Whispering Leaves

Release Date: 31st Jan 2011
Catalogue No: COBRA0069
Label: Cobra
Length: 58 minutes

Usually despatched in 3 - 4 working days

Janáček: Fairy Tale

Work length12:50

Lucie Štĕpánová, Ksenia Kouzmenko

I. Con moto

Track length5:12

II. Con moto

Track length4:43

III. Allegro

Track length2:55

Páleníček: Chorale Variations on the Theme “O Sacred Head, Now Wounded

Work length18:07

Lucie Štĕpánová, Ksenia Kouzmenko

Theme

Track length1:22

Variation No. 1. Comodo

Track length0:56

Variation No. 2. Animato

Track length0:46

Variation No. 3. Vivace

Track length1:04

Variation No. 4. Comodo

Track length1:17

Variation No. 5. Adagio

Track length3:49

Variation No. 6. Andante grazioso - Impetuoso

Track length1:48

Variation No. 7. Allegro assai

Track length0:53

Variation No. 8. Cadenza ad libitum

Track length2:37

Variation No. 9. Finale. Allegro - Grave

Track length3:35

Martinů: Sonata for Cello & Piano No. 2, H. 286

Work length23:35

Lucie Štĕpánová, Ksenia Kouzmenko

I. Allegro

Track length8:51

II. Largo

Track length8:49

III. Allegro comodo

Track length5:55

Janáček: A Blown-Away Leaf from the Piano Cycle “On an Overgrown Path”

Work length3:33

Lucie Štĕpánová, Ksenia Kouzmenko

About
Explore

About

"Whispering Leaves" is a new project from violoncellist Lucie Stepanova and pianist Ksenia Kouzmenko, featuring Czech music for cello and piano.

The artists play works by Leos Janacek and Bohuslav Martinu, as well as composer Josef Palenicek.

Josef Palenicek (1914-1991) was a very expressive and versatile pianist, fascinating performer of Janacek's works, and a lifelong friend of Bohuslav Martinu, with whom he studied together in Paris. But, unfortunately as a composer he is not very well known. On this CD you'll find a special work, his moving Chorale Variati¬ons on the famous 17th century chorale "O Sacred Head, Now Wounded". Written in 1942, in response to a dramatic personal experience, this is one of the most important Czech works for cello and piano from World War II. This recording is the world premiere of this piece on CD. It is joined by the enchanting "Pohadka" ("Fairy Tale") by Janacek, the intense and impressive Second Sonata for cello and piano by Martinu, and by "A Blown-Away Leaf" by Leos Janacek, a beautiful miniature from the piano cycle "On an Over¬grown Path", in a transcription for cello and piano by the legendary Czech violoncellist Milos Sadlo. This warm, light and loving piece is also inspiration for the title of this CD: "Whispering Leaves".

Lucie Stepanova and Ksenia Kouzmenko have been performing as a duo for ten years, known for their warm and expressive playing. Their repertoire includes works from Beethoven to Escher and in their programmes, they like to look for new works, and unex¬pected connections.

Whispering Leaves

CD

Contents

Download queue