Ophelia Gordon - Kapustin: Between the Lines (2025) [Hi-Res]

Tracklist

01. Big Band Sounds, Op. 46
02. 24 Jazz Preludes, Op. 53: No. 4, Allegretto
03. 24 Jazz Preludes, Op. 53: No. 5, Largo
04. 24 Jazz Preludes, Op. 53: No. 11, Andante
05. 24 Jazz Preludes, Op. 53: No. 16, Andantino
06. 24 Jazz Preludes, Op. 53: No. 17, Allegretto
07. 24 Jazz Preludes, Op. 53: No. 18, Animato
08. 24 Jazz Preludes, Op. 53: No. 19, Vivace
09. 24 Jazz Preludes, Op. 53: No. 23, Moderato
10. Contemplation, Op. 47
11. Paraphrase on Aquarela do Brasil, Op. 118
12. 8 Concert Etudes, Op. 40: No. 1, Prelude
13. 8 Concert Etudes, Op. 40: No. 2, Reverie
14. 8 Concert Etudes, Op. 40: No. 3, Toccatina
15. 8 Concert Etudes, Op. 40: No. 4, Remembrance
16. 8 Concert Etudes, Op. 40: No. 5, Raillery
17. 8 Concert Etudes, Op. 40: No. 6, Pastorale
18. 8 Concert Etudes, Op. 40: No. 7, Intermezzo
19. 8 Concert Etudes, Op. 40: No. 8, Finale
20. Paraphrase on Dizzy Gillespie's Manteca, Op. 129

British pianist Ophelia Gordon makes a striking debut with this album of works by Nikolai Kapustin, the Soviet composer whose music fuses the harmonic language and rhythmic drive of jazz with the formal precision of classical composition. Though Kapustin’s music sounds improvised, every note is meticulously written – jazz in spirit, but classical in structure.

Gordon brings rare authenticity to this repertoire, having tracked down long out-of-print vinyl recordings of Kapustin’s own performances in a personal search for the composer’s true voice. The programme is carefully curated to offer a compelling listening arc, capturing Kapustin’s wit, lyricism, and fire with both intimacy and flair.

Recorded on a characterful 1961 Steinway D, the album’s sound is warm, immediate, and rich in detail – engineered with a microphone setup designed to balance the immediacy of a jazz trio with the depth and clarity of classical solo piano.

This release marks two milestones: the first full Kapustin album by a British female pianist, and the first classical album by a BRIT School alum. With a growing reputation for fearless artistry and cross-genre fluency, Gordon offers a vital new perspective on one of the most original piano voices of the 20th century.

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