Upheaval
Janne Fredens (cello), Søren Rastogi (piano)
The major discovery here is Henriëtte Bosmans’s Cello Sonata in A minor, a darkly hued, deeply expressive work completed by the Dutch composer in 1919. There are several other recordings out...
Upheaval
Janne Fredens (cello), Søren Rastogi (piano)
Purchase product
The major discovery here is Henriëtte Bosmans’s Cello Sonata in A minor, a darkly hued, deeply expressive work completed by the Dutch composer in 1919. There are several other recordings out...
About
“UPHEAVAL” is an exceptional project in several aspects. First, it presents four compositions for cello and piano written by female composers from the first part of the 20th century, challenging the cultural norms of the day and secondly, the title “Upheaval”, also refers to the tumultuous period around the First World War. The works featured on this recording are Henriëtta Bosmansʼ Sonata for Cello and Piano (1919), Dora Pejačevićʼs Sonata for Cello and Piano (1913), Nadia Boulangerʼs Trois pièces (1914), and Lili Boulangerʼs Nocturne (1911), were all written over an eight-year period in France, the Netherlands, and Croatia. Henriëtte Bosmans was one of Hollandʼs greatest pianists, and a composer of great distinction as her sweeping, early Cello Sonata proves. Countess Maria Theodora Paulina (Dora) Pejačević is rightfully considered the matri-arch of Croatian composers. Her Cello Sonata, Opus 35 embodies late romanticism, with influences of Mendels-sohn, Brahms and Dvorak particularly evident. The program concludes with works from two amazing sisters: Nadia (1887–1979) and Lili Boulanger (1893–1918). Both were pioneers in their fields (Lili was the First Woman to win the coveted Prix de Rome, and Nadia, for teaching about every major post-war composer) and were for many years, two of the best-known women in music in the twentieth century. The artists, the husband-and-wife cello/piano duo of Janne Fredens (cello) and Søren Rastogi (piano) approach this program with a sense of profound commitment and mission, recognizing that there performances of such unfamiliar repertoire may well serve as a benchmark for future artists. Both are active soloists and teach at the Royal Academy of Music, Aarhus. The chosen instrument for the recording is the Bechstein Gran Piano to match the beautiful tone of Janneʼs cello, and to give an impression of the periods piano sound. This is a highly recommended recording for fans of unfamiliar chamber music, advocates for women composers and those who just love to hear glorious music played by great musicians with passion and commitment.
Contents and tracklist
- Janne Fredens (cello), Søren Rastogi (piano)
- Janne Fredens (cello), Søren Rastogi (piano)
- Janne Fredens (cello), Søren Rastogi (piano)
- Janne Fredens (cello), Søren Rastogi (piano)
Awards and reviews
March 2024
The major discovery here is Henriëtte Bosmans’s Cello Sonata in A minor, a darkly hued, deeply expressive work completed by the Dutch composer in 1919. There are several other recordings out there, but Fredens’s passionate commitment to the music and her autumnal tone feel like an ideal match for the sonata’s late-Romantic style.
February 2024
[The Bosmans Sonata is] a troubling work...The intensity of the performers pays even higher dividends here than in the Pejačević...Strongly recommended.