Truls Mørk: Grieg Cello Sonata String Quartet
MICs Listen to Norway series continues with Truls Mørk: Grieg Cello Sonata String Quartet
This release was recorded in Grieg’s own house, Troldhaugen, and features Håvard Gimse playing the composer’s own piano. Grieg’s Cello Sonata opens with a wild first movement that’s like a storm front that rushes down a coastline. The second movement offers reminiscences of Grieg’s incidental music while the finale takes on almost orchestral proportions, demonstrating the composer’s wish to be associated with more than folk music and cute miniatures. The String Quartet is a life-giving experience with its healthy dose of Sturm und Drang, vividly conveyed by Mørk and Gimse. The performances are honest and sincere, sans self-conscious beautification of tone or sweetening of the interpretations. Mørk’s tone and bow strokes are confident and controlled, while Gimse provides thoughtful accompaniment with a highly present timbre.
Truls Mørk: Grieg Cello Sonata String Quartet (EMI Recorded Music / Virgin Classics 72435455052)
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