[Music] Nikolai Kapustin - Classical? or Jazz?

Here, I wish to present Nikolai Kapustin, my most respected musician.


He was born in Ukraine, in 1937, and graduated from Moscow Conservatory in1961. His musical training was classical, with a good exposure to the Russianvirtuoso piano repertoire. During his teen years, Jazz became a big influence,and has remained so throughout his career. From the late 1950s he immersedhimself in the Russian jazz world, Later,he toured with the Oleg Lundstrem JazzOrchestra throughout the Soviet Union. He still lives in reclusivedomesticity in Moscow with his wife, devoting his time to composition andrecording. The music of Nikolai Kapustin has made a minor flurry in theclassical music world in recent years, largely through the Hyperion CD ofhis piano music by Steven Osborne issued in 2000, and through the championing ofhis music by pianists Marc-André Hamelin and Nikolai Petrov. (more information, see http://www.nikolaikapustin.net)

I can't express his outstanding works with
writing, without music. Click this!

N. Kapustin - Toccatina Op36

His the most characteristic is based on his style. Jazz? or Classical?. Very crossover. People usually listen his music as Jazz and his music is what only jazz pianism can. But the classical musician hears only the wealth of jazz idioms. In fact, his work had written down in all subtlety and rhythmic idioms. Perhaps it was sufficient reason to dissociate Kapustin from the mainstream of both side. However, his music be composed by the experience of jazz performing and improvising, and at the same time by a solid classical training. Eventually, 1990's he rose a step in a person s opinion with Osborne and Hamelin's playings.

In three playing (by
Kapustin, Osborn, Hamelin) I've listened, I prefer Hamelin's playing. His works
are so gorgerous! more soft and elegant compare with Kapustin's play. That's
just like him (Hamelin) a.k.a super virtouso in recent classic forum.

Toccatina played by me

I've tried playing his
music before. Really hard work... Took 1 month for this rubbish playing;;