Barbara Hannigan & Reinbert de Leeuw - Erik Satie's Socrate 2016

Erik Satie’s 150th birthday on May 17, 2016 is a perfect opportunity to rediscover the works of this original and unique composer who was a friend of Pablo Picasso, Georges Braque, Léonide Massine, Man Ray, and a close friend of Jean Cocteau, all important figures of the avant-garde movement in Paris so beautifully captured by Woody Allen’s award-winning film Midnight in Paris.

For this Satie celebration year, Barbara Hannigan and pianist Reinbert de Leeuw recorded a selection of Erik Satie’s works on the Winter & Winter label. Socrate is the central focus of the album, heard alongside Trois Mélodies from 1886, Trois Autres Mélodies from 1886–1906, and Hymne from 1891.

In January 2016, Winter & Winter released Hannigan’s critically-acclaimed, Billboard-charting album let me tell you, composed by Hans Abrahamsen. She is world-renowned for her superb virtuosity and inspired artistry, having earned the highest praise from audiences and critics alike. Reinbert de Leeuw is a renowned interpreter of Erik Satie’s music, known for his unique tempi and timeless sounds. It seems like Erik Satie has written his songs specifically for these two artists!

Erik Satie’s life was full of tribulation, and he struggled with financial worries and health problems. In 1925, he died from prolonged alcohol abuse. But his music lives on, and with this stunning new release Barbara Hannigan and Reinbert de Leeuw allowing us experience the spirit of Erik Satie once again. barbarahannigan.com.

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