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Sunday, September 11, 2016

Camille Saint-Saëns - Cello Sonatas (Mats Lidström; Bengt Forsberg)


Information

Composer: Camille Saint-Saëns
  1. Cello Sonata No. 1 in C minor, Op. 32: 1. Allegro
  2. Cello Sonata No. 1 in C minor, Op. 32: 2. Andante tranquillo sostenuto
  3. Cello Sonata No. 1 in C minor, Op. 32: 3. Allegro moderato
  4. Le carnaval des animaux: 13. Le cygne
  5. Cello Sonata No. 2 in F major, Op. 123: 1. Maestoso, largamente
  6. Cello Sonata No. 2 in F major, Op. 123: 2a. Scherzo con variazioni. Allegro animato
  7. Cello Sonata No. 2 in F major, Op. 123: 2b. Variation 1. Poco meno allegro
  8. Cello Sonata No. 2 in F major, Op. 123: 2c. Variation 2
  9. Cello Sonata No. 2 in F major, Op. 123: 2d. Variation 3. Tranquille, sans lenteur
  10. Cello Sonata No. 2 in F major, Op. 123: 2e. Variation 4. Molto allegro
  11. Cello Sonata No. 2 in F major, Op. 123: 2f. Variation 5. Sempre allegro
  12. Cello Sonata No. 2 in F major, Op. 123: 2g. Variation 6. Molto moderato e marcato
  13. Cello Sonata No. 2 in F major, Op. 123: 2h. Variation 7. Poco allegretto, tranquillo
  14. Cello Sonata No. 2 in F major, Op. 123: 2i. Variation 8. Presto
  15. Cello Sonata No. 2 in F major, Op. 123: 3. Romanza. Poco adagio
  16. Cello Sonata No. 2 in F major, Op. 123: 4. Allegro non troppo, grazioso
  17. Le carnaval des animaux: 13. Le cygne (arr. Leopold Godowsky)

Mats Lidström, cello
Bengt Forsberg, piano
Date: 1999
Label: Hyperion

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Review

ARTISTIC QUALITY: 10 / SOUND QUALITY: 10

The low esteem that all but a tiny minority of Saint-Saëns' large and varied output enjoys today is incomprehensible to me. His chamber music in particular stands with the finest works of the 19th and early 20th century, and these two cello sonatas belong in very elite company. Cello sonatas are extremely difficult to write. The problems of dynamic balance between the piano and the stringed instrument, the low mean tone of the cello, and complex relationships between the principal melodic line and accompaniment all require musicianship of the highest order to resolve in terms of music that sounds natural, effortlessly integrated, and ingratiating. That Saint-Saëns does so is an understatement: these two sonatas rank with Beethoven's and the second of them surpasses both of Brahms' for this same combination.

The First Sonata is a passionate, three-movement work, the high point of which is a slow movement of exceptional charm and delicacy. The Second Sonata, a late piece, is astounding: huge in scope (36 minutes long), confident in expression, and executed with a true master's skill. The four large movements include a marvelous Scherzo in the form of a theme and variations that imbues the whole work with an emotional depth and intellectual consistency that completely belies this composer's reputation as a musical "lightweight."

These two Swedish performers clearly believe in this music, and they play as if every moment matters. Mats Lidström deserves special credit for his strength of tone and willingness to attack the music with the passion it requires, and pianist Bengt Forsberg (already distinguished as a Lieder accompanist, principally with Anne Sophie von Otter) manages to play at full power without ever covering his partner. The two transcribed versions of "The Swan", from The Carnival of the Animals, make charming fillers. An exceptional, important release, very well recorded and intelligently annotated. Buy it. [1/7/2000]

-- David Hurwitz, ClassicsToday

More reviews:

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Camille Saint-Saëns (9 October 1835 – 16 December 1921) was a French composer, organist, conductor and pianist of the Romantic era. His best-known works include his concertos for violin, piano and cello, his 3rd symphony, Danse macabre and The Carnival of the Animals. Saint-Saëns was a musical prodigy, making his concert debut at the age of ten. He held only one teaching post for less than five years. His students included Gabriel Fauré.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Camille_Saint-Sa%C3%ABns

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Mats Lidström (born 1959, Stockholm) is a Swedish solo cellist, recording artist, chamber musician, composer, teacher and publisher. He studied music at Gothenburg University with Maja Vogl and at Juilliard with Leonard Rose and Channing Robbins. Lidstrom served as principal cellist with several orchestras, including the Royal Philharmonic, London Symphony, the Philharmonia, etc. He is currently living in London. Lidström plays the "Grützmacher" Rocca (Giuseppe Rocca 1857).
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mats_Lidstr%C3%B6m
http://www.allmusic.com/artist/mats-lidstr%C3%B6m-mn0002311114/biography

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