Gabriel Fauré was not a precocious composer; by age thirty, he had composed little beyond songs and short piano pieces.
Performer Biography
Bengt Forsberg is known for exploring and performing unknown music by well-known composers, as well as works by lesser-known and neglected composers.
Performer Biography
Cellist Andreas Brantelid made his concerto debut at age 14 with the Royal Danish Orchestra and has performed with major orchestras across Scandinavia, the USA, and Europe.
Instruments
Andreas Brantelid plays a 1707 Antonio Stradivarius cello, known as the 'Boni-Hegar', on loan from Norwegian art collector Christen Sveaas.
Performer Biography
Pianist Bengt Forsberg is renowned as a chamber musician, notably for his successful collaboration and recordings with mezzo-soprano Anne Sofie von Otter.
Composer Biography
Fauré's later works, including the Sonatas on this album, were composed while he suffered from deafness, leading to a more pared-down, ascetic style.
Composer's Artistic Vision
Fauré believed art, especially music, should elevate one above the everyday, and he disliked program music, picturesque elements, and overly subtle sound combinations.
