Steven Osborne

‘Osborne is a true virtuoso, his intellect and love for the art form shines sincerely throughout his music-making.’

– The Advertiser

The celebrated Scottish pianist returns to Australia for the first time since 2018. His ability to bring the micro and macro structures of music into focus lends his playing a fractal quality: no matter how closely you listen – or how zoomed out – the notes and works create enthralling patterns. Famed for definitive performances of music from Debussy to Kapustin, Steven’s playing is kaleidoscopic in its range of colours and textures. For us he delivers a program of picturesque and episodic works from Schumann, Debussy, and Mussorgsky.

Robert Schumann (1810–1856)
Arabeske in C, Op. 18 (7′)

Claude Debussy (1862–1918)
Selections from Children’s Corner, L. 113 (5′)
Deux Arabesques, L. 66 (7′)

Robert Schumann (1810–1856)
Kinderszenen, Op. 15 (17′30″)

I. Von fremden Ländern und Menschen (Of Foreign Lands and Peoples)
II. Curiose Geschichte (A Curious Story)
III. Hasche-Mann (Blind Man's Buff)
IV. Bittendes Kind (Pleading Child)
V. Glückes genug (Quite Happy)
VI. Wichtige Bebebenheit (An Important Event)
VII. Träumerei (Dreaming)
VIII. Am Camin (At the Fireside)
IX. Ritter vom Steckenpferd (Knight of the Hobby-Horse)
X. Fast zu ernst (Almost too Serious)
XI. Fürchtenmachen (Frightening)
XII. Kind im Einschlummern (Child Falling Asleep)
XIII. Der Dichter spricht (The Poet Speaks)

INTERVAL

Modest Mussorgsky (1839–1881)
Pictures at an Exhibition (35′)

Promenade
I. Gnomus – The Gnome
Promenade
II. Il Vecchio Castello – The Old Castle
Promenade
III. Tuileries (Dispute d'enfants après jeux) – Tuileries (Children's Quarrel after Games)
IV. Bydło – Cattle
Promenade
V. Балет невылупившихся птенцов – Ballet of the Unhatched Chicks
VI. "Samuel" Goldenberg und "Schmuÿle" – "Samuel" Goldenberg and "Schmuÿle"
Promenade
VII. Limoges. Le marché (La grande nouvelle) – Limoges. The Market (The Great News)
VIII. Catacombæ (Sepulcrum romanum) Cum mortuis in lingua mortua – Catacombs (Roman Tomb) With the Dead in a Dead Language
IX. Избушка на курьих ножках (Баба-Яга) – The Hut on Hen's Legs (Baba Yaga)
X. Богатырские ворота (В стольном городе во Киеве) – The Great Gate of Kiev