Volupté: Music for Viola & Piano By Charles Koechlin Josephjongen

Track Listing:

Charles Koechlin: Sonate pour Piano et Alto, Op. 53 (1912-1915)
Charles Koechlin: Quatre Petites Pièces
Joseph Jongen: Concertino pour Alto et Piano, Op. 111 (1940)
Joseph Jongen: Introduction et Danse, Op. 102 (1935)
Joseph Jongen: Andante Espressivo (1900)
Joseph Jongen: Allegro Appassionato

Melba Recordings proudly presents Volupté: Music for Viola and Piano by Charles Koechlin and Joseph Jongen, played by outstanding musicians Roger Benedict, Timothy Young and guest artist Ben Jacks.

The Violist Roger Benedict enjoys an international career as one of the finest musicians of his generation. His wide-ranging performances have included work as soloist, chamber musician, orchestral player, teacher and conductor. Roger joined the London Philharmonic at age 22 and became Principal Viola of the Philharmonia Orchestra at 29. Through these orchestras Roger worked under the roster of the greatest conducting luminaries of his time. In 2002 Roger moved to Australia to become Principal Viola with Sydney Symphony Orchestra. He performs every year as guest principal viola with the Chamber Orchestra of Europe.

Roger Benedict is a leading chamber musician. His chamber partners have included musicians Sir Simon Rattle, Lorin Maazel, Leif Ove Andsnes, Julian Lloyd Webber and Osian Ellis. He has given recitals at Wigmore Hall and the Purcell Room.

Roger is one of the driving forces in Australian music, both as performer and teacher. He is a passionate advocate for music education, working with many young artists.

Timothy Young enjoys a reputation as one of Australia’s leading pianists. In a wide-ranging repertory he performs regularly in recital as soloist and in partnership with leading Australian and international musicians and ensembles.

This never before recorded music is sublimely lush and accessible. Joseph Jongen and Charles Koechlin are two names that are not at the top of anyone’s list of most recognised composers of the twentieth century. In fact most music lovers will not have even heard their names let alone their music. But they are two individual and distinctive musical voices who followed their own path and composed some wonderful music.

Koechlin’s mighty Viola Sonata bleeds with the tragedy of war-time horror. It is unexpectedly gripping for a work for the seemingly polite ensemble of viola and piano. Listening to this piece is a truly remarkable emotional journey.

The wistful beauty of his Quatre Petites Pièces for Horn, Viola and Piano, show that the playful mood of pieces written in his youth can coexist with the painful yearning for a lost time.

The viola music of Jongen has an unashamed focus on the melodic line with episodes of rapture and exquisite beauty, often interspersed with passages of great bravura display and virtuosity.