Stravinsky, Poulenc & Debussy: Works for Cello and Piano

Featuring

Amalie Stalheim
Christian Ihle Hadland
Igor Stravinsky
Francis Poulenc
Claude Debussy

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Composition History

Claude Debussy planned a series of six sonatas for different instrument combinations in 1915 but, seriously ill with cancer, only completed three: the violin, cello, and flute, viola, and harp sonatas.

Instruments

Cellist Amalie Stalheim performs on a Francesco Ruggieri cello from Cremona, 1687, which is lent to her by the Anders Sveaas' Charitable Foundation.

Composer's Artistic Vision

Stravinsky was known for 'rewriting or recreating the music in the spirit of the new instrument' rather than routine arranging, as observed by violinist Samuel Dushkin.

Composition History

Stravinsky created two versions of Suite Italienne: one for violin and piano in 1925, and a different cello-and-piano selection in 1932, collaborating with cellist Gregor Piatigorsky.

Composer Biography

Francis Poulenc, known for works like the Organ Concerto and his ballet Les biches, admitted to struggling with writing for solo strings, even destroying two early violin sonatas.

Performer Biography

Pianist Christian Ihle Hadland made his professional concerto debut at age 15 with the Norwegian Radio Orchestra and performed with soprano Renée Fleming at the Nobel Prize Award Ceremony in Oslo in 2006.