Programme notes:

The phrase ¿lo Mismo? used as title Ivo Nilsson’s piece for two pianos dated 1996 is a common phrase in Spanish bars meaning something like ‘the same?’ or ‘another?’ But the question can also be applied to the musical content of the three-movement piece as the two grand pianos assert their own identity in the various long restatements, exchanging voices or gradually glide apart. The entire first, furious and rhythmical part has a recitative character moving into a free, very soft part with a sparse, quasi unisono that gradually leads to a type of very rhythmical parentheses. The last movement seems to be played on two different, rhythmical levels in a seeming zigzag. The distinctive character of the piece consists of the difference between direct and indirect sonority, achieved by having both grand pianos play with open tops allowing the sound to be reflected in many different directions. Rolf Haglund (from PSCD 106) Translation: Sven Borei