For Frederic Rzewski’s 80th birthday, Stephane Ginsburgh revisits three masterpieces for speaking pianist based on meaningful and politically engaged texts.

In his monumental monodrama De Profundis (1992), Rzewski explores Oscar Wilde’s poignant break-up letter written while imprisoned in Reading Jail.

A rarely heard solo version of the ultra famous Coming Together (1971). This repetitive-iterative piece is based on one of Sam Melville’s letters written while imprisoned at Attica New York where he was killed during the 1971 riots.

Finally, Dear Diary (2014), a cycle of five pieces composed for Stephane Ginsburgh on the composer’s texts, where he deals with subjects like capitalism, school and solitude.