Hatzis's Through A Glass Darkly is a dramatic and intricate work for solo piano that plays with the idea of aging and failing memory. Wrong harmonic turns at the end of phrases, memory slips, starting a new phrase in the wrong key and then adjusting afterwards; all of these harmonic dysfunctions intensify as the work progresses. Jagged juxtapositions of twelve-tone rows, minimalist fragments, and Liszt-like statements of the main theme all intertwine, making it particularly intriguing.
Born in Greece, educated in the United States and a Canadian citizen since 1985, composer Christos Hatzis (b.1953) is becoming widely known as a leading figure in contemporary classical music. His works are performed and broadcast throughout the world, and their frequent combination of a powerful spiritual foundation with an immediately accessible appeal has made a deep emotional impact upon audiences and performers alike.
