Murail’s music belongs to the French tradition of Debussy, Ravel and Messiaen. However it also revitalises the piano for the modern day in a way that is exploratory and startling. His music is not for the piano, it is about the piano, requiring delicacy, spontaneity and an enormous level of skill, such as that displayed by Marilyn Nonken.
“While listening I am constantly possessed by an impression of something beyond the world, not conventionally religious, but spiritual. This is music to which I shall be happy to return. As for the performances you can rest assured that in Marilyn Nonken we are hearing a musician of outstanding qualities. It is evident that she knows, strongly characterises and loves this music. She has performed it and many other ’difficult’ contemporary works all over the world and is a pianist in whom we can trust. Her mastery of Murail’s sonorities and her virtuosity are truly remarkable and demand attention.”
Gary Higginson
