Dora Pejačević - Violin Sonatas (Andrej Bielow; Oliver Triendl)

Information

Composer: Dora Pejačević

• Violin Sonata in D major, Op. 26
• Canzonetta, Op. 8
• Menuet, Op. 18
• Romance, Op. 22
• Élégie, Op. 34
• Violin Sonata in B flat minor, Op. 43, 'Slavic'
• Meditation, Op. 51

Andrej Bielow, violin

Oliver Triendl, piano

Date: 2014

Label: CPO

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Review

The tragically short-lived Dora Pejačević (1885–1923) was born into a highly cultured and wealthy Croatian family who ensured that her exceptional talent for the violin, piano and composing was fostered from an early age. Among her major pieces awaiting rediscovery are a piano concerto, piano quintet and symphony composed in her late twenties and early thirties, but at least her once-popular pieces for violin and piano (including the two sonatas) have been rescued here from oblivion in performances that rejoice in her music’s Grieg-inspired sound world.

Ukrainian Andrej Bielow, leader of the Szymanowski Quartet since 2005, possesses a gloriously unforced, flexible and pure sound, ideal for such gentle, salonesque miniatures as the Canzonetta, Minuet (three minutes of unalloyed enchantment) and Romance. It is tempting to cocoon such innocent material in a haze of tonal luxuriance and lashings of vibrato, but Bielow plays each one as a precious jewel, inflecting phrases and harmonic side-steps with an ingenuousness that captures the mood and moment to perfection. Alongside gifted pianist Oliver Triendl (who retains his magical touch throughout the occasionally swirling accompaniments), Bielow captures the wide-eyed innocence of the op.26 Sonata in D major with heartwarming sensitivity in exceptionally well-balanced sound.

— Julian Haylock

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Dora Pejačević (10 September 1885 – 5 March 1923) was a Croatian composer, pianist and violinist recognized as a pioneer in modern Croatian music. She introduced the orchestral song to the national repertoire, and her Symphony in F-sharp minor is regarded as the first modern Croatian symphony. Her works, particularly vocal compositions, piano miniatures, and string quartets, reflect expressionist and modernist influences. Initially rooted in Romanticism, her style evolved after serving as a paramedic during World War I, incorporating themes of nihilism, death and war's futility. She died in 1923 from childbirth complications.

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Andrej Bielow (born 1981) is a Ukrainian violinist. He studied under Michael Kusnetsov and Krzysztof Wegrzyn, with further guidance from musicians such as Gérard Poulet and Alfred Brendel. A prizewinner at major competitions like ARD and Long-Thibaud, he has also received many scholarships. Bielow has recorded over 20 albums and performed with top orchestras worldwide. He is a dedicated chamber musician and was leader of the Szymanowski Quartet during 2006–2014. Since 2014, he has taught at Kunstuniversität Graz and Robert Schumann Hochschule, and is a visiting tutor at the Royal Academy of Music in London.

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Oliver Triendl (born 1970 in Mallersdorf, Bavaria) is a German pianist. Trained by distinguished teachers including Gerhard Oppitz and Oleg Maisenberg, he is a prizewinner of numerous international competitions. Triendl has performed globally as a soloist and chamber musician, appearing with leading orchestras such as the Munich Philharmonic, Mozarteum Orchestra Salzburg and Shanghai Symphony. His unique repertoire includes around 90 piano concertos and hundreds of chamber works, many of which he has premiered or recorded first. His tireless commitment is reflected in more than 100 CD recordings.

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