Davydov wrote in a West-leaning Russian style, similar to Tchaikovsky, often using Russian folk melodies but also drawing on European Romantic composers like Mendelssohn and Schumann.
Composer Biography
Karl Davydov, a key figure in the 19th-century Russian cello school, was called 'the tsar of cellists' by Tchaikovsky.
Performer Biography
Marina Tarasova, a renowned Russian cellist, is a winner of international competitions in Prague, Florence, and Paris, and a laureate of Moscow's Tchaikovsky International Competition.
Composition History
Davydov began an opera called Poltava, but abandoned it when he became Director of the St. Petersburg Conservatory; the libretto was then used by Tchaikovsky for his opera Mazeppa.
Compositional Technique
Davydov pioneered many cello techniques that are now standard, including high thumb positions on lower strings, a fluid bow hold, and using an end pin to support the instrument.
Instruments
A Stradivarius cello, presented to Davydov in 1870, is still known by his name and has been owned by Jacqueline du Pré and is currently played by Yo-Yo Ma.
Recording & Production
This album features recordings from two different periods: some tracks were recorded in 2019, while the majority were recorded in 1998.
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