1883 was a fruitful year for cello composition as Christoph Croisé’s new recording reveals. That year marked Edvard Grieg’s return to composition after a period of conducting the Bergen Philharmonic Orchestra, with the Sonata in A minor, his only work for cello and piano.

Also that year, Richard Strauss was writing for the same combination at the age of just 19, producing his Sonata in F. Gabriel Fauré embarked on a cello sonata in 1880; only the slow movement transpired and was published and premiered as the stand-alone piece Élégie in 1883.

Christoph’s regular performing partner, Oxana Shevchenko, joins him in this beautifully balanced recording of works for cello and piano.

RICHARD STRAUSS (1864–1949)
Cello Sonata, Op. 6
1. I. Allegro con brio (9:36)
2. II. Andante ma non troppo (8:41)
3. III. Finale – Allegro vivo (9:07)

EDVARD GRIEG (1843–1907)
Cello Sonata, Op. 36
4. I. Allegro agitato (9:22)
5. II. Andante molto tranquillo (5:59)
6. III. Allegro (12:57)

GABRIEL FAURÉ (1845–1924)
7. Élégie, Op. 24 (7:16)

The new recording opens on the Strauss work Cello Sonata, Op. 6, and the strident Allegro con brio leads the way, with the aching yearn within Andante ma non troppo and the ornate delicacy of Finale – Allegro vivo following and then we get given Grieg’s Cello Sonata, Op. 36, with it’s sternly sculptured Allegro agitato, it’s delicate Andante molto tranquillo, and then it’s dulcetly strained, at times, flourishing at others Allegro, closing the work, the recording as a whole culminating in the Fauré’s Élégie, Op. 24; a most wondrously crafted, gossamer-hued piece, to say the least.

www.christophcroise.ch

www.oxanashevchenko.com