This album was recorded at the Cape-centre des arts pluriels Ettelbruck, with Marco Battistella Jr. as recording supervisor and Maurice Barnich handling recording and mixing.
Composition History
The texts for these songs are by Jean Richepin, a French poet who was imprisoned and fined in 1876 for 'offences against morality' shortly after their publication.
Composer Biography
César Cui had a practical career as an engineer specializing in fortifications, becoming a professor and rising to the rank of major general in the military.
Composer Biography
César Cui, though Russian, was of part-French and part-Lithuanian origin, which influenced his preference for foreign opera topics.
Composer's Artistic Vision
Cui's love for Robert Schumann is evident in his preference for miniature genres like songs, piano pieces, and chamber music.
Critical Reception
César Cui was a productive and feared critic, even attacking Modest Mussorgsky's opera 'Boris Godunov', which backfired and led to questions about his musical competence.
Interpretation
Jean Bermes (bass-baritone) and Denis Ivanov (piano) aim for unconventional interpretations, juxtaposing powerful and fragile representations of emotions.
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