Miklós Perényi . Dénes Várjon

The Sonata for solo Cello by Zoltán Kodály (1882-1967) is absolutely crazy! In this piece written in 1915 the composer introduces all kinds of new playing techniques. Ranging from lightening speed Czárdás passages and pizzicato, over tremolos, double stops and rapidly repeated notes to bow bouncing. All of which result in a kaleidoscope of colours and sound effects. At times the cello resembles the sound of a harp or bagpipes and suddenly you imagine you are listening to a gypsy orchestra. The leading Hungarian cellist Miklós Perényi knew Kodály and studied the solo Sonata with him. He therefore plays this music with impressive self-confidence and an idiomatic awareness of style. He approaches the works of Béla Bartók (1881-1945) and Sandór Veress (1907-1992) with the same authority. The works of the latter composer, who was a student of Bartók, urgently deserves our reappraisal. His Sonata for Cello and Piano (1933) combines modern complexity with romantic temperament.