Cello Sonatas: Larisch(Vc)hill(P)

Beethoven's influence is amply evident in the work of Ferdinand Ries. It should be no surprise that the student should take after the mentor, especially in these works for cello and piano, a genre Beethoven virtually invented. The performances on this album embody the elegance of Ries's work.
The composer invokes the same sense of seriousness in his music as did his teacher. An equal partnership between cello and piano marks each of these compositions, from the soporific opening to "Introduction and a Russian Dance for Piano Forte and Violoncello" to the remarkable and melodramatic 'Cello Sonata in G Minor.'
The partnership of pianist Robert Hill and cellist Guido Larisch is equally fruitful. Their talents and styles are well matched, resulting in delightful performances. Powerful, emotional and technically precise, they play to the strengths of the music.