This disc contrasts
cello sonatas by two German composers, the musical fortunes
of whom differed considerably. By the time Strauss wrote his
F major cello sonata at the age of 19 he was already well-known
and the Nuremberg premičre given by the dedicatee Hanuš Wihan
was enthusiastically received. It is a lush, late-romantic
work in three conventionally structured movements that looks
back to the first half of the 18th century. It
also gives forward glimpses of the world of the tone poems
Strauss was soon to write. The opening movement is dramatic,
slow movement wistful and finale mischievous. The young French
cellist Emmanuelle Bertrand gives a lovingly crafted performance,
perhaps too loving in the slow movement. Strauss marked this
Andante non troppo but Bertrand’s pacing is adagio
to my ears. The opening Romance is in the same key and
was written around same time, also for Wihan. It is quite
an extended work and there can be no complaints here about
the degree of (marked) cantabile achieved. In both
works Pascal Amoyal is a sensitive accompanist.
Reger’s G minor
cello sonata was his second (he later rejected the first)
and it had to wait 8 years for a performance, only achieving
some measure of success in Berlin three years after that.
He also wrote a third cello sonata and three suites for solo
cello loosely modelled on Bach’s. Reger was already ill when
he wrote this work, doomed to lack of critical acclaim and
an early death. There are four movements, the first of which
is simply marked agitato. This is followed by a kind
of scherzo and then a tender intermezzo. Perhaps surprisingly,
the finale is gracious and contains less of the brooding angst
of the first movement than might be expected. Nevertheless
the prevailing mood of the work is much darker than the Strauss,
an artistic reflection of their fortunes in life. Bertrand
and Amoyal’s performance is thoroughly convincing and there
is no doubt in my mind that the Reger is the greater work.
The Petite Romance which follows as an encore is almost lush
enough to have written by Strauss and it brings us full circle.
The basic sound
quality is excellent. The balance between the instruments
is reasonable but the overall perspective just a shade close
for my taste. Presentation is first-rate – an attractive cardboard
case, thinner than usual and unbreakable, containing a removable
booklet with good documentation. Overall, this is a desirable
release that I can recommend highly.
Patrick
C Waller
Emmanuelle Bertrand (cello)
