Underwater: Tribute to Ludovico Einaudi

A unique concert on April 5th will take place at 7 pm in one of the first concert halls in Europe — the historic Holywell Music Room in Oxford.

Ludovico Einaudi is a genius of neo-classical music, with each album receiving worldwide acclaim. The life-affirming and poignant melodies of the Italian composer can be heard in iconic films such as ’The Intouchables,’ the Oscar-winning triumph ’The Nomadland,’ Darren Aronofsky’s ’Black Swan,’ and Xavier Dolan’s ’Mommy.’

The renowned Italian composer released the album ’Underwater’ in January 2022. This is his first solo project in 20 years, gradually taking shape during the 2020 lockdown.

Every day, Ludovico sat down at the piano, and ideas emerged spontaneously, as if from an external source. Over months of improvisation, he noticed that he would compose a melody or motif every four to five days—a sketch that would later take its final form. Einaudi reflected on life in isolation as a parallel dimension during the process.

According to the composer, the new material seemed to write itself:

«Everything happened naturally like never before. I felt a sense of freedom, discarded the rules, and the music flowed differently. There was no filter between me and the piano sounds; everything was genuine. The title ’Underwater’ is a metaphor for a fluid dimension unaffected by the external world.»

«When you swim underwater, silence feels different,» says Ludovico. «Sounds, and everything else, are perceived differently.»

The compositions of ’Underwater’ are filled with tranquillity, ranging from the innocent ’Luminous’ and the simple, song-like ’Temple White’ to the soft and reassuring ’Indian Yellow.’

«The music seemed to come from another tranquil world that I enjoyed very much,» shares Einaudi. «Usually, there isn’t enough time to truly relax and enjoy life. But during self-isolation, I was able to experiment to the fullest.»

The ethereal atmosphere of ’Underwater’ is mainly due to its subdued sound. The composer achieved this by covering each hammer of the Steinway piano with an additional layer of felt.

*Important! Ludovico Einaudi is not taking part in this concert

Duration: 60 minutes (doors will open 30 mins prior to the scheduled start time and late entry is not permitted)