Of the works recorded on this CD by pianist Jean-Marie Trotereau (cello) and Jeffrey Grice (piano), only the "Cello Sonata" by Claude Debussy (1862-1918) will be known to a somewhat larger audience. Debussy wrote this piece as the second in a series of six sonatas, of which only three were completed due to his early death. The Cello Sonata was created in 1917 and is a wonderful example of the lucid
… and refined writing style of Debussy's later years. That will also be explicitly intended: Debussy drew on the title page of the first edition as 'musicien français' and that was intended as a clear rejection of the German style. This piece therefore also had to serve as a kind of musical defense against Germany - World War I was still in full swing - and demonstrate the vitality of French (chamber) music. The fertility of the French chamber music tradition at the beginning of the 20th century is further documented here by two much lesser known works. The opening will be opened with the "Cello Sonata No. 1" by Guy Ropartz (1864-1955); it is a beautiful three-part work, where the influence of Franck and Fauré is clearly recognizable. Even less known is probably the composer Georges Migot (1891-1976). This Migot was a very versatile man: he was not only a composer but also a poet, painter, philosopher and much more. As a composer he remained a somewhat isolated figure throughout his life. His "Pièces nrs.1-3" and the four-part "Dialogue No. 2" are fine examples of his modest and at the same time very atmospheric spelling, with especially 'Voeu' and 'Observance' from the "Pièces" and the ' Pastoral 'from the "Dialogue" stand out in a positive sense. With this repertoire this has become a very attractive cello CD. The absorption is very direct and not optimal. (JvG) _more
