Belle Époque 1886 Corinne Morris & Petr Limonov

• César Franck (1822 - 1890): Violin Sonata in A Major, FWV 8 (Arr. J. Delsart for Cello & Piano):
• 1 Franck: Violin Sonata in A Major, FWV 8 (Arr. J. Delsart for Cello & Piano): I. Allegretto ben moderato 07:07
• 2 Franck: Violin Sonata in A Major, FWV 8 (Arr. J. Delsart for Cello & Piano): II. Allegro 09:30
• 3 Franck: Violin Sonata in A Major, FWV 8 (Arr. J. Delsart for Cello & Piano): III. Recitativo-Fantasia. Ben moderato 08:12
• 4 Franck: Violin Sonata in A Major, FWV 8 (Arr. J. Delsart for Cello & Piano): IV. Allegretto poco mosso 07:32
• Benjamin Godard (1849 - 1895): Cello Sonata in D Minor, Op. 104:
• 5 Godard: Cello Sonata in D Minor, Op. 104: I. Moderato 13:04
• 6 Godard: Cello Sonata in D Minor, Op. 104: II. Adagio non troppo 07:52
• 7 Godard: Cello Sonata in D Minor, Op. 104: III. Vivace ma non troppo 11:05
• Total Runtime 01:04:22

Info for Belle Époque 1886

SOMM RECORDINGS "Belle Époque 1886" celebrates a golden age of French chamber music, uniquely coupling Cello Sonatas by César Franck and Benjamin Godard. Francks A major and Godards D minor Sonatas were both composed in 1886 when French composers were replacing Austro-German dominance with a native, vernacular style. Making their debuts on SOMM are cellist Corinne Morris and pianist Petr Limonov. Of Anglo-French heritage, Morris continues to reveal herself a formidable musician. She made a triumphant comeback after a shoulder injury forced her to withdraw from the concert platform for more than five years. She has been hailed by Mstislav Rostropovich as Corinotchka, my colleague while Paul Tortelier wrote My warmest wishes are for Corinne and her art. With a burgeoning profile at the keyboard and conductors podium, Russian-British pianist Petr Limonov has been described as an extremely multi-faceted, phenomenal musician who has an endless array of abilities (Classical Music magazine). Francks Cello Sonata an arrangement by cellist Jules Delsart of his Violin Sonata, originally composed for violinist Eugène Ysaÿes wedding and the only alternative version sanctioned by the composer is notable for the lyrical, singing quality of its cello writing while boasting complex harmonies and sophisticated thematic devices throughout. A prolific composer, versatile musician and close associate of Francks, Godards Cello Sonata, says Gavin Dixon in his booklet notes, demonstrates an innate knowledge of the instrument, especially of the varied expressive potential of its different ranges. It is shot through with vivid coloring of the cellos voice in shifting registers and Godards penchant for the operatic.

Corinne Morris, cello
Petr Limonov, piano

Corinne Morris
Described as ‘a triumphant assertion’ by Classical Music Magazine, Corinne Morris’s re-launch album ‘Macedonian Sessions’ recorded with the Macedonian Radio Orchestra, marked the British/French cellist’s return to the platform after a debilitating shoulder injury brought her career to a halt for over 5 years.

Corinne Morris has a long list of professional accomplishments, including being a prize-winner of the Maria Canals International Cello Competition in Spain, and the International French Music Competition in Paris. Asked to perform at Rostropovich’s request at his festival in Evian (F), Morris was also invited to perform and take part in the world-famous Verbier Academy in Switzerland, as well as the international Cello festival in Kronberg in Germany. Morris has appeared throughout Europe, Japan and China, including chamber music performances with Schlomo Mintz at the Jerusalem Conservatory. She has made several recordings for France Musique, Bayerischer Rundfunk (Germany) and ORF (Austria). Her BBC debut recital was broadcast on Radio 3, and she is on the list of solo artists for Radio 3 programmes.

Corinne Morris started the cello at the age of 8 and was a student of Raphael Sommer, a major disciple of Paul Tortelier. At age 16, she obtained an ARCM with honours (Royal College of Music, London) and continued her training at the prestigious Conservatoire in Paris where she graduated with a first prize in both cello and chamber music. She then completed a post-graduate solo cello performing degree at the University of Music in Vienna, Austria. During her studies, Corinne Morris had the privilege to work with Paul Tortelier, Mtislav Rostropovich, André Navarra, Bernard Greenhouse, Ralph Kirshbaum and Franz Helmerson.

Morris’s story has inspired many in the music industry and beyond. She has given several interviews for publications including The Times, International Arts Manager, Classical Music Magazine, Gramophone, The Strad and Australia’s Limelight Magazine. Corinne Morris has been invited on several occasions on BBC radio 3’s ‘In Tune’ programme and she was invited to Classic FM’s weekly Webchat.

Following a marked debut with the Scottish Chamber Orchestra, Morris recorded her latest album with them “Chrysalis” which features concerti by Haydn and Monn. The album has had a phenomenal response from the media and public alike. It went straight into the top of the UK Official Classical Charts and was ClassicFM’s “Drive Discovery” album of the week. BBC Radio Scotland’s Classics Unwrapped selected “Chrysalis” as Album of the Week describing it as “thoughtful, beautifully paced…stylish playing”.

Corinne Morris plays a cello by C.A. Miremont dated 1876 on loan to her by a private investor.

Petr Limonov
Pupil of Maria João Pires and Dmitri Alexeev, award-winning Russian-British pianist and conductor Petr Limonov frequently performs across Europe and the UK, having collaborated with, among others, Boris Berezovsky, Maria João Pires, Nicola Benedetti, Laura van der Heijden, Jennifer Pike, Leonard Elschenbroich, Natalie Clein and Van Kujik Quartet. He has recorded for Decca, Onyx Classics, Chandos and Champs Hill labels; the “1948” album, recorded with Laura van der Heijden, received the “Edison Klassiek” award in 2018 and the BBC “Newcomer of the Year” award in 2019.

Petr’s notable appearances include La Roque d’Antheron festival (Boris Berezovsky’s Carte Blanche, broadcast by radio France Musique), Wigmore Hall, Cadogan Hall, Kings Place, St Martin-in-the-Fields, Southbank Centre, the Great Hall of Moscow Conservatory, a recital in The Duke’s Hall for HRH Prince Charles, iTunes Festival, TV appearances for BBC Proms Extra, Podium Witteman and broadcasts for BBC Radio 3 and “Culture” TV channel (Russia). In 2017, his arrangement of the Auld Lang Syne (from Nicola Benedetti’s “Homecoming” album, Decca, 2014) was performed in the Albert Hall at the BBC Proms. His repertoire stretches from Orlando Gibbons to Arvo Pärt.

Born in Moscow, Petr started playing the piano at the age of 5. A year later he entered the prestigious Moscow Central Music School, where he studied under the guidance of Siavush Gadjiev, Valery Piasetsky and, later, Andrei Pisarev. After winning First Prize at the Nikolai Rubinstein International Piano Competition in Paris he started giving concerts throughout Europe and Russia, supported by the Vladimir Spivakov International Foundation. He went on to study with Hamish Milne and Alexander Satz at the Royal Academy of Music (London) on a full scholarship, followed by a year spent at the Ecole Normale de Musique de Paris Alfred Cortot, where his teachers were Ramzi Yassa and Wolfram Schmitt-Leonardy. In 2010 Petr returned to London to commence his postgraduate studies at the Royal College of Music with Dmitri Alexeev on a full scholarship, obtaining his Masters degree in 2012. During his studies Petr took part in masterclasses given by Ferenc Rados, Alfred Brendel, Stephen Hough, Vitaly Margulis and Stephen Kovacevich; whilst in RCM he also studied conducting under Peter Stark. In November 2013 Petr made his conducting début at Cadogan Hall with London International Chamber Orchestra, directing works by Glazunov and Rachmaninov.

Booklet for Belle Époque 1886