Catalogue

Summary:

“… a varied yet cogent programme… He [Croisé] evokes a tremendous spontaneity and freshness in the early Strauss sonata … the duo musters a feathery brilliance in the finale of the Strauss, and brings lots of intensity to the full-blooded passages in the opening movement of the Grieg.” – Joanne Talbot, The Strad

“Croisé has a warm, singing tone throughout, and he is nicely matched by the light touch of Shevchenko … Lovers of the cello are sure to enjoy and find something new in this release.” ★★★★ – James Manheim, Allmusic.com

“…an album that convinces musically as well as through its imaginative concept”  Artistic Quality 9    Sound Quality 9   Ensemble 9  – Antje Rößler – Klassik-Heute

“1883 was a good year for the cello, as this clever concept album highlights … [the works] draw upon the instrument’s capacity for pensiveness and passion, and Croisé is an accomplished advocate” – BBC Music Magazine

“Christoph Croisé’s tone is warm and yielding … this trio of performances by two gifted young artists makes for an immediately rewarding encounter” – Gramophone

“Croisé plays with a full, warm tone, and Shevchenko’s playing is sensitive and unfailingly musical. The two say that they thought the three pieces would make a wonderful program. They were right.” – The Whole Note

“The partnership of Croisé and Shevchenko is a very good one … Their give-and-take phrasing is excellent … It’s a wonderful performance … This is a fine recital overall, with excellent performances” – Fanfare

“grace, style and power” – Stringendo

1883 was a fruitful year for cello composition as Christoph Croisé’s new recording reveals. That year marked Edvard Grieg’s return to composition after a period of conducting the Bergen Philharmonic Orchestra, with the Sonata in A minor, his only work for cello and piano. Also that year, Richard Strauss was writing for the same combination at the age of just 19, producing his Sonata in F. Gabriel Fauré embarked on a cello sonata in 1880; only the slow movement transpired and was published and premiered as the stand-alone piece Élégie in 1883. Christoph’s regular performing partner, Oxana Shevchenko, joins him in this beautifully balanced recording of works for cello and piano.

Tracklist:

RICHARD STRAUSS (1864–1949)
Cello Sonata, Op. 6
1. I. Allegro con brio (9:36)
2. II. Andante ma non troppo (8:41)
3. III. Finale – Allegro vivo (9:07)

EDVARD GRIEG (1843–1907)
Cello Sonata, Op. 36
4. I. Allegro agitato (9:22)
5. II. Andante molto tranquillo (5:59)
6. II. Allegro (12:57)

GABRIEL FAURÉ (1845–1924)
7. Élégie, Op. 24 (7:16)

Total Duration: (63:01)

Chirstoph Croisé, cello
Oxana Shevchenko, piano

Recorded: 11–13 August 2021, Radiostudio Zürich, Switzerland Recording Producer, Engineer, Editor, Mastering (ADM): Karsten Zimmermann