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“Trouvailles” Cello and Piano Sonatas by BOËLLMANN, DOHNÁNYI and BRIDGE – Hannah Holman, cello /Réne Lecuona, p. – Blue Griffin

by Audiophile Audition | Mar 28, 2016 | Classical CD Reviews

A talented piano/cello duo performs sonatas by Boëllmann , Dohnányi and Bridge. “Trouvailles” Cello and Piano Sonatas by BOËLLMANN, DOHNÁNYI and BRIDGE – Hannah Holman, cello /Réne Lecuona, p. –  Blue Griffin BGR 359, 76:24 (Distr. by Albany) *****: The catalogue of works for cello and piano is not extensive, and yet these two musicians, Réne Lecuona and Hannah Holman, searched it and found these three treasures (French “trouvailles”). All three composers were virtuoso performers on their chosen instruments before they began serious composing – Léon  Boëllmann on organ and piano, Ernó Dohnáhnyi on piano, and Frank Bridge on viola – and so  the quality of playing required in each of these works is very high. Léon Boëllmann (1862 – 1897) is the earliest of the three and the shortest-lived. Born in Alsace, he entered music school at age nine and happened to come under the tutelage of two great organ teachers, Lefèvre and Gigout. He won prizes in organ and piano performance as well as music theory, and was a favorite of his teachers. Indeed, he married Lefèvre’s daughter, and was adopted by Gigout. He moved easily in the best Parisian musical circles, and at 25 became “organiste titulaire’ […]