Masterpieces of the 20th century

For his second CD, Constantin Macherel turns to the twentieth century with three pieces, each placing the cello in a specific environment. Ravel's Sonata for violin and cello has retained all its freshness after a hundred years, and astonishes with its inventiveness, colors and constant counterpoint. In Constantin Macherel's version, it is Anna Orlik who takes the lead in a fascinating, energetic dialogue. The sound recording is straightforward, the strings are close, and the sound material is solid, palpable and pure.

Schnittke's music is generally described as polystyle; in fact, it's more a question of absolute freedom in the choice of means and writing, dictated solely by the expressiveness of the narrative, in the spirit of Shostakovich taken to the extreme. His Sonata no. 1 begins with a sarabande on the cello that turns to despair, inconsolable even by all the wisdom of the piano; it continues with a hunt on the cello by a ruthless piano in breathless pursuit, and ends with mourning and the ultimate loss of hope. Frederic Bager is an ideal partner for this existential drama for two actors.

The collaboration between London's Mozart Players and Constantin Macherel had been fruitful for his first album; the recording of Prokofiev's Symphonie concertante pushes soloist, orchestra and conductor Jonathan Bloxham to their limits. It has to be said that the piece is a challenge combining not only the possibilities, but also the difficulties of a symphony, with every register of the orchestra being important and highlighted, and those of a concerto requiring unimaginable prowess from the soloist. There are many fine moments in the orchestra, and the soloist's inexhaustible energy to accomplish this tour de force.

Schnittke, Ravel, Prokofiev. Constantin Macherel, cello ; Anna Orlik, violin ; Frederic Bager, piano ; London Mozart Players ; Jonathan Bloxham, conductor. Claves Records 3097