Schumann & Chopin: Music for Cello & Piano – Truls Mørk

Truls Mørk and Leif Ove Andsnes

The cello appealed to the 19th centuries romantic sensibilities; its sonorous melody and melancholy pathos expressed the essence of the romantic spirit. However, composing music for the solo-cello was still only of peripheral interest to the greater 19th century composers, partly because of their ignorance of the instruments capabilities. This led composers to seek the player´s help. Dedicated to the celebrated cellist August Franchomme, the Frédéric Chopin´s “Sonata for cello and piano” is a scarcity in the oeuvre of the composer, consisting mostly of piano music. Here, the cello is given the same rich, dark expression that Chopin used for the left-hand melodies on the piano.

Unlike Chopin, Robert Schumann composed a great deal of chamber music. On this recording we hear some of Schumann´s own cello transcriptions, the “Phantasiestücke” and “Adagio und allegro”, in addition to the beautifully constructed miniatures of the five “Stücke im Volkston”. Performed by the outstanding cellist Truls Mørk and probably Norway´s most renowned and prominent pianist Leif Ove Andsnes, this album is a celebration of the beauty in the Romantic-era music for cello.