Einar Røttingen - Avgarde (2000)

Einar Røttingen (b. 1963) is about to establish himself as one of our foremost practitioners in the modern piano language. He worked closely with Harald Sæverud, and his interpretations of Sæverud's piano compositions, released on 3 CDs in connection with the 100 year mark of Sæverud's birth, were received with interest and enthusiasm. The same year, the Röttingen received the "Robert Levins Festival Award" for this work. Currently, Røttingen teaches at the Grieg Academy in Bergen.

At Avgarde, Røttingen makes a selection of contemporary Norwegian compositions for piano, and documents many years of collaboration with five composers who each in their own way relate to the possibilities and limitations of the instrument.

The title Avgarde can be interpreted as signifying a breakup, a journey, a change. On the way, maybe, not so much towards something as from something.
AV - (prep.) Denotes movement or something that has gotten something separate.
GARDE - a group of people, the old herd, the old within the herd or a society.
AVGARDE - get away.