Classical Music

The three works on this album belong to a large group of masterpieces, which dispels the myth that Prokofiev – ‘shaker of foundations’ and ‘daring innovator’ – became, after his return to the USSR, an ‘acquiescent traditionalist’. But what message was the composer trying to convey? The texts Prokofiev set to music were „Party lyrics“ and in order to understand the reason behind, one must turn to the intriguing puzzle that is Prokofiev’s relationship with Soviet Russia.

The slow movement in classical music has many names: adagio, andante, largo, and marcia funèbre are just some of the best known. What they all have in common is their function in the composition scheme – as a centre of calm in a dynamic environment of allegros, scherzi and prestos which forces the listener to pause for a while and to allow a moment of introspection and contemplation.

This album comes In Memoriam of Saulius Sondeckis, who was one of the figureheads of the former Soviet Union chamber music scene. In commemoration of this great musician it gives a summary of his famous readings of Shostakovich’s chamber music, whereas at the same time it offers rarely played repertoire gems such as the film music to Hamlet and gives credit to another late outstanding soloist, the famous Bolshoi trumpet player Timofei Dokshitser. Last but not least it provides evidence on Sondecki’s capability as an arranger, transferring small ensemble music into the sonic language of a chamber orchestra.

The three quartets on this album provide insight into the conflict Russian composers had with the doctrine of Socialist Realism. They display how a crisis due to political circumstances can achieve – per aspera ad astrum – new art forms on high levels.

Antonin Dvorak composed his Concerto in B minor between 1894 and 1895 during his obligation as professor at the New York Conservatory. Hanuš Wihan, cellist of the Bohemian String Quartet had already asked him some time before to compose a concerto for his instrument, but Dvořák initially was rather reluctant to this idea.

In this wholeness the album contains a rarely compiled collection of smaller masterpieces Edvard Grieg had composed for string orchestra. It is not a coincidence though that most of the pieces are transformations of initially different formats. Edvard Grieg was famous as a pianist and as a composer for the piano during his life. His studies at the Leipzig Conservatory with teachers such as Ignaz Moscheles and Carl Reinecke, who both were renowned as virtuoso players all over Europe, had shaped this part of his artistry. So many of his works were originally composed for the keyboard instrument which seemed to be the appropriate means of communicating the Nordic folk music idiom, which Grieg transferred perfectly well into art music.