Alban Gerhardt & Markus Becker - Reger: Cello Sonatas (2008)

27 Jul, 10:16
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Artist: Alban Gerhardt & Markus Becker, Alban Gerhardt, Markus Becker
Title: Cello Sonatas & Cello Suites
Year Of Release: 2008
Label: Hyperion
Genre: Classical
Quality: FLAC (image + .cue, log, booklet)
Total Time: 02:17:26
Total Size: 496 MB
WebSite: Album Preview

Tracklist:

CD 1
01. Sonata for cello & piano No. 1 in F minor, Op. 5: Allegro maestoso ma appassionato
02. Sonata for cello & piano No. 1 in F minor, Op. 5: Allegro (un poco scherzando)
03. Suite for cello in G major, Op. 131c/1: Adagio
04. Suite for cello in G major, Op. 131c/1: Fuge: Allegro
05. Sonata for cello & piano No. 2 in G minor, Op. 28: Agitato
06. Sonata for cello & piano No. 2 in G minor, Op. 28: Prestissimo assai
07. Sonata for cello & piano No. 2 in G minor, Op. 28: Intermezzo: Poco sostenuto (Quasi adagio)
08. Sonata for cello & piano No. 2 in G minor, Op. 28: Allegretto con grazia (Quasi allegro)
09. Suite for cello in D minor, Op. 131c/2: Gavotte: Allegretto
10. Suite for cello in D minor, Op. 131c/2: Largo
11. Suite for cello in D minor, Op. 131c/2: Gigue: Vivace

CD 2
01. Sonata for cello & piano No. 3 in F major, Op. 78: Allegro con brio
02. Sonata for cello & piano No. 3 in F major, Op. 78: Vivacissimo
03. Sonata for cello & piano No. 3 in F major, Op. 78: Andante con variazioni
04. Sonata for cello & piano No. 3 in F major, Op. 78: Allegro vivace
05. Suite for cello in A minor, Op. 131c/3: Scherzo: Vivace
06. Suite for cello in A minor, Op. 131c/3: Andante con variazioni
07. Sonata for cello & piano No. 4 in A minor, Op. 116: Allegro moderato
08. Sonata for cello & piano No. 4 in A minor, Op. 116: Presto
09. Sonata for cello & piano No. 4 in A minor, Op. 116: Largo
10. Sonata for cello & piano No. 4 in A minor, Op. 116: Allegretto con grazia

These are possibly the best sonatas for cello and piano since Brahms and the best suites for cello solo since Bach. And they are by none other than Max Reger: the hard-working, hard-drinking Bavarian composer who saw himself as those composers' musical heir. As performed by cellist Alban Gerhardt and pianist Markus Becker, Reger's works for cello substantiate the comparisons. The sonatas and suites come from every stage of his compositional career, from the very early Sonata in F minor, Op. 5, to the very late Opus 131 suites, written only two years away from his premature death. Gerhardt has a strong yet subtle technique that easily lets him slip into Reger's long-limbed themes and contrapuntal textures, plus a rich but clear tone and a way of phrasing that keeps the music moving even when the tempo is Largo. Pianist Becker joins Gerhardt as a full partner in the sonatas where the piano writing is as prominent and virtuosic as the cello writing, and he's fully up to the task. Becker's big but nuanced tone allows him to blend, balance, and often oppose Gerhardt's stalwart cello. Hyperion's 2007 digital sound is warm, round, deep, and inviting. -- James Leonard

Alban Gerhardt & Markus Becker - Reger-Cello Sonatas.rar - 496.7 MB