Romantic Double Bass - CD

In the 19th century, several virtuosos played this instrument and also wrote music for it. Bottesini being the best known of them. His virtuoso pieces seem to push the intrinsically slow instrument to its limits.

The first CD with recordings from 1988 gives some examples of these typical centerpieces. On the second CD, Hans Roelofsen presents newly recorded performances of two sonatas by Chopin and Rachmaninov, originally written for cello with piano accompaniment. These transcriptions show how versatile the double bass is. It works surprisingly well: it's the truly romantic double bass.

Disc 1 - Total duration 52'17

Giovanni Bottesini

1. DUETTO for Clarinet, Double-bass & Orchestra

2. CONCERTO No. 2 for Double-bass & Orchestra in B minor - Allegro moderato

3. CONCERTO No. 2 for Double-bass & Orchestra in B minor - Andante

4. CONCERTO No. 2 for Double-bass & Orchestra in B minor - Allegro

5. CONCERTANT DUO on Themes from Belini's "I Puritani", for Cello, Double-bass & Orchgestra

6. GRAND DUO CONCERTANT for 2 Double-basses & Orchestra

Disc 2 - Total duration 67'20

Frédéric Chopin

1. SONATA IN E MINOR OP.65 - Allegro moderato

2. SONATA IN E MINOR OP.65 - Scherzo, allegro con brio

3. SONATA IN E MINOR OP.65 - Largo

4. SONATA IN E MINOR OP.65 - Finale, allegro

Sergey Rachmaninoff

5. SONATA IN E MINOR OP.19 - Lento-allegro moderato

6. SONATA IN E MINOR OP.19 - Allegro scherzando

7. SONATA IN E MINOR OP.19 - Andante

8. SONATA IN E MINOR OP.19 - Allegro mosso

Artists: Hans Roelofsen - double bass, Rudolf Senn - double bass, George Peterson - clarinet, Marien van Staalen - cello, Múza Rubackyté - piano

Orchestra: Arnhem Philharmonic Orchestra conducted by Alun Francis

Label: Brillant Classics

Released: April 2006

EAN: 5028421925134