Catalogue

Summary:

“this recording boasts some of the most beautiful cello playing I have heard in years. The highlight for me is their brilliant account of Märchenbilder, Schumann’s ‘fairy tale pictures’ for viola: this is by far the best recorded account of that work on cello… Spellbinding, too, is this reading of Schubert’s Arpeggione Sonata: the slow movement has gleaming surface, the first passage work a violin-like finesse.” ★★★★★– Helen Wallace, BBC Music magazine

Disc of the Month “Meneses negotiates the Arpeggione Sonata’s dauntingly high tessitura with no sense of strain… He’s a true virtuoso, as the fast passages in the Arpeggione and the third of the Märchenbilder amply demonstrate… Gérard Wyss, as an experienced Lieder accompanist, has a similar eye for illustrative detail; his touch is unusually sensitive, with chords always beautifully balanced” – Duncan Druce, Gramophone 

“… This Avie disc is an all round success and a most welcome addition to the catalogue.” – Michael Cookson, MusicWebInternational.com 

“… with persuasive performances such as these from Antonio Meneses and Gérard Wyss the programme leads to a wonderfully linked, generously filled release… The care and dedication that has gone into this most attractive recital is clear to hear, with Meneses and Wyss bringing performances to earn this release a strong recommendation, the essence of the music ideally caught.” – Ben Hogwood, ClassicalSource.com

“… His [Meneses] interpretation [Schumann] is flexible and insightful, quickly changing gears between the contrasting character pieces. Intonation, articulation, and pacing are all quite refined. Schubert’s Arpeggione Sonata is another work that was not originally composed for the cello but now stands as a cornerstone of the repertoire. Meneses’ focused sound is again an asset in this work, yielding a graceful and carefree character to the piece…” – Mike D Brownell, AllMusic.com

Brazilian cellist Antonio Meneses, Beaux Arts Trio member and a frequent collaborator of the world’s greatest conductors and orchestras, made an indelible impression with his recording of J S Bach’s Six Cello Suites (AV0052). A consistently strong seller, it garnered a Benchmark accolade from BBC Music Magazine. In this release of works by Schubert and Schumann, Antonio revels in romantic ardour and the composer’s lyrical qualities. Together with his accompanist, Gérard Wyss, Antonio’s consummate artistry results in performances that are so elegant it’s hard to believe that all but one of the works, Stücke im Volkston, were originally written for instruments other than the cello.

Tracklist:

ROBERT SCHUMANN (1810–1856)

Adagio & Allegro in A flat, Op. 70 (9:45)
1. I. Langsam, mit innigem Ausdruck (4:30)
2. II. Rasch und feurig (5:15)

Fantasiestücke, Op. 73 (11:14)
3. I. Zart und mit Ausdruck (3:20)
4. II. Lebhaft, leicht (3:31)
5. III. Rasch und mit Feuer (4:23)

Fünf Stücke im Volkston, Op. 102 (16:02)
6. I. Mit Humor (2:56)
7. II. Langsam (3:41)
8. III. Nicht schnell, mit viel Ton zu spielen (4:20)
9. IV. Nicht zu rasch (2:04)
10.V. Stark und markiert (3:01)

Märchenbilder, Op. 113 (15:43)
transcribed by Alfredo Piatti, edited by Christian Bellisario
11. I. Nicht schnell (3:37)
12. II. Lebhaft (4:16)
13. III. Rasch (2:45)
14. IV. Langsam, mit melancholischem Ausdruck (5:05)

FRANZ SCHUBERT (1797–1828)

Arpeggione Sonata in A minor, D821 (25:22)
15. I. Allegro moderato (11:50)
16. II. Adagio (4:31)
17. III. Allegretto (9:01)

Total duration: 78:51

Recorded at Potton Hall, Suffolk, England, 26-28 May 2006
Produced and engineered by Simon Fox-Gál
Editing: Sebastian Schubert