A Strong Partnership
Riviera Lazeri and David Boldrini play Martinů Cello Sonatas, heard by GEOFF PEARCE
'... the performances on this disc are truly very admirable.'
Bohuslav Martinů wrote some important cello works. He composed two concertos, three sonatas and a couple of sets of variations. I was introduced to them back in the 1970s. I was living in Dunedin, New Zealand, at the time, and we had a very fine English cellist, Robert Glenton, resident there. When I moved to Adelaide in 1979, Robert left NZ for Adelaide at the same time, because he became a lecturer in cello at one of the institutions there. Shortly after he arrived, he gave a recital, and from memory, both sets of variations and the first cello sonata featured on the programme. I attended this concert, and as I was already a great admirer of Martinů's music, this concert left a lasting impression on me.
On this Brilliant Classics disc, the three cello sonatas are recorded by the equally brilliant Riviera Lazeri and David Boldrini. These are demanding works for both cello and piano so a strong partnership is needed. The recording shows that this is indeed a great match.
The first sonata was written in 1939, a few weeks after the Nazis invaded Martinů's homeland (although he had been resident for a long time in Paris). The first performance was given by Pierre Fournier, its dedicatee, in May 1940, with Rudolph Firkušný at the piano.
The first movement opens defiantly in the piano, followed by the cello a few moments later. The music is often very lively syncopated and there are dramatic outbursts and at other times more tender moments, reflecting the events of the time.
The second movement is somewhat bleak, and the piano writing is often fragmented. After a quite long piano introduction, the cello enters with a rather sorrowful lament. It is more sorrowful than anguished, but the piano soon dispels the calm reflection momentarily before the cello sorrow returns. There is then a section where the cello takes on an accompanying role to the piano, with a pizzicato passage, before the calm of the opening cello statement closes the movement quietly.
Listen — Martinů: Lento (Cello Sonata No 1)
(track 2, 4:16-5:13) ℗ 2021 Brilliant Classics :
The last movement is full of anger and defiance with an edge to it that drives this forward. There is no real respite from the stormy nature of this movement. The often syncopated or disjointed passages require great attention from both musicians, and this difficult movement receives a riveting performance.
Listen — Martinů: Allegro con brio (Cello Sonata No 1)
(track 3, 2:27-3:19) ℗ 2021 Brilliant Classics :
The second sonata was written in 1941, when, by this time, Martinů spent time in the US. A Czech cellist, Frank Rybka, helped Martinů and family find a flat and settle in, and later that year, Martinů wrote this second sonata and dedicated it to his friend. It received its first performance the following year.
The first movement is somewhat in the same vein as the first sonata, strong and defiant, and the music required great virtuosity. The middle section is more reflective and calmer, but this does not last. The music becomes stormier, it tries again for calmness, but that too is dispelled and until the end the defiant mood is maintained.
Listen — Martinů: Allegro (Cello Sonata No 2)
(track 4, 4:28-5:13) ℗ 2021 Brilliant Classics :
The second movement is sad and reflective, and in my mind, one of the most beautiful pieces Martinů wrote. It is rhapsodic in nature and even though at times the emotion is strong, there is a tenderness to it that really touches.
Listen — Martinů: Largo (Cello Sonata No 2)
(track 5, 0:00-0:51) ℗ 2021 Brilliant Classics :
Much of the last movement is lively and dancelike, although it changes its nature many times, and both Martinů's distinctive piano writing and very effective cello writing really stretch any performer. There is a fairly long cello cadenza that is quite spell-binding before the main theme comes in to propel the work to its ending.
The last sonata was written in 1952 for the Dutch cellist Hans Kindler, who was working as a conductor in the US.
The first movement is rhapsodic and sunny in nature, and the music is much less anguished than the previous two works. I think it also reflects the composer's Czech roots, his affection for the country and a sadness that the authorities of the time did not permit his return. There are moments of tension, but overall this movement is much more optimistic in nature.
Listen — Martinů: Poco andante (Cello Sonata No 3)
(track 7, 5:22-6:02) ℗ 2021 Brilliant Classics :
The second movement starts with an isolated chord in the piano and some pizzicato passages in the cello, and gently builds momentum from there. This is followed by a slow and lyrical section, where the cello has a more prominent role and the piano provides a chordal accompaniment. Then there is a build up to a climax, which in a way is not built on previous material introduced, before the very calm reflective mood of the earlier music is returned, and then there is a lovely coda.
The third movement is dancelike and rather joyous, reminding me of some of Martinů's Etudes and Polkas, written about seven years earlier. The pace of this music and the climax are rather tumultuous. The irrepressible nature of this movement rounds off this sonata beautifully.
Listen — Martinů: Allegro ma non presto (Cello Sonata No 3)
(track 8 [but should be 9], 2:01-2:44) ℗ 2021 Brilliant Classics :
I love this disc as I am a huge admirer of much of Martinů's music and it has been a lifelong passion. I remember that, when I was doing my music degree, my professors and fellow students could not really understand why, as his music was not often performed live in New Zealand at that time. There has been growing interest in this very individual composer, and one is much more likely to hear his works performed these days.
There is one serious error in the copy that I received for review - the last two movements of the third sonata are reversed. This is probably an editing error, and I hope the disc does not go out like this, as the performances on this disc are truly very admirable.
Copyright © 19 June 2021
Geoff Pearce,
Sydney, Australia
CD INFORMATION: MARTINŮ CELLO SONATAS