Erling Blöndal Bengtsson became the assistant to renowned cellist Gregor Piatigorsky at the Curtis Institute of Music at age 17, and succeeded him as a teacher there the following year.
Performer Biography
Erling Blöndal Bengtsson, the cellist on this album, was given a violin at age three but insisted on playing it between his knees, leading to him performing on a viola with an end-pin.
Composer Biography
Paul Hindemith, a composer on this album, was considered one of the finest violists of his generation and could reportedly play all orchestral instruments with similar skill.
Performer Biography
Erling Blöndal Bengtsson's insatiable curiosity about modern music led him to premiere many Scandinavian cello concertos, several of which were dedicated to him.
Performer Biography
Erling Blöndal Bengtsson was appointed professor at the Royal Danish Academy of Music in Copenhagen at the young age of 29.
Compositional Technique
Zoltán Kodály's Sonata for Solo Cello, featured on this album, exploits scordatura by tuning the two lower strings down to F-sharp and B, considerably extending the instrument's range.
Composer's Artistic Vision
Paul Hindemith, a composer featured on this album, was an anti-Romantic composer whose music was often labeled "Neue Sachlichkeit" (New Objectivity) and "Gebrauchsmusik" (utility music).
