Join pianist Inna Faliks on a dangerous journey from today to 1908 as she gives world premiere performances of Old Ground by Timo Andres and Pursuit by Billy Childs inspired by the towering genius of Ravel’s Gaspard de la Nuit. Commissioned by Faliks, these works transport Ravel’s Le Gibet and Scarbo to the American South of 1908, when Ravel was inspired by the grandfather of surrealist poetry. Ravel’s trial-by-fire masterpiece also inspired Messiaen’s surreal Visions de l’Amen for two pianos, premiered in occupied Paris in an art gallery. A heaven-storming paean to love on a cosmic scale, it was performed by the composer and his student Yvonne Loriod, who would eventually become his wife. The cultural who’s who were there by word of mouth. The response was ecstatic, though controversy arose over the vivid Christian imagery in the composer’s commentaries describing the seven visions. Regardless, the work has been embraced by Christians and non-Christians alike. Pianists Steven Vanhauwaert and Loriod student Mark Robson will take you there.