The album “Fenetre sur le jardin” (Windows on to the Garden) is a special project from pianist Ksenia Kouzmenko, comprising Czech music for piano solo. Together with famous names such as Josef Suk, Bohuslav Martinu and Leos Janacek, there are two world premiere pieces on this album by Jaroslav Kvapil and Miloslav Kabelac.

Jaroslav Kvapil has been almost completely forgotten, but he was one of Janacek’s most talented pupils. As a pianist, composer, pedagogue and conductor, he was a very important figure in Czech musical life in the first part of the 20th century. His beautiful cycle “Through the Valley of Grief and Sorrow” consists of 9 pieces. They can best be described as short mood pictures. Psychological miniatures which always shine through another musical form - a song, dances, folk music, nature images - but above all it is a glance into the inner world of a human being.

Miloslav Kabelac was the chief editor of Czech Radio for decennia. He was a pioneer in the field of electronic music and did much research on non-European music. In addition, he conducted regularly, and taught composition at the Prague Conservatory.

The publishing house Barenreiter Praag proclaimed 2018 as the year of Kabelac. The “Short Pieces” of Miloslav Kabelac were written at different moments in his life. The first piece dates from 1946 while the most recent was written in 1961. The pieces form sort of micro-worlds. Time and again he succeeds in creating a hypnotic atmosphere with very few resources.

To complete the album, the well-known “Love Song” by Josef Suk, the lyrical cycle “Fenetre sur le jardin” by Bohuslav Martinu and one of Leos Janacek’s most loved works, “In the Mists” are included. Enchanting music, which goes directly to the heart.

Ksenia Kouzmenko is internationally renowned for her sensitive and technically accomplished piano playing and is in great demand as a partner in chamber music. She recently discovered the joy of playing on an Erard grand piano, with its inspiring sound possibilities.