Dutilleux: Sonatine for flute & piano

“this is beautifully detailed playing throughout. And a fine balance of just that clarity and colour, elegance and lyricism, that I was talking about right at the beginning. That’s why, of these three excellent new recordings, this is the one I would personally buy.” BBC R3 CD Review

This SACD presents main works of the repertoire for flute and piano from the 20th century. Regarding the history of the flute, this period is of particular interest since the flute underwent a remarkable revival as a solo instrument during this time.

The sonatas by Henri Dutilleux and Francis Poulenc represent the impulse for this development, which originated in France. In his series of sonatas for every melodic instrument, accompanied by piano, Paul Hindemith began with the flute. Frank Martin, the mediator between the German and French traditions, created a colourfully eloquent variant of the sonata form with his 'Ballad'. The sonata written by the American composer Robert Muczynski became the most famous example of his classicist, brilliant style.

Anne-Cathérine Heinzmann is one of the most renowned German flautists of her generation. She regularly performs as a soloist, chamber and orchestral musician in Germany and across the globe. She is co-principal flute of the Opern- und Museumsorchester Frankfurt am Main; in addition, since October 2009 she has been Professor of Music at the Hochschule für Musik in Nuremberg.

Flautist Mathieu Dufour became one of the youngest players ever to hold such a position when, at the age of 25, he was appointed principal flute of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra by Daniel Barenboim. On this album he plays 20th century French music for flute and piano - by Poulenc, Martin, Widor, Dutilleux, Pierre Sancan, and Debussy - with the internationally renowned pianist Pascal Rogé.

After winning second prize at the Jean-Pierre Rampal International Flute Competition in 1990, third prize at the International Flute Competition in Budapest in 1991, and second prize at the International Flute Competition in Kobe, Japan, in 1997, Mathieu Dufour was appointed principal flute of the Orchestre National du Capitole de Toulouse, and three years later he became the principal flute of the Paris National Opera. Since becoming principal flute with the Chicago Symphony, Mathieu Dufour has made several critically acclaimed performances as soloist at such places as the Philharmonie in Berlin, and the Salzburg Festival with the orchestra and its esteemed conductor Daniel Barenboim.

On the occasion of the 20-year anniversary of this unique ensemble, Divox releases a musical portrait of the group. Recorded in 1999, this release is the first in a series of discoveries featuring these inspiring musicians, whose combination of instruments is as unique as their concert programs and recordings.

The special combination of ‘Pyramide’ consists of Flute. Oboe, Violin, Cello and Harp. Through their long years of cooperation, the ensemble members have created an unmistakeable sound and developed a special stylistic flexibility, enabling them to perform music from the baroque to the 21st century.

This is the talented young flautist Daniela Koch’s first CD and has been recorded as part of the Bank Austria Artist of the Year scheme. In 2008, Daniela was invited to take part in the Summer Academy of the Vienna Philharmonic and to collaborate in performances at the Salzburg Festival. Here she performs works by Mozart, Schubert, Ichiyanagi, Chaminade and Dutilleux.