Anne Gastinel

This is the 15th recording on Naïve by one of the label’s best selling artists, the renowned French cellist Anne Gastinel. On this new CD she is accompanied by her regular piano musical partner Claire Désert in three essential works of the French chamber repertoire, César Franck’s much loved Sonata in A major in the popular transcription for cello and piano, and Sonatas by Debussy and Poulenc.

Born in 1971, Anne Gastinel began playing the cello at the age of four while also studying the piano and the oboe. She gave her television début as concert soloist at the age of 10, and five years later finished in first place at the Music Conservatory in Lyon. She went on to complete her studies at the National Music Conservatory in Paris. In 1989, at the age of 18, Anne won first prize of the International Competition of Scheveningen and became the first French artist in forty years to reach the finals of the International Competition of Prague.

Over the past 12 years Anne Gastinel has performed with many internationally renowned orchestras and distinguished artists such as Kurt Sanderling, Semyon Bychkov, and Yuri Bashmet. Her recording career both in chamber and orchestral music has won her great acclaim from the international press and resulted in many international prizes, including the Victoires “Young Talent 1994”, Victoires “Best Recording of the year” 1995, the Prix “Fnac” in 1995 and 2000, and the Prix de l’Académie du disque et Classique d’Or by French Radio RTL in 1996 and 1998.

French composers had taken little interest in the cello until the 1870s when three wonderful masterpieces were written. Orchestre National de Lyon led by Emmanuel Krivine accompanies the magnificent, Anne Gastinel in performances of cello works by Saint-Saëns, Lalo and Fauré. The vigour, elegance and charm of Saint-Saëns, the expressiveness, imagination and exotic touch of Lalo, the humanity, feeling and depth of Fauré: these three works sum up the spirit of French music.

The highly acclaimed French cellist Anne Gastinel collaborates with virtuoso Argentine guitarist Pablo Márquez in a delightful release exploring the passion and soul of Spanish music.

The follow up to her successful Schubert Sonatas and Bach Suites albums sees Gastinel select the pieces and arrange them for cello. The recording includes Spanish Classical music standards by Enrique Granados, Manuel de Falla and Gaspar Cassadó. Anne Gastinel records exclusively for Naïve, each new release is hailed by the international press and showered with awards. Achievements include: French Classical Music Awards 'Most Promising Young Talent 94' and 'Best Recording of the Year'; 'Fnac' Prize 1995 and 2000; Prix de l'Académie du Disque; RTL Classique d'Or 1996 and 1998; the “Choc” du Monde de la Musique, Télérama (1998, 2000, 2001, and 2002). Pablo Márquez’s recordings for ECM New Series and Kairos have received numerous awards, including the Grand Prix du Disque de l’Acedémie Charles Cros, the Amadeus Prize.