Franz Schubert’s Impromptu in C minor starts with a lone G perfect octave, which in its simplicity is one of the most ingenious beginnings in music history. It invites the listener to discern one single tone and listen to it fade into silence. It has a power to empty your mind and create a space for the following delicate single-toned melody to fill. The octave interval in the intro is a curtain between the real world and a musical fantasy world. It’s a gateway into the music of Schubert. That simple interval encompasses all the melancholy and depth that reaches beyond everyday life [no comma] and gives this piece its range of expression.

Risto-Matti Marin is one of the foremost pianists in Finland. In addition to his internationally acclaimed solo piano discs, he also has recorded six chamber music discs. He has also made a number of recordings for the Finnish Broadcasting Company (YLE). Marin completed his doctoral degree in 2010 at the Sibelius Academy, and the following year he was awarded a three-year grant from the Finnish Cultural Foundation. In 2015 Marin was awarded a five-year grant from the Arts Promotion Centre Finland. In addition to his work as a solo pianist and chamber musician, Marin gives lectures on piano music and teaches masterclasses in Finland and abroad.