Raudonikyte / Rubin / Katkus - Solitarius - COMPACT DISCS [CD]

The supernatural drifts of the compositions brought together in this recording, served by the power and playing technique of Severine Ballon, reveal unexpected facets of expressiveness in the contemporary cello. Fully engaged in the renewal of its repertoire, Severine Ballon especially favors conversing and working with the composers, in the intimacy of the 'sound factory'. Having initiated numerous creations to which this recital admirably bears witness, here she offers us a tailor-made program in the heart of the compositional process. Once again, what could have been likened to risk-taking allows Severine Ballon to affirm, forcefully and with conviction, her artistic identity, her commitment and her very particular place in the world of the contemporary cello.

Best regards Bruno - Letters from Stalingrad is an electro-acoustic work conceived from the last two letters written by the composer's young uncle (19), Bruno Gawlick, before being listed as missing in action in late December 1942. The listener moves through time and space via a soundscape that integrates archival sound recordings with live spoken word, two separate piano parts and the prophecy of the sung voice. The resulting work is unique, and in it's intimacy and profound reflections, constitutes a fierce anti-war memorial. Ralf Yusuf Gawlick was born in Germany in 1969. His works include solo, chamber, orchestral and choral music, traversing a wide range of styles and often exploring aspects of his complex international heritage. His music has been commissioned and championed by a wide range of artists and organizations, attracting international acclaim from audiences and critics.

One of Lithuania’s leading artistic figures, Mikalojus Konstantinas Ciurlionis pursued a career as a painter as well as a musician, seeing all art as springing from the same source. His earlier works inhabit a romantic idiom, with the colorful influences of folk-music and the beauty of the countryside intermingled with pieces showing his development while at the Conservatoires of Warsaw and Leipzig. Muza Rubackyte’s recordings of Ciurlionis have been described as ‘flawless’ (American Record Guide) and she herself as ‘one of today’s most important pianists’ (Chicago Tribune).