Thomas Auner, the cellist on this album, began playing piano and cello at a young age and won a special jury award at an international cello competition at age five, as the youngest participant ever.
Composer's Artistic Vision
Johann Sebastian Bach's cello suites, while perfect and sublime, are composed of a series of dance movements, some of which were already stylized court dances no longer performed in his time.
Album & Artwork
The album's concept, 'Invitation to the Dance: Dances across the centuries,' aims to capture diverse cultural facets through compositions for the cello, reflecting the performer's desire to 'dance through the centuries' with his instrument.
Composition History
Astor Piazzolla, initially ashamed of his tango background, was encouraged by Nadia Boulanger to embrace his heritage, leading him to organically combine classical elements and tango tradition in his music.
Compositional Technique
Carl Maria von Weber's 'Invitation to the Dance' is a 'Rondo brillant' for piano that functions as a tone poem, with a detailed program outlining a conversation and dance between a man and a woman.
Interpretation
Thomas Auner's arrangement of Weber's 'Invitation to the Dance' for cello and piano is unique, inspired by Berlioz's orchestral version which features a cello solo depicting a cavalier inviting a lady to dance.
Composition History
Piazzolla's 'Le grand Tango' was originally composed for the cello, with the Russian master cellist Mstislav Rostropovich in mind, who eventually premiered it in 1990.
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