Passages: French Cello Works
Bridge, 2025
9/10
Listen to Passages: French Cello Works
A collection of French cello compositions that span 2 centuries and includes 3 premiere recordings, Louise Dubin plays cello and is joined by Spencer Myer and Julia Bruskin for these 7 involved pieces.
The elegant “Sonate Pour Violoncelle et Piano, Op. 66”, by Charles Koechlin, opens with the keys and strings interacting with much beauty and grace, and Gabriel Fauré’s “Allegro Moderato pour deux Violoncelles” follows with Dubin and Bruskin’s dancing cellos emitting both playfulness and sophistication.
In the middle, “Sérénade”, by Francis Poulenc, unfolds with Myer’s meticulous keys complementing Dubin’s emotive strings, while “Air Irlandais, Varié, pour violoncello et piano, Op. 25/3” allows for the animated keys and precise cello to flirt with tension via the album’s best and Auguste Franchomme original.
Landing near the end, Philippe Hersant’s “Caprices pour 2 violoncelles” is spread out across 3 diverse chapters that can be swift, intimate and poetic, and Claude Debussy’s “Sonate pour Violoncelle et Piano” finishes with 10+ minutes of strings and piano that radiate tremendous sophistication and timelessness.
The selections here cover a lot of territory, as Dubin and company touch on jazz, avant-garde and classical sounds with much care, color and adaptability.
Travels well with: Arlene Sierra, Vol. 4- Birds & Insects; Harry Partch- The Wayward First Complete Recording