In a detailed conversation with the trio Bel Suono and the group's producer Leyla Fattakhova, we found out why no other group in the world plays on three grand pianos simultaneously, how the musicians choose their repertoire, and who came up with the idea for the project.
We are the only ensemble in the world that plays three pianos simultaneously. Furthermore, everything we perform is arranged in our own unique way. The genre we work in is called classical crossover. It's a relatively new, yet very progressive genre. It allows us to blend classical themes with modern technology and vice versa.
We are the only ensemble in the world that plays on three grand pianos simultaneously. Moreover, everything we perform is presented in our own unique arrangements. The genre we work in is called classical crossover. It's a relatively young but very progressive genre. It allows us to mix classical themes with modern technologies and vice versa.
This name was chosen for a reason. It's Italian, and Italian, as we know, is the language of music – one of the most beautiful and melodic languages in the world. You can simply listen to it and enjoy it, and you don't necessarily have to understand it. But when I was coming up with a name for the future group, I knew clearly what it should mean. Bel means beautiful, Suono means sound. These two words, it seems to me, fully reflect the essence of our group.
The main criterion for choosing music is its popularity. We try to select pieces that someone else besides us knows. This applies both to classical music, which is the core of our repertoire, and to contemporary compositions. And, of course, it's equally important that we like this music!
Of course! Over the years, we've accumulated quite a few original pieces in our repertoire. On the new album Universe, which was released just recently, all three of us managed to contribute.
We are a team, and a very close-knit one. Everyone can always count on the support of their colleagues if something suddenly goes wrong. That's a plus.
And also, we think it's very interesting for the audience to watch how we interact on stage. Three people create a more vibrant spectacle on stage than one.
Among the cons — it takes much more time for preparation and rehearsals, as ensemble work requires special effort. And, of course, you have to share the success three ways!
Sergei Vasilyevich Rachmaninoff.
Rachmaninoff
Scriabin
Welcome! Many amazing discoveries await you.
Our music suits everyone. You don't need a conservatory education to understand it. On the contrary, we want classical music to be accessible and understandable to a wide audience. That's why we make transcriptions and write interesting contemporary arrangements.
But there is a "side effect" — you might want to play the piano, and you'll have to buy an instrument.
On October 7th, we have a solo concert at Crocus City Hall! We'll present our new program, "The Universe of Bel Suono," and then go on a big tour.
We think this will be our best show. The most immersed in art, the most thoughtful, the most personal, and at the same time the most epic. The content of the concert matches the title — we will give the audience a whole Universe of music from different eras, genres, and formats in our unique sound! But we won't reveal all the secrets. It's better to see and hear it for yourselves.
