If you were not aware, themes of art song, poetry and spirituality run throughout Poème Mystique, the second solo album by Korean-American violinist Danbi Um.

Following Danbi’s acclaimed solo debut album Much Ado – a showcase for her virtuosity and gilded tone – Poème Mystique explores works of lyrical beauty and profound personal expression.

Richard Strauss’ Violin Sonata, written in the year he met his future wife, is imbued with romance and intimacy. Ernest Bloch’s Second Violin Sonata, the title work of the album, is by turns ecstatic, spiritual and fantasy-like.

Inspired by a dream, Bloch incorporates a vast range of spirituality, including motifs from his Jewish-themed works, the Gregorian Credo, Mass Kyrie and traditional Amen.

Danbi weaves two shorter works amongst the sonatas. Gabriel Fauré’s Après un rêve (“After a dream”), originally a French art song, becomes an exquisite song without words in this transcription for violin. The album concludes with Franz Schubert’s Ave Maria, likewise originally for voice and piano, presented here in an arrangement by August Wilhelm.

Danbi’s refined collaborator is Finnish pianist Juho Pohjonen. Together they deliver a performance that is at once technically virtuosic and emotionally nuanced.

RICHARD STRAUSS (1864–1949)
Violin Sonata in E flat Op.18
1. I. Allegro, ma non troppo (11:28)
2. II. Improvisation: Andante cantabile (7:19)
3. III. Finale: Andante – Allegro (8:03)

GABRIEL FAURÉ (1845–1924); arr. Wolfgang Birtel
4. Après un rêve Op.7 No.1 (2:47)

ERNEST BLOCH (1880–1959)
Violin Sonata No.2 B.58 ‘Poème mystique’
5. Andante moderato – (4.23)
6. Animato – (3.33)
7. L’istesso tempo (ma un poco mento lente) – (5.12)
8. Animato (6.57)

FRANZ SCHUBERT (1797–1828); arr. August Wilhelmj
9. Ave Maria (Ellens dritter Gesang) D.839

Recorded on June 20th-22nd 2024 at Abeshouse Recording Barn, South Salem, New York, this beautiful recording opens on the Strauss’ Violin Sonata in E flat Op.18: the free flowing Allegro, ma non troppo, the decadent Improvisation: Andante cantabile, closing on the ornately sculpted Finale: Andante – Allegro; and then we get an aching yearn that drives Fauré’s Après un rêve Op.7 No.1.

Along next is Bloch’s supremely elegant Violin Sonata No.2 B.58 ‘Poème mystique’: which opens on the veritably glistening Andante moderato, the fervently charged Animato, the graceful L’istesso tempo (ma un poco mento lente), closing on the formidable Animato; the set rounding out on the sophisticated dignity of Schubert’s Ave Maria (Ellens dritter Gesang) D.839.

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www.danbium.com