While best known for his popular arrangement of Bizet's Carmen for Percussion Ensemble, Rodion Shchedrin is a versatile composer whose works defy easy categorization. This new CD presents three chamber music compositions, all of which were composed in the mid-1990's and represent various contrasting facets of Shchedrin's work. The poly-stylistic Piano Terzetto of 1995, the monumental Sonata for Violoncello and Piano, written in 1996, and the Three Funny Pieces of 1997 - a set of arrangements of three of his earlier solo piano pieces for piano trio - the famous Humoresque (1957), as well as two pieces from the "Notebook for Youth" of 1981.

In addition to being an extremely valuable addition to the catalogue of Shchedrin's music currently available, this recording is doubly valuable in that it features the composer in performance of two of his own works. An essential release for all fans of contemporary and Russian music!