César Cui - Mélodies (Céline Laly; Emmanuel Christien)

Information

Composer: César Cui

• 20 mélodies sur des textes de Jean Richepin, Op. 44
• 6 mélodies, Op. 23

Céline Laly, soprano

Emmanuel Christien, piano

Date: 2018

Label: EnPhases

-----------------------------------------------------------

César Cui (18 January 1835 – 26 March 1918) was a Russian composer and music critic. He was one of the prominent members of The Five, a group of Russian nationalist composers who sought to create a distinct Russian musical identity. Cui was known for his operas, chamber works, and art songs. He composed fifteen operas in total, including four fairytale operas for children. Although his music was initially well-regarded, his reputation declined over time. Apart from composing, Cui was also an active music critic. Despite his contributions, he is often overshadowed by his contemporaries in the Russian nationalist movement.

***

Céline Laly trained in the genre of opera at the Accademia Santa Cecilia in Rome, the University of Music and Performing Arts Vienna, and the Conservatoire de Paris. She also perfected her skills with Thomas Quasthoff, Renata Scotto, Kiri Te Kanawa, Marjana Lipovsek and Ann Murray. Winner in 2011 of the Concurso Internacional de Canto Montserrat Caballé, Laly performs as a soloist with the Limoges Baroque Ensemble, the Pulcinella Ensemble, La Risonanza, La Clique des Lunaisiens, La Petite Symphonie, Archimusic, Les Frivolités Parisiennes… and in various venues in France and Europe.

***

French pianist Emmanuel Christien was born in 1982. He enrolled at the Paris Conservatory (the CNSMDP) in 1999, studying there with the renowned pianist and pedagogue Jacques Rouvier. Christien won several top student prizes at the conservatory and studied or took master classes along the way with Aldo Ciccolini and Paul Badura-Skoda, among others. He often appeared in vocal or chamber music concerts, accompanying, among others, soprano Felicity Lott, cellist Gauthier Herrmann, and violinist Samika Honda. He is a member of the Bordeaux-based Trio Gallien and the Ensemble Monsolo.

-----------------------------------------------------------