Christoph Croisé & Alexander Panfilov Russian Album: Cello Sonatas By Rachmaninov, Shostakovic

In the spring of 2019, Christoph Croise scored a breakthrough with his critically acclaimed recording of Haydns Cello Concertos. With The Russian Album, he turns his attention to two towering 20th century masterpieces, Sergei Rachmaninoffs early, eloquent and emotional Sonata for Cello and Piano, Op. 19, and Dmitri Shostakovichs D minor Sonata for Cello and Piano Op. 40. The latter works finale featured what would become the composers signature style of caricature and irony that proved too provocative to the Stalinist regime. Croise also offers two encores- his own transcriptions of the March from Sergei Prokofievs propulsive opera The Love for Three Oranges, and Rodion Shchedrins flamboyant In the Style of Albeniz- and a bonus track by his compatriot, the Swiss cellist and composer Thomas Demenga, New York Honk, a humorous homage to the Big Apples cacophonous traffic noises. a recording teeming with sparkle and relentless in fizz. (Gramophone)