Daniel Toderas

This concert is dedicated to some of the most intricate works by French composers, starting with “Estampes” and “Images” book II by Debussy and finishing with César Franck’s Prélude, Choral et Fugue, showcasing Franck's ability to create a sense of organic growth from initial ideas.

Daniel Toderas is a 24-year old pianist who is a recent graduate from the prestigious Guildhall School of Music and Drama. He was born in Romania and moved to Scotland in 2014 where he studied piano with Peter Evans at the Aberdeen City Music School. He has won a number of prizes in international competitions and he had his debut solo recital in France in the summer of 2021.

Programme

Debussy – Estampes (1903) 

A three-part musical journey: 

• Pagodes: Evokes Asian music with pentatonic scales and gamelan-inspired textures.
• La Soirée dans Grenade: Spanish flair through habanera rhythms and folk motifs.
• Jardins sous la pluie: A lively toccata portraying a rainy garden, quoting French folk songs. 

Debussy – Images, Set II 

• Cloches à travers les feuilles: Bell-like tones and gamelan echoes, built on whole-tone scales.
• Et la lune descend sur le temple qui fut: Symbolist-inspired, mystical and fragmented.
• Poissons d’or: Inspired by Japanese lacquer art, this piece captures the shimmering, darting motion of goldfish. 

Franck – Prélude, Choral et Fugue 

A richly structured solo piano work: 

• Prelude: B minor, lyrical and rhythmic contrasts.
• Chorale: E-flat major, solemn and mystical.
• Fugue: Returns to B minor, weaving themes from earlier sections into a triumphant B major conclusion.