Roslavets: Cello Sonata No. 1

Nikolay Andreyevich Roslavets was viewed by his Russian colleagues as one of the most original, innovative and progressive composers of the 1920s. The early works heard on this recording are characterised by passion, drama, mystery, lyricism and a sheer beauty of sound underpinned by that lingering melancholy said to inhabit ‘the Russian soul’. Bulgarian cellist Lachezar Kostov and pianist Viktor Valkov, his long-time collaborator, are ideal interpreters of this brilliantly-crafted music.

Nikolai Roslavets was one of the most fascinating musical figures in the first half of 20-th century Russia. Of peasant descent he entered the cultured circles of Moscow, where he was deeply influenced by the late works of Scriabin, resulting in extreme chromatism and a new harmonic and contrapuntal system foreshadowing the later postwar serialism. Being a “modernist” (like Lourié, Mossolow and others) he was soon banned by the traditional Soviet system, and forced in seclusion and neglect.

He died forgotten in 1944. During the Perestroyka he was discovered again as a highly original and daring composer and got his right place in music history.

The works recorded here are chamber music of the highest calibre: a piano trio, two viola sonata, a piano sonata and a cello sonata, played with great authority by Russian forces.