Bridge, Britten, Debussy: Cello Sonatas

by Truls Mork, Havard Gimse

Overview

The four works on this album are among the monuments of the cello-and-piano literature of the 20th century, and none is lacking for recordings (Frank Bridge's two-movement Cello Sonata is probably the least common, but it's hardly a rarity). They are, however, nicely knitted together on this Alpha release, and in a way that takes advantage of the performer's strengths. The cellist is Truls Mork, making a long-awaited return to chamber music, and it would be hard to imagine a cellist better suited to this project. He is a product of the Russian school, and his reading of Britten's Cello Sonata, Op. 65, written for Mstislav Rostropovich, is note-perfect, passionate, and drama-filled. The agonized Bridge sonata, written before and during World War I, connects both with the music of Britten, his student, and of Debussy, whose sonata was close to Bridge's in time and spirit, if not in musical language. Janacek's Pohadka ("Fairy Tale") of 1910 was written after the death of the composer's daughter and has overtones of tragedy, this time of a more personal kind. The entire program is deeply serious, filled with the kind of music that Mork does best, and he receives highly empathetic support from pianist Havard Gimse. A standout chamber music release. ~ James Manheim

Product Details

Release Date:	08/26/2022
Label:	Alpha
UPC:	3760014195600
Rank:	133819

Tracks

1. Cello Sonata in D Minor, H. 125~Allegro ben moderato
2. Cello Sonata in D Minor, H. 125~Adagio ma non troppo - Molto allegro agitato
3. Cello Sonata in D Minor, L.135~Prologue: Lent, sostenuto e molto risoluto
4. Cello Sonata in D Minor, L.135~S¿¿r¿¿nade: Mod¿¿r¿¿ment anim¿¿
5. Cello Sonata in D Minor, L.135~Final: Anim¿¿, l¿¿ger et nerveux
6. Poh¿¿dka~Con moto
7. Poh¿¿dka~Con moto
8. Poh¿¿dka~Allegro
9. Cello Sonata in C Major, Op. 65~Dialogo
10. Cello Sonata in C Major, Op. 65~Scherzo-Pizzicato
11. Cello Sonata in C Major, Op. 65~Elegia
12. Cello Sonata in C Major, Op. 65~Marcia
13. Cello Sonata in C Major, Op. 65~Moto Perpetuo

Album Credits

Performance Credits

Truls Mork   Primary Artist,Cello
Havard Gimse   Primary Artist,Piano
Didier Martin   Director

Technical Credits

Johs Boe   Cover Photo
Susanne Lowien   Liner Note Translation
Laurent Cantagrel   Liner Note Translation
Amelie Boccon-Gibod   Editorial Coordinator
Louise Burel   Producer
Aline Lugand-Gris Souris   Design,Artwork
Frank Bridge   Composer
Leos Janacek   Composer
Jorn Pedersen   Editing,Mastering,Photography,Recording Producer
Richard Bratby   Liner Notes
Claude Debussy   Composer
Benjamin Britten   Composer
Valerie Lagarde   Design,Artwork