In this project, the narrative of the music is brought to life through the captivating visual storytelling of sand art animation. In Pictures at an Exhibition by Mussorgsky, each of the suite’s ten vivid movements depicts a specific artwork by Russian artist Viktor Hartmann; while Ravel’s Gaspard de la Nuit is inspired by the poetry of Aloysius Bertrand. The references to the paintings and the narrative of the poems constitute the basis for a live sand art performance. Erica Abelardo manipulates sand, evolving the artwork in real time, complementing the virtuoso performance of pianist Jacopo Petrucci.
Programme
Maurice Ravel Gaspar de la Nuit (1908)
I Ondine
II Le Gibet
III Scarbo
Modest Mussorgsky Pictures at an Exhibition (1874)
I Promenade
II Gnomus (Gnome)
III Promenade
IV The Old Castle
V Promenade
VI Tuileries (Children Quarrelling after Games)
VII Bydlo
VIII Promenade
IX Ballet of the Unhatched Chicks
X “Samuel” Goldenberg and “Schmuÿle” (Two Jews, Rich and Poor)
XI Promenade
XII The Marketplace at Limoges
XIII Catacombs (Sepulcrum romanum)
XIV Cum mortuis in lingua mortua
XV The Hut on Fowl’s Legs (Baba-Yaga)
XVI The Great Gate of Kiev
Credits
Jacopo Petrucci - piano
Erica Abelardo - sand art
Programme Notes
GASPARD DE LA NUIT (1908) - Maurice Favel
Gaspard de la Nuit is a three-movement piano suite composed by Maurice Ravel in 1908 and premiered in Paris in 1909. Inspired by Aloysius Bertrand's collection of poems, it is renowned for its technical challenges and poetic imagery. The first movement, Ondine, tells the tale of a water nymph who attempts to lure a man into the depths of a lake. Ravel evokes the shimmering water through intricate arpeggios and tremolos, creating a dreamy and seductive atmosphere. The second movement, Le Gibet, is a haunting portrayal of a corpse hanging from the gallows, with a mournful bell tolling in the distance. Ravel achieves this eerie scene with a repetitive B-flat ostinato and sparse harmonies. The final movement, Scarbo, depicts a mischievous goblin flitting about in the darkness. It is renowned for its technical challenges, including rapid passagework and complex rhythms, making it one of the most difficult pieces in the piano repertoire. Ravel's ambition was to convey the poet's words through music, creating a masterpiece that continues to challenge and inspire pianists worldwide.
PICTURES AT AN EXHIBITION (1874) - Modest Mussorgsky
Pictures at an Exhibition is a landmark suite for solo piano, composed by Russian composer Modest Mussorgsky in 1874. The work was inspired by a memorial art exhibition of his friend Viktor Hartmann’s paintings and drawings, and each of the suite’s ten vivid movements depicts a specific artwork by Hartmann. Between these movements, a recurring Promenade theme represents the composer walking between the images, providing musical commentary on his changing mood and reflections. The suite’s character pieces range from the grotesque Gnomus, the bustling Market at Limoges, to the grandiose Great Gate of Kiev, each marked by striking contrasts in rhythm, texture, and harmony. Mussorgsky’s writing is rich with Russian folk colour, rhythmic irregularity and expressive harmonies, giving the suite a bold, sometimes raw originality that was ahead of its time.
Biographies
Jacopo Petrucci – piano
Jacopo Petrucci is a rising Italian pianist specialising in 20th and 21st-century repertoire. He studied at the Conservatorio "A. Casella," Scuola di Musica di Fiesole and the Accademia Nazionale di Santa Cecilia, establishing himself as a soloist and chamber musician. He has collaborated with ensembles like Ensemble Novecento and PMCE and performed at notable venues such as the "B. Cristofori" International Piano Festival and Accademia Filarmonica Romana. In the 2024-25 season, Petrucci will tour internationally with the performance Dancing Glass, visiting Italy, Estonia, and China. He has participated in masterclasses with Pierre-Laurent Aimard and attended lessons at the Mozarteum in Salzburg and the Krzysztof Penderecki Academy in Krakow.
Erica Abelardo - sand art
Erica Abelardo is an Italian visual and sand artist from Abruzzo. Since 2011 she has been performing live Sand Art shows, creating intricate illustrations with sand on a light table that evolve in real time - blending visual art, storytelling and stage performance. Recognised as one of Italy’s leading Sand Art artists, she performs at festivals, theatres and institutional and corporate events both nationally and internationally. With a background in graphic design, photography and fashion Erica combines traditional and digital techniques to produce videos, commercials and multimedia works. Her work fuses craftsmanship with new media, transforming sand into a powerful medium for emotional and immersive storytelling. In collaboration with Malta Society of Arts
