Cellist Wilhelmina Smith’s second album release on Ondine continues exploring contemporary Nordic repertoire for solo cello. In her new album Smith has focus on Danish contemporary composers, Per Nørgård (b. 1932) and Poul Ruders (b. 1949). Both Nørgård and Ruders are known for their large-scale orchestral works. Nørgård, in particular, is known for his eight symphonies and has been hailed by many as one of the greatest living symphonists. It is therefore intriguing to look closer to his two very early lyrical solo cello sonatas, early masterpieces written just before completing his 1st Symphony. In 1980, the composer revised his second sonata by adding an extensive second movement, almost an entirely new sonata, to the existing work. Nørgård’s 3rd sonata “What – Is the Word!” from 1999 is a short “Sonata breve” that takes its title from a quote by Irish playwriter Samuel Beckett. Another major Danish composer of our times, Poul Ruders (b. 1949), has also written 5 symphonies alongside several concertos and three operas. Ruders wrote his 10-movement Bravourstudien in 1976, just at the brink of a major stylistic change. This work is a set of variations on a Medieval folk tune “L’homme armé”. In this work, however, the original theme is heard at the very end of the work.
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Reviews
**** Excellent Album
Jeremie Bigorie - Classica magazine (France) - June 2021
“… An hour’s worth of contemporary Danish work for solo cello may seem a daunting prospect for the average listener; if it is something of a niche genre it’s one to which Wilhelmina Smith has submitted with open-hearted enthusiasm and impressive technical finesse. None of the music on here will frighten the horses, all the pieces are recorded with spellbinding immediacy.”
Richard Hanlon – MusicWeb-International.com – 9 April 2021
“… The American cellist brings much to the works here but the most admirable quality of all is an extreme clarity that suits the music…”
Andrew Mellor - Gramophone magazine - April 2021
“… Although Nørgård and Poul Ruders are best known for their large-scale works, Smith shows the radiance of their solo pieces.” ***
Freya Parr - BBC Music magazine (Brief Notes section) - April 2021
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