Nikolai Kapustin ： Ballade Op.94

Kapustin’s Ballade Op.94 is a work for solo piano rooted in classical language while incorporating the rhythmic feel and harmonic sensibility of jazz. Songful, expansive melodies alternate with light, propulsive motion, guiding the music through changing moods—from quiet lyricism and mounting tension to brilliant passages. One of its highlights is the writing, which brings the melody to the fore while maintaining clarity in the inner voices and the intricate rhythms of the accompaniment. In performance, it is important to feel the elasticity of the beat and the placement of accents, shaping the contrast between scenes without losing the overall flow. Even in technically demanding passages, the music becomes more compelling when played without force, with evenness of tone and a sense of improvisatory freedom.