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Indie Boulevard

An Australian pianist creates a temporal collage where Schubert meets contemporary minimalists, and the Romantic tradition gains unexpected relevance through the lens of the 21st century. 

The concept of a palimpsest – a manuscript where new text is superimposed over an erased older one -serves as an ideal metaphor for Rob Hao’s project. His new album, Palimpsest, is an instrumental piano album that blends a mix of different styles and eras, showcasing how music has evolved under the influence of time and cultural development. Palimpsest can be described as an exploration of how music from different generations can impact a listener. Take my word for it: Rob Hao’s work is truly admirable. I’d love to share my impressions right away, but to get a clear picture of what’s happening and understand who created such an unusual—I’d say, chronological—album, let’s first discuss the artist himself.

Rob Hao was born in Auckland and grew up in Sydney, where he began studying piano. Imagine what typically occupies the minds of sixteen-year-old teenagers—naturally, entertainment. Hao had his own priorities, and at sixteen, he had already given his first concert. Calling him merely talented would be a clear understatement. In his musical career, Rob Hao has reached significant heights and continues to delight audiences with his music, drawing inspiration from the most diverse sources. Hao can confidently be called a professional in his craft, and this is easily justified by the fact that he studied at the Royal College of Music in London—and that’s far from the last of his achievements. 

His Palimpsest combines works by various composers—both contemporary and those who have entered the history of music. It is truly a monumental work. The album consists of eleven compositions, with the centerpiece being Piano Sonata in F-Sharp Minor, D. 571. This piece serves as the completion of Schubert’s sonata. The work begins with a fragment of the original, after which Hao opens a path into his own musical world, with Schubert remaining a constant companion on this journey. While listening, I feel an airiness with a shade of hope and a slight melancholy hidden between the bars, in the amazingly soft harmonies that caress the hearing like a sudden cool wind caresses the skin on the first day of autumn.

I’d like to highlight two of Chopin’s nocturnes: Nocturnes, Op. 62, No. 1 in B Major and Op. 62, No. 2 in E Major. These are the longest compositions on the album. Their duration slightly exceeds eight minutes, during which Chopin’s nocturnes merge into a unified sound. The musician’s impeccable technique makes it possible to literally live through every note. Each build-up of the melody and its subsequent smooth decrease in intensity creates for me the feeling of the “breathing” of the sound, when on the inhale the melody opens, and on the exhale dissolves.

However, equally impressive was Piano Etudes No. 10, Orison II. The joy of hearing this composition during the listening experience is hard to overstate. I must admit that this miniature étude has won me over. I was left with a light, trembling feeling in my chest.

However, the mood and dynamics shift with 4 Impromptus, Op. 142, D. 935: in A-Flat Major. Allegretto. It initially lulls you with its unhurried sound but then reveals its strength through rhythm. English Country-Tunes: No. 2, Midsummer Morn—in this melody, the piano sounds envelop you with their lyrical resonance. English Country-Tunes: No. 7, My Bonny Boy—a composition distinguished by its steady sound and playing style. The album concludes with English Country-Tunes: No. 8, Come Beat the Drums and Sound the Fifes. Its most distinctive feature is the presence of percussion instruments and flute, along with a ringing performance.

The restraint present in the album, which does not allow it to deviate from traditional norms, is a strong side of the release. It allows one to enjoy the sound of classical compositions and to feel how they breathe anew through the interpretation given by Rob Hao. The static elements, especially in the middle section, create a meditative sound, allowing you to pause, let your mind go, and enjoy the hypnotic atmosphere of the music. I like this effect created by Rob Hao’s music. It allows one to lose themselves in the sound, to lose the sense of time, and thus merge with Rob Hao’s enchanting performance. It creates a new dimension of sound where there is no concept of time as we know it. There is only the piano, the soul of the compositions, and the source of energy.

Palimpsest demonstrates that contemporary music could exist solely because of the music of past years. It invariably serves as a source of inspiration and rethinking. This process is endless and is an inseparable part of creativity and music. In this symbiosis, music continues to live, gaining new features and being rethought through the souls of musicians. In Palimpsest, Rob Hao has created a real connection between the past, the present, and the future, thus creating timelessness. The compositions of the past come to life again, acquiring echoes of modernity. And in the future, new listeners will be able to hear Palimpsest and discover something truly beautiful for themselves. This chain of years, generations, and entire centuries lives thanks to such musicians as Rob Hao and will live forever in the hands of humanity. It is exactly this that elevates the album Palimpsest, equating it with true art, which remains in the memory for a long time.

After listening to Palimpsest, one is left with a feeling of inspiration touched by shades of melancholy and nostalgia. The thing is, Palimpsest possesses a very deep atmosphere. On one hand, the album is a reflection and gratitude toward what can no longer be returned. This is revealed in the sound and the form of the album. However, on the other hand, it is an attempt to give new life and to bring beloved compositions back into the world with a pinch of one’s own heart and soul. This is a very complex work that demands incredible effort from Rob Hao and boundless love for music. That is why Palimpsest can become an excellent beginning for those who are only starting to enjoy classical music, and for longtime listeners, it will bring a real miracle and pleasure that can only be experienced through listening to classical music. The main advice remains – listen, enjoy, and let Rob Hao’s music win you over.