Réveiller Bella Hristova & Michael Houstoun

• Maurice Ravel (1875 - 1937): Sonata for Violin and Piano No. 1 (Sonate Posthume):
• 1 Ravel: Sonata for Violin and Piano No. 1 (Sonate Posthume) 14:20
• Francis Poulenc (1899 - 1963): Sonata for Violin and Piano Mvt:
• 2 Poulenc: Sonata for Violin and Piano Mvt: 1 Allegro con fuoco 06:59
• 3 Poulenc: Sonata for Violin and Piano Mvt: 2 Intermezzo 05:56
• 4 Poulenc: Sonata for Violin and Piano Mvt: 3 Presto tragico 05:36
• Gabriel Fauré (1845 - 1924): Sonata No. 1 for Violin and Piano in A Major, Op. 13 Mvt:
• 5 Fauré: Sonata No. 1 for Violin and Piano in A Major, Op. 13 Mvt: 1 Allegro Molto 09:42
• 6 Fauré: Sonata No. 1 for Violin and Piano in A Major, Op. 13 Mvt: 2 Andante 07:28
• 7 Fauré: Sonata No. 1 for Violin and Piano in A Major, Op. 13 Mvt: 3 Allegro Vivo 04:08
• 8 Fauré: Sonata No. 1 for Violin and Piano in A Major, Op. 13 Mvt: 4 Allegro Quasi Presto 05:25
• Sonata for Violin and Piano No. 2 Mvt:
• 9 Ravel: Sonata for Violin and Piano No. 2 Mvt: 1 Allegretto 08:20
• 10 Ravel: Sonata for Violin and Piano No. 2 Mvt: 2 Blues, Moderato 05:31
• 11 Ravel: Sonata for Violin and Piano No. 2 Mvt: 3 Perpetuum mobile, Allegro 04:05
• Total Runtime 01:17:30

Info for Réveiller

Réveiller is an exploration of some of the most exquisite French works for violin and piano, featuring sonatas by Ravel, Poulenc, and Fauré. Each piece evokes a unique character, blurring the lines between dreams and reality.

Maurice Ravel's Sonate posthume is an early yet profound work brimming with lyrical beauty and a sense of introspection. Francis Poulenc's Violin Sonata is characterised by bold contrasts, vibrant energy, and moments of whimsical charm juxtaposed against passages of explosive power and then deep melancholy. Gabriel Fauré's A Major Violin Sonata, a cornerstone of the violin-piano repertoire, is known for its singing melodies and lush harmonies. The G Major Sonata exemplifies Ravel's mastery of form and colour, showcasing his genius in fusing traditional structures with vibrant rhythms and jazz harmonies.

Bella Hristova, violin
Michael Houstoun, piano

Bella Hristova
Acclaimed for her passionate, powerful performances, beautiful sound, and compelling command of her instrument, violinist Bella Hristova is a musician with a growing international career. She recently appeared as soloist with the Milwaukee and Kansas City symphonies and toured New Zealand, performing Beethoven’s ten sonatas with acclaimed pianist Michael Houstoun. This season she performs Vivaldi with the New York String Orchestra at Carnegie Hall, Sibelius with the Hawaii and Wheeling symphonies and the Brevard Philharmonic, Barber with the National Philharmonic Orchestra, and Mendelssohn with the Winnipeg Symphony. She has performed at major venues and worked with conductors including Pinchas Zukerman, Jaime Laredo, Rossen Milanov, and Michael Stern. A sought-after chamber musician, she performs at festivals including Australia’s Musica Viva, Music@Menlo, Music from Angel Fire, Chamber Music Northwest, the Santa Fe Chamber Music Festival, and the Marlboro Music Festival. Her recording, Bella Unaccompanied (A.W. Tonegold Records), features works for solo violin by Corigliano, Kevin Puts, Piazzolla, Milstein, and J. S. Bach. She is recipient of a 2013 Avery Fisher Career Grant, first prizes in the Young Concert Artists International Auditions and Michael Hill International Violin Competition, and a laureate of the International Violin Competition of Indianapolis. She attended the Curtis Institute of Music, where she worked with Ida Kavafian and Steven Tenenbom, and received her artist diploma with Jaime Laredo at Indiana University. An alum of The Bowers Program (formerly CMS Two), Ms. Hristova plays a 1655 Nicolò Amati violin.

Michael Houstoun
In 1973 at the age of twenty he entered and placed third in the Van Cliburn International Piano Competition. This led to a year of study with Rudolf Serkin at the Curtis Institute of Music in Philadelphia. In 1975 he placed fourth in the Leeds International Piano Competition and then in 1982 sixth in the Tchaikovsky International Piano Competition.

After living overseas for six years - including a valuable period of study with Brigitte Wild in London - he returned home in 1981 where he has enjoyed his life as something of an 'Artist in ResideNZ', performing recitals, concertos and chamber music all over the country year in year out. Most years he performs one or two new programs and consequently has built a very large repertoire spanning from J S Bach to the present day. Included are many compositions by NZ composers and quite a few commissions.

Houstoun has twice presented the complete Beethoven sonatas in seven-concert cycles. More recently he has performed the 48 Preludes and Fugues of Bach's 'Well-tempered Klavier' in two-concert events. Since 1999 he has recorded for Rattle with five of his albums winning Classical Record of the Year awards.

This album contains no booklet.