For most, the notion of a Polish cello sonata conjures but one piece: Chopin's G minor Sonata, Op. 65. This is a shame because as this album clearly demonstrates, there has been a continuous procession of quality works for cello and piano to come from Polish composers since the time of Chopin. This CD showcases works written between 1895 and 1982. It opens with the Sonata in A major, Op. 18, of Zygmunt Stojowski; this is a lyrical, neo-Romantic work that was given its premiere by none other than Pablo Casals. The second ...
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For most, the notion of a Polish cello sonata conjures but one piece: Chopin's G minor Sonata, Op. 65. This is a shame because as this album clearly demonstrates, there has been a continuous procession of quality works for cello and piano to come from Polish composers since the time of Chopin. This CD showcases works written between 1895 and 1982. It opens with the Sonata in A major, Op. 18, of Zygmunt Stojowski; this is a lyrical, neo-Romantic work that was given its premiere by none other than Pablo Casals. The second sonata on the program moves listeners forward to 1930 with Alexandre Tansman's composition; another highly expressive and melodious work, this sonata may remind listeners of what Debussy may have written had he composed a second cello sonata. Witold Szalonek's association with Nadia Boulanger is evident in his 1958 sonata. Although certainly more abstract than the two works before it, it still has sections of extremely lyrical playing for both the cello and piano, especially in the...
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