The age-old spirit of the composer-performer lies at the heart of the 10-year collaboration between cellist-composer Christoph Croisé and composer-saxophonist Daniel Schnyder (pronounced SHNEE-der).

This resulting album (out October 3rd, 2025 via AVIE Records) features two of Daniel’s concertos, both commissioned by Christoph, alongside numerous world premieres of solo and chamber works. Christoph shines in the Concerto for Cello, Percussion and String Orchestra, whilst the two Swiss compatriots share the limelight in Concerto Populaire for soprano saxophone, cello, percussion and string orchestra, both backed by members of Christoph’s hand-picked Beyond Modern Orchestra, an ensemble dedicated to the creation and performance of new music.

Christoph brings in other close collaborators, including Alexander Panfilov for Jazz Sonata for Cello & Piano, harpsichordist Peter Gorobets for Cello BLU – another Christoph commission that explores the unique timbral relationship between the two instruments – and an octet of leading European cellists for Cubac – a fusion of Cuban rhythms and Bachian-counterpoint.

Throughout, Daniel’s compositions seamlessly fuse a melting pot of musical styles, including classical, jazz, Middle Eastern, African and Latin American. Christoph, who himself is rapidly gaining renown as a composer, says, “There is no more fitting way to celebrate contemporary music than by performing it alongside the composer himself.”

DANIEL SCHNYDER (b. 1961)
Concerto for Cello, Percussion & String Orchestra*
1. I. [7.18]
2. II. [7.44]
3. III. [7.22]
with Ruven Ruppik, percussion
Beyond Modern Orchestra

Concerto Populaire*
for Soprano Saxophone, Cello, Percussion & String Orchestra
4. I. [9.40]
5. II. [6.36]
6. III. [7.17]
with Daniel Schnyder, soprano saxophone · Ruven Ruppik, percussion
Beyond Modern Orchestra

7. Ad Aeternam* [5.34]
8. Jazz Sonata for Cello & Piano [6.20]
with Alexander Panfilov, piano

9. Cello BLU* [6.10]
with Peter Gorobets, harpsichord

10. CUBAC [6.03]
version for 8 Cellos*
Swiss Cello Octet

11. Karachi [3.14]
Nay Concerto: VI., adapted for Cello, Soprano Saxophone, Percussion & String Orchestra*
with Daniel Schnyder, soprano saxophone · Ruven Ruppik, percussion
Beyond Modern Orchestra

* World Premiere Recordings

This beautifully crafted new recording opens on Concerto for Cello, Percussion & String Orchestra and the strident fare of I which is followed by the stoically driven II and the forcefully fluid III; and then we get brought forth Concerto Populaire, which begins with the playful I and the ornately beautiful II, rounding out on the affecting III.

Along next is the forlorn, at times, yet melodically opulent at others Ad Aeternam, which is backed by the symmetrically emboldened Jazz Sonata for Cello & Piano, the set rounding out on the scintillating Cello BLU, the passionately charged CUBAC, closing on the Eastern-imbibed musical decadence crafted within Karachi.

Official Purchase Link

Daniel Schnyder, Cello Concerto, Christoph Croisé, Cello, Beyond Modern Orchestra [Official Video]

www.danielschnyder.com

www.christophcroise.ch