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BOHUSLAV MARTINU
(1890-1959)
Sonata No. 1, H 277 (1939)
17:00
for Cello and Piano
À Pierre Fournier
1.
I
Poco allegro - Allegro - Tempo I - Allegro - Moderato
5:43
2.
II
Lento - Meno
5:49
3.
III
Allegro con brio - Poco meno - Tempo I - Più meno
5:27
4.
Variations on a Slovak Theme, H 378 (1959)
9:05
for Cello and Piano
Rubato -
Thème. Poco andante, rubato -
Variation I. Moderato -
Variation II. Poco allegro -
Variation III. Moderato -
Variation IV. Scherzo, allegretto - Poco andante -
Variation V. Allegro
Sonata No. 2, H 286 (1941)
18:37
for Cello and Piano
To Frank Rybka
5.
I
Allegro
6:38
6.
II
Largo
7:02
7.
III
Allegro commodo - Poco meno - Tempo I - Cadenza - Allegro
4:54
8.
Variations on a Theme of Rossini, H 290 (1942)
7:39
in D major - in D-Dur - en ré majeur
for Cello and Piano
To Gregor Piatigorsky
Poco allegro -
[Theme.] Allegro moderato -
Variation I. Poco allegro -
Variation II. Poco più allegro -
Variation III. Andante -
Variation IV. Allegro - Vivo -
Moderato maestoso
Sonata No. 3 , H 340 (1952)
17:50
in C major - in C-Dur - en ut majeur
for Cello and Piano
In memory of Hans Kindler
9.
I
Poco andante - Moderato - Poco vivo - Allegro - Poco meno - Allegro vivo -
7:06
10.
II
Andante
5:23
11.
III
Allegro (ma non Presto) - Poco vivo
5:19
70:15
1-3 October 2009
Notes
Paul Watkins is one of the world’s finest cellists. He is much in demand throughout the world and although he has made several recordings for Chandos in the past, this is his first as an exclusive artist. He is accompanied by his brother Huw Watkins, with whom he has developed an extremely rewarding musical partnership.
The three cello sonatas of the Czech composer Bohuslav Martinu span the period 1939 – 52 and are full of rewarding musical invention. The experience of his long exile was often expressed in his music, particularly here in the Third Sonata and in the Variations on a Slovak Theme. If in the First, competed in 1939, the unease occasioned by World War II may be detected in the first two movements, the energetic finale, driven by Martinu’s motoric rhythms, prompted the composer to remark of its first performance: ‘It came as a last greeting, a beam of light from a better world (which is the opinion of others, not my own). For several minutes we realised what music could give us and we forgot about reality.’
In the Second Sonata, of 1941, the composer embraced classical forms, though the first movement is typically vigorous and energetic, in the composer’s most rhythmic manner. The second movement is full of passionate longing, with a gorgeous lyrical cello line, whilst the finale uses the composer’s characteristic motor rhythms, with powerful stamping gestures suggesting Bohemian peasant dances.
The Third Sonata, completed in October 1952, is the most immediately appealing of the three sonatas, full of attractive Czech melodies and offering essentially good-natured melodies and harmony – as well as humour, especially in the finale.
The Variations on a Theme of Rossini (1942), dedicated to Gregor Piatigorsky, shows the composer at his most wittily light-hearted, and offers brilliance and virtuosity in spades. The Variations on a Slovak Theme (1959) were written during the composer’s final illness – Martinu had been diagnosed with stomach cancer. They are certainly appealing and resourceful, but strong feelings for the distant homeland are distinctly audible.
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Reviews
"...Paul and Huw Watkins prove committed advocates of this repertoire and their performances can hold their finest rivals The Chandos sound is expertly balanced, natural and lifelike. "
The Penguin Guide - 1000 Greatest Classical Recordings 2011-12
“This generously filled CD is a complete success.”
Paul Orgel - Fanfare - November/December 2010
“…The recording places both instruments relatively close to the listener, but succeeds in capturing the intimacy and deep feeling of this music, as so the Watkins brothers.”
Ben Hogwood - classicalsource.com - 21 September 2010
“…The playing here by the Watkins duo is exemplary.”
Barry Forshaw - 5 August 2010
“Paul and Huw Watkins prove committed advocates of this repertoire and their performances can hold their own against their finest rivals … The Chandos sound is expertly balanced, natural and lifelike.”
Robert Layton - International Record Review - July/August 2010
Chamber Choice
Performance ***** Recording ****
“... Altogether an enormously impressive disc.”
Jan Smaczny - BBC Music Magazine - August 2010
“Gramophone Recommends” “A fine survey of Martinu’s works for cello and piano from the Watkins brothers... An excellent disc and the best of the commercially available sets.”
Guy Rickards - Gramophone magazine- August 2010
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