. 9: No. 21, Marche des Davidsbündler contre les Philistins