Challenging Repertoire in Nassehi’s Piano Recital

Virtuoso pianist Fereydoon Nassehi will perform a piano recital on July 11, at the Niavaran Cultural Center in Tehran.

Nassehi will play a selection of pieces composed by German composer, pianist, organist and conductor Felix Mendelssohn (1809-1847); Polish composer and virtuoso pianist Frederic Chopin (1810-1849); and Catalan composer and pianist Isaac Albeniz (1883-1909) who is best known for his folk piano works, according to Tiwall (tiwall.com), a local website on art events.

From among Mendelssohn’s compositions, Nassehi will play Rondo Capriccioso, a piece said to have been finished in 1825, with later addition of the introductory andante section in 1830. The piece is still popular among pianists.

Nassehi has picked one of Chopin’s most popular works, Polonaise No 6. This polonaise, nicknamed ‘Heroic,’ was written during a happy period in Chopin’s life. It has a dramatic introduction followed by a defiant, heroic theme ending with triumphant chords.

Asturias, also known as Leyenda (legend) is the composition Nassehi has selected from among the works of Albeniz. It is a solo piano piece written in early 1890’s. Despite being called Asturias, which is a northern province in Spain, the piece has some distinctive traits of flamenco or gypsy music originated in Andalusia, a southern territory in the country.  

  4 Pieces by Liszt

And from among the proliferation of the pieces created by Hungarian composer, pianist and conductor Franz Liszt (1811-1886), Nassehi has four compositions to cover at his recital:

Rhapsodies No 2 and No 12 are his pick from the Hungarian rhapsodies. No 2 was written in 1847 and quickly became the most famous of the rhapsody series. By late 19th century, the technical challenges of the piano solo version of the rhapsody made it an unofficial proving ground for pianists.

The other rhapsody, the 12th, has a tragic introduction and a wistful melody which later gains a march-like vigor. The melody turns twice into brilliant cadenzas and rushes to the end.

Tarantella is another piece by Liszt included in the repertoire. It is a tough, challenging piece with fast upbeat tempo.

Finally with La Campanella, one of the most popular and characteristic of Liszt’s piano etudes, Nassehi will once again prove his mastery.  In 1838, Liszt completed a set of six piano pieces collectively entitled ‘Etudes of Transcendent Performing Difficulty, after Paganini.’ One of the six pieces, La Campanella demands violent torrents of chords unleashed.  

The piano recital starts at 9 pm. The event is hosted by Niavaran Cultural Center at the northern end of Pasdaran Street, across Niavaran Park. Tickets are available at the website of Tiwall.

Nassehi is the son of acclaimed composer and trombone player Hossein Nassehi (1925-1977). He is a graduate from Berlin University of Arts (Universitat der Kunste Berlin, UdK), Germany.