Saint-Saëns - Cello Sonatas Nos. 1 & 2 - Helios: CDH55342 - CD or download

A dramatic dialogue of considerable power ... An enthusiastic recommendation. — Gramophone Magazine More…

Release Date: 28th Jun 2010
Catalogue No: CDH55342
Label: Helios
Length: 63 minutes

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Saint-Saëns: Cello Sonata No. 1 in C minor Op. 32

Work length21:41

$3.50

$4.35

Mats Lidström (cello), Bengt Forsberg (piano)

I. Allegro

Track length9:06

$1.50

$1.85

II. Andante tranquillo sostenuto

Track length5:51

$1.00

$1.25

III. Allegro moderato

Track length6:44

$1.00

$1.25

Excerpt, Saint-Saëns: Le carnaval des animaux

Work length2:54

$1.00

$1.25

Mats Lidström (cello), Bengt Forsberg (piano)

XIII. Le cygne

Track length2:54

$1.00

$1.25

Saint-Saëns: Cello Sonata No. 2 in F major Op. 123

Work length36:13

$13.50

$16.80

Mats Lidström (cello), Bengt Forsberg (piano)

I. Maestoso, largamente

Track length10:34

$1.50

$1.85

IIa. Scherzo con variazioni. Allegro animato

Track length0:43

$1.00

$1.25

IIb. Variation 1. Poco meno allegro

Track length0:28

$1.00

$1.25

IIc. Variation 2

Track length0:44

$1.00

$1.25

IId. Variation 3. Tranquille, sans lenteur

Track length1:44

$1.00

$1.25

IIe. Variation 4. Molto allegro

Track length0:40

$1.00

$1.25

IIf. Variation 5. Sempre allegro

Track length0:43

$1.00

$1.25

IIg. Variation 6. Molto moderato e marcato

Track length2:08

$1.00

$1.25

IIh. Variation 7. Poco allegretto, tranquillo

Track length1:15

$1.00

$1.25

IIi. Variation 8. Presto

Track length0:57

$1.00

$1.25

III. Romanza: Poco adagio

Track length9:01

$1.50

$1.85

IV. Allegro non troppo, grazioso

Track length7:16

$1.50

$1.85

Excerpt, Saint-Saëns: Le carnaval des animaux

Work length2:49

$1.00

$1.25

Mats Lidström (cello), Bengt Forsberg (piano)

XIII. Le cygne

Track length2:49

$1.00

$1.25

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Saint-Saëns today has become one of those composers known through only a handful of works, but his output was prodigious and there is a great deal of music waiting to be discovered beyond Carnival of the Animals. Unfortunately his long life led to him passing from fame as one of the most naturally gifted musicians ever, to someone who had become passé with the arrival of the likes of Debussy and Ravel. This probably explains the neglect of so much supremely crafted music.

As a classicist Saint-Saëns was attracted to sonata form throughout his life and the two cello sonatas illustrate well the consistency of his compositional style over the 33 years that separate them, there is always a French clarity about the writing and also an irresistible forward momentum which comes from a directness in the structural plan which harks back to Mozart and Beethoven.

By way of encores the disc offers two versions of the famous 'Swan' from Carnival of the Animals. The first was published by the composer before he allowed the release of the rest of Carnival (only published after his death), the second is an arrangement by pianist and Saint-Saëns pupil Godowsky for violin and piano, which has here been further transcribed for cello and piano.

Reviews

A dramatic dialogue of considerable power ... An enthusiastic recommendation.

These artists radiate total conviction and a life-enhancing vitality and sensitivity

Saint-Saëns - Cello Sonatas Nos. 1 & 2

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