Aram Khachaturian's Sonata-Fantasia for cello solo incorporates elements of Armenian folk music, including melodic decorations and an improvisatory style, and evokes the sounds of traditional instruments like the kiamancia, qanone, dhol, duduk, and zurna.
Instruments
Vadim Pavlov, the performer on this album, plays on a David Tecchler cello from 1700, which was entrusted to him by the Pro Canale Foundation of Milan.
Critical Reception
Both Piatti's 12 Caprices and Khachaturian's Sonata-Fantasia are rarely performed and recorded due to their significant technical and interpretive difficulties.
Composer Biography
Carlo Alfredo Piatti, the composer of the 12 Caprices, Op. 25, initially experienced a series of failures during his European tours from 1837 to 1844 before achieving international fame in England.
Composition History
Aram Khachaturian's Sonata-Fantasia for cello solo, composed in 1974, reflects a Lisztian influence in its title and formal structure, consisting of a single, broad movement.
Composer's Artistic Vision
Piatti's 12 Caprices for cello solo aim to recreate the singing qualities of Italian opera arias on a single instrument.
Critical Reception
Franz Liszt, a renowned composer and pianist, referred to Carlo Alfredo Piatti as a 'Paganini of the cello', highlighting his exceptional skill.
