Robin Stevens: Music for Cello and Piano

Robin Stevens: Music for Cello and Piano

1. Sonata Romantica for cello and piano (2019) Three Epigrams for cello and piano (1994)
2. I Foreboding
3. II Gentle Lament
4. III Clockwork Toy
5. Carried on a Whimsy for solo cello (2016, rev. 2020) Three Character Pieces for cello and piano (2004, rev. 2021)
6. I Thunder in the Soul
7. II Wistful Chorale
8. III A Short Ride in a Dangerous Machine
9. Sospiri for solo cello (2016)
10. On the Wild Side for cello and piano (2018, rev, 2020)
11. A Probing Exchange for solo cello (2016) Balmoral Suite for cello and piano (2017)
12. I The Family Gathers
13. II Grandpa Hankers for the Past
14. III A Graceful Beauty
15. IV Enter Great-Grandpa
16. V Rough and Tumble in the Nursery
17. Much Ado About …? for solo cello (2016)
18. Say Yes to Life for cello and piano (2005)
19. Unfailing Stream for solo cello (2016)
20. A Birthday Trifle for cello and piano (2018)

The British composer Robin Stevens (b. 1958) is a great talent who is being discovered by the global music community, due in part to the critical acclaim given to the two previous Divine Art albums of his music. His varied, stimulating and expressive work arises from many influences – from the music of the Romantic era, to mathematics, his faith and inspiration of his teachers, and he is now producing substantial works for varied instrumental groupings, which are modernist and original, but yet immediately accessible.

An accomplished cellist himself, Stevens has produced a body of work for the instrument which should become part of the regular repertoire. On this album, works for cello and piano stand alongside pieces for solo cello, from the substantial 27–minute Sonata Romantica to several compositions in a lighter, tonal style full of Stevens’ wit and humour. Written between 1994 and 2020, they present a diverse range of expressionist and gently modernist sound worlds

American cellist Nicholas Trygstad moved to England in 1998 to study at the Royal Northern College of Music. He became principal cello of Scottish Opera and from 2005 the Hallé Orchestra, and is very active in both solo recitals, chamber concerts and his teaching duties both at the RNCM in Manchester and also now with NYO Inspire.

David Jones is Head of Accompaniment at the Royal Northern College and pianist for the Hallé Choir, and has given premiere performances of works by a number of prominent British composers. His previous recordings include three albums of music by Jeffrey Lewis, attracting the comment “not to be missed”: by Gramophone. Both Nicholas and David have appeared on previous Divine Art / Métier recordings.