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A strong feeling of anticipation, followed by unbridled curiosity and imaginations of evocative landscapesreal and otherwiseimmediately possess one’s heart after the first few bars of “Fairytale”, the opening piece of this exquisitely unique album. The programme, performed by cello / piano duo, Duo Arnicans, includes the world premiere recordings. Paul Juon came from a Swiss emigre family that settled in Latvia and then Russia. Juon was educated in Germany and eventually moved back to Switzerland. Opening this album’s selection is Fairytale; followed by the world premire recording of the “second edition” of his Sonata for Cello and Piano Op. 54. The 1924 press characterises the work as: “Of neo-Romantic character, fresh, sonorous, pleasing and zestfully written. This sonataat once interesting and rewardingshould become a repertoire piece for every virtuoso!” Latvian composer, pianist, and educator Janis Kepitis is perhaps most aptly described by a chamber music student of his as “A man with a miracle in his heart”. Suite (1959), subtitled ‘Three Episodes from the Fairy-tale Devil’s Life’, was dedicated to the Latvian cellist Ernests Bertovskis. Witty, cheerful, and rather cheeky compositions they evoke the somewhat simple-minded, gullible and yet wicked character of the fairy tale devil of Latvian folklore. The Sonata for Cello and Harp is another rarity, composed in 1974, which has never before been recorded. The Swiss-based, Latvian-German Duo Arnicans invite us to explore the quaint rarities of Fairy-tales and magical thinking; a treat too hard to refuse after we are lured into their enchanting art by the first notes in this album. |
