Nurit Stark & Cédric Pescia - Bloch: The Sonatas for Violin & Piano, Piano Sonata (2017)

Nigh on 60 years after his death, the Swiss composer, born in 1880 of Jewish origin, naturalized American in 1924, remains relatively little known by the general public and music lovers alike. Yet his music, full of lyricism, drama, virtuosity, poetry, has all it takes to please. His language combines tonality, bitonality, atonality, elements inherited from the Jewish musical tradition as well as allusions to movie style American music.

A couple in life as well as on stage, Nurit Stark and Cédric Pescia are literally captivated by Bloch’s music and personality. Between them, they combine the composer’s origin and nationality. In a programme that unites the two Violin and Piano Sonatas and the Piano Sonata, they passionately promote works where calmness alternates with hysteria and folklore with mysticism.

According to Bloch, the programme of both Violin and Piano Sonatas, composed in 1920 and 1924 respectively, is as simple as can be: the first shows the world “as it is, with the violent opposition of primordial and blind forces” and the second depicts it “as it should be, according to our dreams”.

This dichotomy is at the heart of the rare and amazing Sonata for Piano solo (written close to Geneva in 1935): the 2nd movement idyll “Pastorale” is framed by two sombre, violent and martial movements, which forewarn of horrors to come.

Indeed, as the recording had just been completed, Cédric Pescia chose words he is not accustomed to using to describe it: “this CD is pure dynamite!”



Tracklist:

Ernest Bloch (1880-1959)

01. Violin Sonata No. 1 in A Minor: I. Agitato
02. Violin Sonata No. 1 in A Minor: II. Molto quieto
03. Violin Sonata No. 1 in A Minor: III. Moderato
04. Violin Sonata No. 2 "Poème mystique": I. Andante moderato / II. Animato / III. L'istesso tempo / IV. Animato
05. Piano Sonata: I. Maestoso ed energico-Animato
06. Piano Sonata: II. Pastorale. Andante
07. Piano Sonata: III. Moderato alla marcia

Personnel:
Nurit Stark, violin
Cédric Pescia, piano