Mats Lidström, Bengt Forsberg - Koechlin & Pierné: Cello Sonatas (1998)

Tracklist

01. Pierné: Cello Sonata in F-Sharp Minor, Op. 46: I. Lent
02. Pierné: Cello Sonata in F-Sharp Minor, Op. 46: II. Animez très peu – Calme
03. Pierné: Cello Sonata in F-Sharp Minor, Op. 46: III. I Tempo (Mouvet. de début)
04. Pierné: Cello Sonata in F-Sharp Minor, Op. 46: IV. Animé
05. Koechlin: Cello Sonata, Op. 66: I. Très modéré
06. Koechlin: Cello Sonata, Op. 66: II. Andante quasi adagio
07. Koechlin: Cello Sonata, Op. 66: III. Final. Allegro non troppo
08. Koechlin: Chansons bretonnes, Op. 115, Book 1: I. La prophétie de Gwene'hlan
09. Koechlin: Chansons bretonnes, Op. 115, Book 1: II. Le Seigneur Nann et la Fée
10. Koechlin: Chansons bretonnes, Op. 115, Book 1: III. Le vin des Gaulois
11. Koechlin: Chansons bretonnes, Op. 115, Book 1: IV. Azénor-la-Pâle
12. Koechlin: Chansons bretonnes, Op. 115, Book 1: VI. Les laboureurs
13. Koechlin: Chansons bretonnes, Op. 115, Book 1: V. Saint-Eflam et le Roi Arthur
14. Koechlin: Chansons bretonnes, Op. 115, Book 2: I. Les trois moines rouges
15. Koechlin: Chansons bretonnes, Op. 115, Book 2: II. Alain-le-Renard
16. Koechlin: Chansons bretonnes, Op. 115, Book 2: III. Le baron Jaouioz
17. Koechlin: Chansons bretonnes, Op. 115, Book 2: IV. Notre-Dame du Folgoat
18. Koechlin: Chansons bretonnes, Op. 115, Book 2: V. Iannik Skolan
19. Koechlin: Chansons bretonnes, Op. 115, Book 2: VI. La ceinture de Noces

'Of all the divine French cello sonatas, only the Debussy from 1915 is heard live today. But getting to know Pierné's puts French cello music in a new perspective. His Sonata is absolutely loaded with beautiful material and, as far as cello writing goes, Pierné knew no limits. The fast middle section starts out strict, however hinting desire. Build-up upon build-up become frustrating, and yet, sensual. The more he wants the thicker the chords, the bigger the shifts. It's all terribly exciting, but the expression is serious. The slow section from the beginning returns with intensified beauty, even managing to climax before ending peacefully in that wonderful key he picked, F sharp minor.

'After playing the last note of our first performance of Koechlin's Sonata, I turned to Bengt and saw him look as fulfilled as I felt. I'll never forget it, because the feeling was very special. A kind of spiritual fulfilment, like when having encountered something totally honest.

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