Double Concertos for Violin & Piano

TRACK INFORMATION LINER NOTES ARTISTS ACKNOWLEDGMENTS MORE Martinů Double Concertos for Violin & Piano Rhapsody-Concerto for Viola and Orchestra

Mari & Momo Kodama & Sarah & Deborah Nemtanu

Magali Demesse Orchestre Philharmonique de Marseille Lawrence Foster TRACK INFORMATION LINER NOTES ARTISTS ACKNOWLEDGMENTS MORE

Bohuslav Martinů (1890-1959)

Concerto for Two Violins and Orchestra H. 329 (1950) 1 Poco allegro 7. 23 2 Moderato – Allegro con brio – Vivo (Presto) 10. 46

Rhapsody-Concerto for Viola and Orchestra H. 337 (1952) 3 Moderato 9. 16 4 Molto Adagio – Allegro – Andante 10. 44

Concerto for Two Pianos and Orchestra H. 292 (1943) 5 Allegro non troppo 6. 34 ← ← 6 Adagio 10. 04 7 Allegro 7. 44

Total playing time: 62. 52

Deborah & Sarah Nemtanu, Violin Magali Demesse, Viola Momo & Mari Kodama, Piano

Orchestre Philharmonique de Marseille Conducted by Lawrence Foster

Bohuslav Martinů (1890-1959) Being sisters, it always feels very special to perform together, also because we An Undogmatic Nomad century, as members of an insecure constitute a glorious chapter in his life; Martinů: many of his works were also Thanks to his contact with Serge to Europe in 1948, he decided not to than 400 compositions, including 31 Concerto for Two Pianos and Nemenoff and Pierre Luboschutz, Becker even remarked on a “tendency to complex double-stops, which increase As the composer himself later stated, Sarah Nemtanu Concerto with Gautier Capuçon, of charities including the French Britten Competition in London. Since Martinů are very different pianists, which gives us even a stronger urge to set out on a society that is continually questioning he was not content to keep to academic performed in international concert halls; Koussevitzky, the composer quickly visit Czechoslovakia as the communists concertos and concertante works; Orchestra H. 292 the pianists who commissioned the emphasize the Czech atmosphere”. To even to quadruple-stops, raise the bar he went through a development that Violin conducted by Emmanuel Krivine. Her society Musique et Santé for children in 2005, she is principal violinist of the Concerto for Two Violins and Orchestra H. 329 (1950) It filled us with joy when we received the invitation from common interpretative journey. In that respect, it doesn’t matter whether we Thoughts on Concertante Works the key challenges facing humanity. And rules and regulations and was expelled he received a number of awards; and his established himself in his new home. were now in power in his country. In the a prolific writer of high quality, who work and gave the world première in quote Martinů: “The work was written to extreme heights, expanding the led him away from “geometry” in the solo appearances with the Orchestre hospitals and Amnesty International. Orchestre de chambre de Paris. Curious Double Concertos for Violin & Piano 1 Poco allegro 7. 23 PENTATONE to record Martinů’s Double Concerto for Two Violins play Mozart, Bartók, Poulenc or Martinů. Playing his Concert for Two Pianos and by Bohuslav Martinů to which Martinů gave a foresighted from the conservatoire in 1910 for artistic career was followed with interest He settled down to write a total of six early 1950s, Martinů dedicated himself composed with great speed, absolute The 20th century saw the emergence Philadelphia on November 5, 1943: “As under terrible circumstances, but the sound space considerably. In the middle direction of “fantasy”. To quote the Sarah Nemtanu became a well-known National de France, the London She also teaches young musicians in and passionate, Deborah Nemtanu Rhapsody-Concerto for Viola and Orchestra 2 Moderato – Allegro con brio – Vivo (Presto) 10. 46 and Orchestra. In fact, many years ago Lawrence Foster offered Orchestra, it is impossible to hide yourself. This truly exceptional work, written answer back in 1956: “The artist is “incorrigible negligence.” Nevertheless, by influential conductors, including symphonies and, above all, numerous once again to composition; and in stylistic command, and above all with of a number of outstanding works for a pianist, you really need to be highly emotions it voices are not those of movement, the two soloists alternate great Martinů-expert, Aleš Brezina, violinist when, at the age of 21, she was Symphony Orchestra, the Swedish Radio Masterclasses and other pedagogical always aims high: she has conducted us to perform this work for the first time with the Orchestra della down under difficult circumstances, is incredibly challenging for the soloists, “A slice of heaven is revealed in each of always searching for the meaning of in 1912 he managed to graduate at his Paul Sacher. He also found happiness in concertos, including the Concerto 1952, he became an American citizen. undogmatic creativity. The Bärenreiter- the unusual combination of two-piano concentrated in order to understand the despair, but rather of revolt, courage the melodic leadership. The euphonious here “his ability to build up extensive named principal violist in the Orchestre Orchestra, the Santa Cecilia Orchestra settings. the orchestra herself, and strives to Mari & Momo Kodama & Rhapsody-Concerto for Viola and Orchestra H. 337 (1952) fondazione Toscanini, and it is thanks to him that we discovered both musically and playing-wise. To us, the Martinů Concerto is a highly complex his pieces.” This wonderful and eloquent life, both of his own and of that of the second attempt. During World War I, his private life after marrying a French for Two Pianos and Orchestra H. 292, Nevertheless, the following year he Verlag is in the process of publishing concertos, created by great composers complexity!”. Influenced by the Baroque and unshakable faith in the future.” music of the final movement once again lyrical passages ending in strong National de France. In 2010, her first in Rome and the Mahler Chamber reconcile the soloist and ensemble 3 Moderato 9. 16 this piece. The concerto has an Eastern-European imprint - construction; it takes emotional and rational strength to fully access it, in order sentence was once uttered by Bohuslav human race; searching for the truth. Martinů was exempted from military woman, Charlotte Quennehen. Martinů the Concerto for Two Violins and finally turned his back on his adopted a historical-critical complete edition, such as Francis Poulenc, Béla Bartók and concerto grosso (as in his Concerto gives the solo violins the opportunity to catharsis reaches its first peak.” The record Gypsic topped sales charts Orchestra have earned high praise, and Deborah Nemtanu musician in herself, resulting in a Sarah & Deborah Nemtanu 4 Molto Adagio – Allegro – Andante 10. 44 congenial to our own, Romanian roots – both in its marvellous to provide balance and clarity to the listener. The work almost seems to be a Martinů’s wife, Charlotte. It set the A system of insecurity has invaded our service, and returned to Polička to teach had a good reputation in the world of Orchestra H. 329 and the Rhapsody- country to return to Europe. After which will finally comprise about 100 Igor Stravinsky. Martinů composed his for Two Violins and Orchestra H. 329), Concerto for Two Violins and fully display their virtuosity. two-movement work is characterized in France. In 2009 she was the ‘real’ she has performed with conductors Violin veritable chamber-musical approach to and dance-like joy and in the profound and rustic nature that mysterious jungle, in which one easily loses track. In those moments, it was tone for music that had been exposed everyday lives. We must protest against the violin. In 1920, he became a violinist music; but in June 1940, the happy days Concerto for Viola and Orchestra first sojourning in France and Italy, he volumes. As the publishing situation is Concerto for Two Pianos and Orchestra Martinů deploys the orchestra as a Orchestra H. 329 by inner peace and modesty; harmonic violinist in Radu Mihaileanu’s film Le such as Bernard Haitink, Sir Colin Davis, solo concertos. She plays a Domenico Concerto for Two Pianos and Orchestra H. 292 (1943) often characterizes Martinů’s music. More than being just a wonderful to recognize these aberrations and to evade them, in an intuitive for decades to an abundance of the pressure to favour mechanization in the most important Czech orchestra – in Paris came to an abrupt end. When H. 337. Thus the recording at hand accepted an invitation from Paul Sacher highly complex in Martinů’s case, this in a very short period of time, from counterpart to the two pianos. The first Rhapsody-Concerto for Viola and oscillation and simple melodies go hand Concert. Before all this, however, Sarah Valery Gergiev and Riccardo Muti in Born into a passionately musical Montagnana violin of 1740, generously 5 Allegro non troppo 6. 34 discovery, this concerto feels almost like a revelation, offering us way, without talking too much. A blind understanding is very important when extremely heterogeneous influences and and uniformity to which our daily life is the Czech Philharmonic. the German Wehrmacht invaded France provides a concentrated overview of to settle on his estate near Basel, where also marks a decisive milestone with January 3 to February 23, 1943. As he movement is a rhythmic and pianistic Martinů wrote the concerto between Orchestra, H. 337 in hand. In the compelling conclusion of Nemtanu began violin studies with her some of the world’s most prestigious family, Deborah Nemtanu chose to provided by Monceau Investissements 6 Adagio 10. 04 everything we have searched for since our childhood days in our performing such an unconventional work together. We sense the right timing role models, ranging from Honegger, subjected; and the artist has only one and occupied Paris, Martinů was forced Martinů’s activities as a composer in he finally died on August 28, 1959. A regard to the world-wide diffusion of stated: “I have used the pianos for the tour de force, during which both pianos May and June 1950 following a the concerto, Martinů returns with the father, Vladimir, principal violinist of venues. play the violin at the age of four, a Mobiliers, a branch of the Monceau 7 Allegro 7. 44 exploration of the repertoire for two violins: modernity, folklore together and allow ourselves liberties, but without losing ourselves from view. Stravinsky and Neoclassicism, through means of expressing this – in his music.” His first compositions were a success, to flee across southern France, Spain the United States. Yet all these artistic life-long emigrant on an artistic quest, his œuvre, as “many works are available first time in the purely ‘solo’ sense, with are almost permanently on the go: commission from the twin prodigies, In his viola concerto, Martinů distances listener to his own childhood, when he the Orchestre National de Bordeaux decision that has turned out to be a Assurances Group. and passionate writing for the violin. It was important to us to make Martinů’s music sound not only beautiful or even jazz, to English madrigals. However, and in 1922 Martinů entered Josef Suk’s and Portugal to the USA, where he and achievements were able only to assuage he was never able to completely tear only in inadequate first editions of over the orchestra as accompaniment, the high-speed toccata fireworks. The slow Gerald and Wilfred Beal, who were himself from the echoes of the “used to march around the gallery of Aquitaine. She then studied with Gérard Her repertoire encompasses the solo huge success. After being unanimously Total playing time: 62. 52 sterile, but rather wild and powerful. In the end, that was our goal. It has been an this is music that not only sought its The eternal emigrant composition class. However, just one his wife finally ended up in March 1941. his homesickness, not to resolve the himself away from his homeland. 50 years old, many of which include form is free; it leans rather toward the middle movement is introduced by a subsequently the soloists at the concerto grosso form. He wrote the the church tower in Polička, drumming Poulet at the Paris Conservatory, and chamber literature, and she enjoys awarded a prize at the Conservatoire Deborah & Sarah Nemtanu exceptional experience to record this magnificent concerto for PENTATONE with own path, but definitely found it. Music year later, he set off to Paris with a travel This proved to be a wise decision, as problem. Plans for a return to the unauthorized editing. Some works were concerto grosso. It demands virtuosity, cadenza that Mari and Momo Kodama première in Dallas on January 14, 1951. composition, which was commissioned away on his small drum”. The artistic graduating with first prizes in violin and revisiting the “classics”, as her recording national Supérieur de musique et de Maestro Lawrence Foster who led us through this musical journey. that, thanks to its daring individuality Martinů led an adventurous life. Born on grant in his pocket in order to continue the Nazis issued a performance ban Czech Republic after the war ended The quester never even properly typeset; instead, brilliant piano technique and the timbre acknowledge as possessing a well-nigh Despite the large-scale orchestra by the Ukrainian violist Jascha Veissi, nomad is finally settling down. And chamber music when she was 18. Gypsic shows. She also appreciates danse de Paris in 2001, she received Deborah & Sarah Nemtanu, Violin and courage, has finally earned its December 8, 1890 in Polička, Bohemia, studying composition under Albert on his works shortly after invading were scrapped due to political reasons, they were distributed by the publishers of the same two instruments calls forth “cutting irony”. As it contains very few required for this work, the concerto- between March 15 and April 18, 1952. a slice of heaven is revealed to the a variety of non-classical music, as the fourth prize in the international Magali Demesse, Viola Momo & Mari Kodama place in the limelight. For Martinů is he received a scholarship to enter the Roussel – and to seek new impulses. His Czechoslovakia. Martinů was able to and a serious accident at the Berkshire In his works, Martinů continued in the in transcriptions, or even in the form of new colours and new sonorities.” bar line indications, all solo instruments grosso style is ever-present. The This work again demonstrates how listener. Following the awards she won in demonstrated by her performances Jacques-Thibaud Concours, after which Momo & Mari Kodama, Piano undoubtedly one of the most important Prague Conservatoire at the age of 16, stay there, which was originally planned take only four of his manuscripts with Music School left Martinů with serious great Czech traditions as set out by reproductions of the composer’s rather have a great amount of freedom. After three-movement concerto thrives Martinů managed to cater to the the Saint-Jean de Luz and Antonio with Richard Galliano, Chilly Gonzales, she was selected to take part in the composers of the 20th century; and his where he studied the violin. However, for three months, finally turned into him, the rest he was forced to leave consequences for the rest of his life – he Smetana, Dvořák, Fibich and Janáček illegible manuscripts” (Bärenreiter Mari Kodama agrees that the piano this haven of tranquility, the brilliant on the extraordinary virtuosity of the individual wishes of his “clients”. The Stradivarius competitions, she Ibrahim Maalouf, and the singer Juliette. prestigious Perlman Program in the Magali Demesse Orchestre Philharmonique de Marseille numerous and extremely diverse works his years of study – which later included 17 years. Following initial difficulties, behind in Paris. was left deaf in one ear and suffering – albeit under his own steam. He was website). parts provided by Martinů are extremely Rondo finale once again sets lashings solo instrument parts. In the first piece demands virtuoso playing, without was introduced to the public in Sharing her expertise is important to United States. In 2008, she won second Orchestre Philharmonique de Marseille Conducted by Lawrence Foster Deborah & Sarah Nemtanu Momo & Mari Kodama are still capable of stirring us in the 21st both organ and composition – did not this was a highly successful period for from balance issues. When he journeyed a truly prolific composer, writing more difficult – and not only for Genia of local musical “dust” aswirl. Hartmut movement, dashing runs and highly making any sacrifices in substance. a recording of Brahms’s Double her, and she participates in a variety prize in the international Benjamin © Jean-Baptiste Millot © Jean-Baptiste Millot Lawrence Foster Liner Notes Artistst

Magali Demesse she continued her education with Mari Kodama New York, Paris, London, as well as and England. She studied piano with including the Berlin Philharmonic, Boston Orchestre Philharmonique Claude Casadesus, Armin Jordan, at the Festival International de Piano de Lawrence Foster In addition to highly successful for PENTATONE, notably of violin works Acknowledgments Viola Tasso Adamopoulos and through Piano throughout Japan, Spain and Germany, Germaine Mounier and chamber music Symphony, Bayerisches Staatsorchester, de Marseille Evelino Pidó and Nello Santi, as well as la Roque d’Anthéron every summer, and Conductor productions in Marseille, he regularly with Arabella Steinbacher as well masterclasses from Hatto Bayerle, and much of the rest of the U.S.A. with Geneviève Joy-Dutilleux at the Tokyo Symphony, NHK Symphony, internationally renowned soloists such ocassionally at Chorégies d’Orange. In conducts at the opera houses in as of Bartók’s Two Portraits, Ligeti’s PRODUCTION TEAM Magali Demesse entered the Bruno Giuranna, Walter Trampler and Mari Kodama’s profoundly nuanced yet The Los Angeles Times pronounced her Conservatoire National de Paris, later Elbphilharmonie Orchestra, Radio France In 1965, when the ORTF Regional as Roberto Alagna, Patrizia Ciofi, Angela the summer of 2016, several PENTATONE Conductor Lawrence Foster has been Frankfurt, Hamburg, San Francisco and Romanian Concerto, Kodaly’s Dances of Executive producer and recording producer Job Maarse conservatoire of Aix-en-Provence at the Tabea Zimmermann. natural musicality and her unique ability performances of the Prokofiev Third studying with Tatiana Nikolaeva at the Philharmonic and the Royal Liverpool Orchestra was dissolved, the City Georghiù, Ludovic Tézier, Olga Borodina, recordings have been made. Music Director of l’Opéra de Marseille Monte Carlo. With great success he led Galánta and Háry Janos Suite, and the Balance engineer Jean-Marie Geijsen | Recording engineer Erdo Groot What we stand for: age of 11 to study the viola with Marie- to unite tonal expressivity with a clear Piano Concerto “commanding and Salzburg Mozarteum and with Alfred Philharmonic orchestras, under the of Marseille decided to create the Mireille Delunsch, Natalie Dessay, and l’Orchestre Philharmonique de a concert performance of Hindemith’s Four Symphonies by Robert Schumann Noël and Fredéric Sailly and to follow Demesse gets frequent invitations from sense of form have made her a leading electrifying.” Brendel as a private pupil. baton of Seiji Ozawa, Eliahu Inbal, Orchestre de l’Opéra de Marseille. In Renaud and Gautier Capuçon, Brigitte Marseille since 2012. Previously he Mathis der Maler at the Enescu Festival with the Czech Philharmonic Orchestra, Liner notes Jörg Urbach | English translation Fiona J. Stroker-Gale

masterclasses with Serge Collot before l’Opéra de Paris, l’Orchestre national de international pianist. An authoritative Charles Dutoit, Jun Märkl, Lawrence 1981, the new director of music János Engerer and José van Dam. In addition, © Jean-Marie Geijsen has held Music Directorships with the in Bucharest and a production of La and Strauss’s Zigeunerbaron with NDR Cover photo Jean-Baptiste Millot | Design Joost de Boo joining the class of Sabine Toutain, Montpellier, l’Orchestre de l’Opéra de Beethoven interpreter, Mari earns Mari is also a founding artistic director For more information please visit Mari Kodama’s Foster, Kent Nagano, André Prévin and Sir Fürst launched a campaign to create the orchestra participates in the actions Orquestra Simfònica de Barcelona, Traviata at the Savonlinna Opera Radiophilharmonie Hannover. Product management Kasper van Kooten The Power of Classical Music where she won first prize in the prix Lyon, l’Orchestre national de Lyon and consistent praise for her virtuosity of the Musical Days at Forest Hill, a website: www.marikodama.com Roger Norrington. She has appeared at l’Orchestre Philharmonique de Marseille offered by the Opéra towards young Jerusalem Symphony Orchestra, Festival. PENTATONE believes in the power of classical music and is invested in the de la Ville de Paris et du Conservatoire l’Orchestre du Capitole de Toulouse, across a broad range of repertoire that festival of chamber music presented prestigious festivals including Marlboro, and it is thanks to the exclusive support audiences, schoolchildren, students Houston Symphony, and Orchestre de Born in 1941 in Los Angeles to Romanian This album was recorded at Friche la Belle de Mai, Marseille, 20-30 June 2017 philosophy behind it: we are convinced that refined music is one of the most National de Région de Paris. Her studies but also from chamber music festivals includes orchestral, chamber, and solo together with her husband Kent Nagano Momo Kodama USA; Verbier and Lucerne, Switzerland; La of the municipality that the staff was and handicapped. It also collaborates Chambre de Lausanne. Following an utmost fruitful ten-year parents, Lawrence Foster has been a important wellsprings of culture and essential to human development. at the Conservatoire National Supérieur such as the Helsinki Festival and the works by composers of all eras. near their home in San Francisco. The Piano Roque d’Anthéron, Festival d’Automne, then expanded to 88 musicians. with other theaters and festivals Mr. Foster is frequently invited to work tenure as Artistic Director and Chief major champion of the music of George de Paris where crowned with a first prize Roque d’Anthéron Festival. She has pianist has played with such orchestras France; Festival Enesco, Romania; and participated in several television with internationally renowned orchestras Conductor of the Gulbenkian Orchestra, Enescu - he was decorated for his merits True Artistic Expression in the viola class of Pierre-Henri Xuereb made recordings with the ensemble In Japan, Kodama is a regular guest as the Berlin Philharmonic, London Born in Osaka, Momo Kodama spent Festival Tivoli, Denmark; Settembre Since then, l’Orchestre Philharmonique productions. Since February 2012, such as Orchestre Philharmonique Mr. Foster was appointed Conductor to Romanian music by the Romanian We hold the acoustic tastes and musical preferences of our artists in high regard, and two first prizes for chamber music Musicatreize (crowned with a Victoire of major Japanese orchestras, most Philharmonic, Philharmonia Orchestra, her early years in Europe. She studied Musica, Italy; and Schleswig-Holstein, de Marseille has aimed to disseminate Lawrence Foster has been the Music de Radio France, Montréal Symphony Laureate. International tours have led President. and these play a central role from the start to the end of every recording project. Sit back and enjoy in the class of Christian Ivaldi. de la musique 2007) and the ensemble recently the Tokyo Metropolitan Hallé Orchestra, the Montreal at the Conservatoire National de Paris Germany. Her musical partners include not only the great works of the classical Director of the Marseille Philharmonic Orchestra, Copenhagen Philharmonic, him and the orchestra to Germany, Lawrence Foster This ranges from repertoire selection and recording technology to choosing cover © Marc Ginot Déséquilibres. Orchestra and the Yomiuri Nippon Symphony, the NDR Elbphilharmonie and later with Murray Perahia, András Renaud Capuçon, Christian Tetzlaff, and romantic repertoire but also to pay Orchestra, giving a new impetus to the Konzerthausorchester Berlin as well Spain, Brazil, as well as to important art and other visual assets for the booklet. Demesse joined the orchestra of the Orchestra in Tokyo. A brilliantly well- Orchestra, Vienna Symphony, Los Schiff, Vera Gornostaeva and Tatiana Steven Isserlis and Jörg Widmann. A tribute to 20th-century composers such orchestral phalanx. as orchestras in Cologne, Frankfurt, festivals such as Kissinger Sommer, Marseille Opéra as principal violist in received performance of the complete Angeles Philharmonic and the Berkeley Nikolaïeva. In 1999, she became the highly regarded performer of the music as Messiaen, Tomasi, Lesur, Chaynes, Budapest, Shanghai, and Hong Kong. many times with famous soloists like Sound Excellence 1994. She has regularly performed solo Beethoven Sonata cycle in Los Angeles Symphony, among others. youngest winner of the Concours by Olivier Messiaen, she was awarded Dutilleux, Florentz, Charpentier, Barber, Together with Maestro Foster, the He has deep musical friendships with Lang Lang. PENTATONE stands for premium quality. The musical interpretations delivered concertos with the orchestra, such as launched Kodama’s United States of International ARD in Munich. Momo the Saji Keizo Prize by the Suntory Bernstein, Gershwin and Leon. The orchestra performed in China and at outstanding soloists such as Evgeny PENTATONE TEAM by our artists reach new standards in our recordings. Recorded with the most the viola concertos of Henri Tomasi America reputation, and was followed Born in Osaka, Mari Kodama was Kodama has been invited to perform Foundation in Japan for her contribution orchestra has worked together with the Bad Kissingen festival in 2014 and Kissin, Arcadi Volodos, and Arabella Mr. Foster’s discography includes a Vice President A&R Renaud Loranger | Director Simon M. Eder | A&R Manager powerful and nuanced audio technologies, they are presented to you in the most Sarah & Deborah Nemtanu and William Walton. Simultaneously, by acclaimed recital appearances in raised in Germany, Switzerland, France, with world renowned orchestras to contemporary music. famous conductors such as Jean- 2016. As from 2015, the orchestra plays Steinbacher. number of highly acclaimed recordings Kate Rockett | Head of Marketing, PR & Sales Silvia Pietrosanti luxurious, elegant products. Magali Demesse Mari & Momo Kodam a © Peggy Porquet © Jean-Baptiste Millot TRACK INFORMATION LINER NOTES ARTISTS ACKNOWLEDGMENTS MORE

It filled us with joy when we received the invitation from PENTATONE to record Martinů’s Double Concerto for Two Violins and Orchestra. In fact, many years ago Lawrence Foster offered us to perform this work for the first time with the Orchestra della fondazione Toscanini, and it is thanks to him that we discovered this piece. The concerto has an Eastern-European imprint - congenial to our own, Romanian roots – both in its marvellous and dance-like joy and in the profound and rustic nature that

often characterizes Martinů’s music. More than being just a discovery, this concerto feels almost like a revelation, offering us ← ← everything we have searched for since our childhood days in our exploration of the repertoire for two violins: modernity, folklore and passionate writing for the violin.

Deborah & Sarah Nemtanu

Deborah & Sarah Nemtanu © Jean-Baptiste Millot

Being sisters, it always feels very special to perform together, also because we are very different pianists, which gives us even a stronger urge to set out on a common interpretative journey. In that respect, it doesn’t matter whether we play Mozart, Bartók, Poulenc or Martinů. Playing his Concert for Two Pianos and Orchestra, it is impossible to hide yourself. This truly exceptional work, written down under difficult circumstances, is incredibly challenging for the soloists, both musically and playing-wise. To us, the Martinů Concerto is a highly complex construction; it takes emotional and rational strength to fully access it, in order to provide balance and clarity to the listener. The work almost seems to be a mysterious jungle, in which one easily loses track. In those moments, it was

wonderful to recognize these aberrations and to evade them, in an intuitive way, without talking too much. A blind understanding is very important when ← ← performing such an unconventional work together. We sense the right timing together and allow ourselves liberties, but without losing ourselves from view. It was important to us to make Martinů’s music sound not only beautiful or even sterile, but rather wild and powerful. In the end, that was our goal. It has been an exceptional experience to record this magnificent concerto for PENTATONE with Maestro Lawrence Foster who led us through this musical journey.

Momo & Mari Kodama

Momo & Mari Kodama © Jean-Baptiste Millot

An Undogmatic Nomad century, as members of an insecure constitute a glorious chapter in his life; Martinů: many of his works were also society that is continually questioning he was not content to keep to academic performed in international concert halls; Thoughts on Concertante Works the key challenges facing humanity. And rules and regulations and was expelled he received a number of awards; and his by Bohuslav Martinů to which Martinů gave a foresighted from the conservatoire in 1910 for artistic career was followed with interest answer back in 1956: “The artist is “incorrigible negligence.” Nevertheless, by influential conductors, including “A slice of heaven is revealed in each of always searching for the meaning of in 1912 he managed to graduate at his Paul Sacher. He also found happiness in his pieces.” This wonderful and eloquent life, both of his own and of that of the second attempt. During World War I, his private life after marrying a French sentence was once uttered by Bohuslav human race; searching for the truth. Martinů was exempted from military woman, Charlotte Quennehen. Martinů Martinů’s wife, Charlotte. It set the A system of insecurity has invaded our service, and returned to Polička to teach had a good reputation in the world of tone for music that had been exposed everyday lives. We must protest against the violin. In 1920, he became a violinist music; but in June 1940, the happy days

for decades to an abundance of the pressure to favour mechanization in the most important Czech orchestra – in Paris came to an abrupt end. When extremely heterogeneous influences and and uniformity to which our daily life is the Czech Philharmonic. the German Wehrmacht invaded France ← ← role models, ranging from Honegger, subjected; and the artist has only one and occupied Paris, Martinů was forced Stravinsky and Neoclassicism, through means of expressing this – in his music.” His first compositions were a success, to flee across southern France, Spain jazz, to English madrigals. However, and in 1922 Martinů entered Josef Suk’s and Portugal to the USA, where he and this is music that not only sought its The eternal emigrant composition class. However, just one his wife finally ended up in March 1941. own path, but definitely found it. Music year later, he set off to Paris with a travel This proved to be a wise decision, as that, thanks to its daring individuality Martinů led an adventurous life. Born on grant in his pocket in order to continue the Nazis issued a performance ban and courage, has finally earned its December 8, 1890 in Polička, Bohemia, studying composition under Albert on his works shortly after invading place in the limelight. For Martinů is he received a scholarship to enter the Roussel – and to seek new impulses. His Czechoslovakia. Martinů was able to undoubtedly one of the most important Prague Conservatoire at the age of 16, stay there, which was originally planned take only four of his manuscripts with composers of the 20th century; and his where he studied the violin. However, for three months, finally turned into him, the rest he was forced to leave numerous and extremely diverse works his years of study – which later included 17 years. Following initial difficulties, behind in Paris. are still capable of stirring us in the 21st both organ and composition – did not this was a highly successful period for

Liner Notes

Thanks to his contact with Serge to Europe in 1948, he decided not to than 400 compositions, including 31 Concerto for Two Pianos and Koussevitzky, the composer quickly visit Czechoslovakia as the communists concertos and concertante works; Orchestra H. 292 established himself in his new home. were now in power in his country. In the a prolific writer of high quality, who He settled down to write a total of six early 1950s, Martinů dedicated himself composed with great speed, absolute The 20th century saw the emergence symphonies and, above all, numerous once again to composition; and in stylistic command, and above all with of a number of outstanding works for concertos, including the Concerto 1952, he became an American citizen. undogmatic creativity. The Bärenreiter- the unusual combination of two-piano for Two Pianos and Orchestra H. 292, Nevertheless, the following year he Verlag is in the process of publishing concertos, created by great composers the Concerto for Two Violins and finally turned his back on his adopted a historical-critical complete edition, such as Francis Poulenc, Béla Bartók and Orchestra H. 329 and the Rhapsody- country to return to Europe. After which will finally comprise about 100 Igor Stravinsky. Martinů composed his Concerto for Viola and Orchestra first sojourning in France and Italy, he volumes. As the publishing situation is Concerto for Two Pianos and Orchestra

H. 337. Thus the recording at hand accepted an invitation from Paul Sacher highly complex in Martinů’s case, this in a very short period of time, from provides a concentrated overview of to settle on his estate near Basel, where also marks a decisive milestone with January 3 to February 23, 1943. As he ← ← Martinů’s activities as a composer in he finally died on August 28, 1959. A regard to the world-wide diffusion of stated: “I have used the pianos for the the United States. Yet all these artistic life-long emigrant on an artistic quest, his œuvre, as “many works are available first time in the purely ‘solo’ sense, with achievements were able only to assuage he was never able to completely tear only in inadequate first editions of over the orchestra as accompaniment, the his homesickness, not to resolve the himself away from his homeland. 50 years old, many of which include form is free; it leans rather toward the problem. Plans for a return to the unauthorized editing. Some works were concerto grosso. It demands virtuosity, Czech Republic after the war ended The quester never even properly typeset; instead, brilliant piano technique and the timbre were scrapped due to political reasons, they were distributed by the publishers of the same two instruments calls forth and a serious accident at the Berkshire In his works, Martinů continued in the in transcriptions, or even in the form of new colours and new sonorities.” Music School left Martinů with serious great Czech traditions as set out by reproductions of the composer’s rather consequences for the rest of his life – he Smetana, Dvořák, Fibich and Janáček illegible manuscripts” (Bärenreiter Mari Kodama agrees that the piano was left deaf in one ear and suffering – albeit under his own steam. He was website). parts provided by Martinů are extremely from balance issues. When he journeyed a truly prolific composer, writing more difficult – and not only for Genia

Nemenoff and Pierre Luboschutz, Becker even remarked on a “tendency to complex double-stops, which increase As the composer himself later stated, the pianists who commissioned the emphasize the Czech atmosphere”. To even to quadruple-stops, raise the bar he went through a development that work and gave the world première in quote Martinů: “The work was written to extreme heights, expanding the led him away from “geometry” in the Philadelphia on November 5, 1943: “As under terrible circumstances, but the sound space considerably. In the middle direction of “fantasy”. To quote the a pianist, you really need to be highly emotions it voices are not those of movement, the two soloists alternate great Martinů-expert, Aleš Brezina, concentrated in order to understand the despair, but rather of revolt, courage the melodic leadership. The euphonious here “his ability to build up extensive complexity!”. Influenced by the Baroque and unshakable faith in the future.” music of the final movement once again lyrical passages ending in strong concerto grosso (as in his Concerto gives the solo violins the opportunity to catharsis reaches its first peak.” The for Two Violins and Orchestra H. 329), Concerto for Two Violins and fully display their virtuosity. two-movement work is characterized Martinů deploys the orchestra as a Orchestra H. 329 by inner peace and modesty; harmonic

counterpart to the two pianos. The first Rhapsody-Concerto for Viola and oscillation and simple melodies go hand movement is a rhythmic and pianistic Martinů wrote the concerto between Orchestra, H. 337 in hand. In the compelling conclusion of ← ← tour de force, during which both pianos May and June 1950 following a the concerto, Martinů returns with the are almost permanently on the go: commission from the twin prodigies, In his viola concerto, Martinů distances listener to his own childhood, when he high-speed toccata fireworks. The slow Gerald and Wilfred Beal, who were himself from the echoes of the “used to march around the gallery of middle movement is introduced by a subsequently the soloists at the concerto grosso form. He wrote the the church tower in Polička, drumming cadenza that Mari and Momo Kodama première in Dallas on January 14, 1951. composition, which was commissioned away on his small drum”. The artistic acknowledge as possessing a well-nigh Despite the large-scale orchestra by the Ukrainian violist Jascha Veissi, nomad is finally settling down. And “cutting irony”. As it contains very few required for this work, the concerto- between March 15 and April 18, 1952. a slice of heaven is revealed to the bar line indications, all solo instruments grosso style is ever-present. The This work again demonstrates how listener. have a great amount of freedom. After three-movement concerto thrives Martinů managed to cater to the this haven of tranquility, the brilliant on the extraordinary virtuosity of the individual wishes of his “clients”. The Rondo finale once again sets lashings solo instrument parts. In the first piece demands virtuoso playing, without of local musical “dust” aswirl. Hartmut movement, dashing runs and highly making any sacrifices in substance.

Sarah Nemtanu Concerto with Gautier Capuçon, of charities including the French Britten Competition in London. Since Violin conducted by Emmanuel Krivine. Her society Musique et Santé for children in 2005, she is principal violinist of the solo appearances with the Orchestre hospitals and Amnesty International. Orchestre de chambre de Paris. Curious Sarah Nemtanu became a well-known National de France, the London She also teaches young musicians in and passionate, Deborah Nemtanu violinist when, at the age of 21, she was Symphony Orchestra, the Swedish Radio Masterclasses and other pedagogical always aims high: she has conducted named principal violist in the Orchestre Orchestra, the Santa Cecilia Orchestra settings. the orchestra herself, and strives to National de France. In 2010, her first in Rome and the Mahler Chamber reconcile the soloist and ensemble record Gypsic topped sales charts Orchestra have earned high praise, and Deborah Nemtanu musician in herself, resulting in a in France. In 2009 she was the ‘real’ she has performed with conductors Violin veritable chamber-musical approach to violinist in Radu Mihaileanu’s film Le such as Bernard Haitink, Sir Colin Davis, solo concertos. She plays a Domenico

Concert. Before all this, however, Sarah Valery Gergiev and Riccardo Muti in Born into a passionately musical Montagnana violin of 1740, generously Nemtanu began violin studies with her some of the world’s most prestigious family, Deborah Nemtanu chose to provided by Monceau Investissements ← ← father, Vladimir, principal violinist of venues. play the violin at the age of four, a Mobiliers, a branch of the Monceau the Orchestre National de Bordeaux decision that has turned out to be a Assurances Group. Aquitaine. She then studied with Gérard Her repertoire encompasses the solo huge success. After being unanimously Poulet at the Paris Conservatory, and chamber literature, and she enjoys awarded a prize at the Conservatoire graduating with first prizes in violin and revisiting the “classics”, as her recording national Supérieur de musique et de chamber music when she was 18. Gypsic shows. She also appreciates danse de Paris in 2001, she received a variety of non-classical music, as the fourth prize in the international Following the awards she won in demonstrated by her performances Jacques-Thibaud Concours, after which the Saint-Jean de Luz and Antonio with Richard Galliano, Chilly Gonzales, she was selected to take part in the Stradivarius competitions, she Ibrahim Maalouf, and the singer Juliette. prestigious Perlman Program in the was introduced to the public in Sharing her expertise is important to United States. In 2008, she won second a recording of Brahms’s Double her, and she participates in a variety prize in the international Benjamin

Artistst

Magali Demesse she continued her education with Viola Tasso Adamopoulos and through masterclasses from Hatto Bayerle, Magali Demesse entered the Bruno Giuranna, Walter Trampler and conservatoire of Aix-en-Provence at the Tabea Zimmermann. age of 11 to study the viola with Marie- Noël and Fredéric Sailly and to follow Demesse gets frequent invitations from masterclasses with Serge Collot before l’Opéra de Paris, l’Orchestre national de joining the class of Sabine Toutain, Montpellier, l’Orchestre de l’Opéra de where she won first prize in the prix Lyon, l’Orchestre national de Lyon and

de la Ville de Paris et du Conservatoire l’Orchestre du Capitole de Toulouse, National de Région de Paris. Her studies but also from chamber music festivals ← ← at the Conservatoire National Supérieur such as the Helsinki Festival and the de Paris where crowned with a first prize Roque d’Anthéron Festival. She has in the viola class of Pierre-Henri Xuereb made recordings with the ensemble and two first prizes for chamber music Musicatreize (crowned with a Victoire in the class of Christian Ivaldi. de la musique 2007) and the ensemble Déséquilibres. Demesse joined the orchestra of the Marseille Opéra as principal violist in 1994. She has regularly performed solo concertos with the orchestra, such as the viola concertos of Henri Tomasi and William Walton. Simultaneously, Magali Demesse © Peggy Porquet

Mari Kodama New York, Paris, London, as well as and England. She studied piano with including the Berlin Philharmonic, Boston Piano throughout Japan, Spain and Germany, Germaine Mounier and chamber music Symphony, Bayerisches Staatsorchester, and much of the rest of the U.S.A. with Geneviève Joy-Dutilleux at the Tokyo Symphony, NHK Symphony, Mari Kodama’s profoundly nuanced yet The Los Angeles Times pronounced her Conservatoire National de Paris, later Elbphilharmonie Orchestra, Radio France natural musicality and her unique ability performances of the Prokofiev Third studying with Tatiana Nikolaeva at the Philharmonic and the Royal Liverpool to unite tonal expressivity with a clear Piano Concerto “commanding and Salzburg Mozarteum and with Alfred Philharmonic orchestras, under the sense of form have made her a leading electrifying.” Brendel as a private pupil. baton of Seiji Ozawa, Eliahu Inbal, international pianist. An authoritative Charles Dutoit, Jun Märkl, Lawrence Beethoven interpreter, Mari earns Mari is also a founding artistic director For more information please visit Mari Kodama’s Foster, Kent Nagano, André Prévin and Sir consistent praise for her virtuosity of the Musical Days at Forest Hill, a website: www.marikodama.com Roger Norrington. She has appeared at

across a broad range of repertoire that festival of chamber music presented prestigious festivals including Marlboro, includes orchestral, chamber, and solo together with her husband Kent Nagano Momo Kodama USA; Verbier and Lucerne, Switzerland; La ← ← works by composers of all eras. near their home in San Francisco. The Piano Roque d’Anthéron, Festival d’Automne, pianist has played with such orchestras France; Festival Enesco, Romania; In Japan, Kodama is a regular guest as the Berlin Philharmonic, London Born in Osaka, Momo Kodama spent Festival Tivoli, Denmark; Settembre of major Japanese orchestras, most Philharmonic, Philharmonia Orchestra, her early years in Europe. She studied Musica, Italy; and Schleswig-Holstein, recently the Tokyo Metropolitan Hallé Orchestra, the Montreal at the Conservatoire National de Paris Germany. Her musical partners include Orchestra and the Yomiuri Nippon Symphony, the NDR Elbphilharmonie and later with Murray Perahia, András Renaud Capuçon, Christian Tetzlaff, Orchestra in Tokyo. A brilliantly well- Orchestra, Vienna Symphony, Los Schiff, Vera Gornostaeva and Tatiana Steven Isserlis and Jörg Widmann. A received performance of the complete Angeles Philharmonic and the Berkeley Nikolaïeva. In 1999, she became the highly regarded performer of the music Beethoven Sonata cycle in Los Angeles Symphony, among others. youngest winner of the Concours by Olivier Messiaen, she was awarded launched Kodama’s United States of International ARD in Munich. Momo the Saji Keizo Prize by the Suntory America reputation, and was followed Born in Osaka, Mari Kodama was Kodama has been invited to perform Foundation in Japan for her contribution by acclaimed recital appearances in raised in Germany, Switzerland, France, with world renowned orchestras to contemporary music.

Orchestre Philharmonique Claude Casadesus, Armin Jordan, at the Festival International de Piano de de Marseille Evelino Pidó and Nello Santi, as well as la Roque d’Anthéron every summer, and internationally renowned soloists such ocassionally at Chorégies d’Orange. In In 1965, when the ORTF Regional as Roberto Alagna, Patrizia Ciofi, Angela the summer of 2016, several PENTATONE Orchestra was dissolved, the City Georghiù, Ludovic Tézier, Olga Borodina, recordings have been made. of Marseille decided to create the Mireille Delunsch, Natalie Dessay, Orchestre de l’Opéra de Marseille. In Renaud and Gautier Capuçon, Brigitte

1981, the new director of music János Engerer and José van Dam. In addition, © Jean-Marie Geijsen Fürst launched a campaign to create the orchestra participates in the actions l’Orchestre Philharmonique de Marseille offered by the Opéra towards young

and it is thanks to the exclusive support audiences, schoolchildren, students of the municipality that the staff was and handicapped. It also collaborates ← ← then expanded to 88 musicians. with other theaters and festivals and participated in several television Since then, l’Orchestre Philharmonique productions. Since February 2012, de Marseille has aimed to disseminate Lawrence Foster has been the Music not only the great works of the classical Director of the Marseille Philharmonic and romantic repertoire but also to pay Orchestra, giving a new impetus to the tribute to 20th-century composers such orchestral phalanx. as Messiaen, Tomasi, Lesur, Chaynes, Dutilleux, Florentz, Charpentier, Barber, Together with Maestro Foster, the Bernstein, Gershwin and Leon. The orchestra performed in China and at orchestra has worked together with the Bad Kissingen festival in 2014 and famous conductors such as Jean- 2016. As from 2015, the orchestra plays

Lawrence Foster In addition to highly successful for PENTATONE, notably of violin works Conductor productions in Marseille, he regularly with Arabella Steinbacher as well conducts at the opera houses in as of Bartók’s Two Portraits, Ligeti’s Conductor Lawrence Foster has been Frankfurt, Hamburg, San Francisco and Romanian Concerto, Kodaly’s Dances of Music Director of l’Opéra de Marseille Monte Carlo. With great success he led Galánta and Háry Janos Suite, and the and l’Orchestre Philharmonique de a concert performance of Hindemith’s Four Symphonies by Robert Schumann Marseille since 2012. Previously he Mathis der Maler at the Enescu Festival with the Czech Philharmonic Orchestra, has held Music Directorships with the in Bucharest and a production of La and Strauss’s Zigeunerbaron with NDR Orquestra Simfònica de Barcelona, Traviata at the Savonlinna Opera Radiophilharmonie Hannover. Jerusalem Symphony Orchestra, Festival.

Houston Symphony, and Orchestre de Born in 1941 in Los Angeles to Romanian Chambre de Lausanne. Following an utmost fruitful ten-year parents, Lawrence Foster has been a ← ← Mr. Foster is frequently invited to work tenure as Artistic Director and Chief major champion of the music of George with internationally renowned orchestras Conductor of the Gulbenkian Orchestra, Enescu - he was decorated for his merits such as Orchestre Philharmonique Mr. Foster was appointed Conductor to Romanian music by the Romanian de Radio France, Montréal Symphony Laureate. International tours have led President. Orchestra, Copenhagen Philharmonic, him and the orchestra to Germany, Lawrence Foster Konzerthausorchester Berlin as well Spain, Brazil, as well as to important © Marc Ginot as orchestras in Cologne, Frankfurt, festivals such as Kissinger Sommer, Budapest, Shanghai, and Hong Kong. many times with famous soloists like He has deep musical friendships with Lang Lang. outstanding soloists such as Evgeny Kissin, Arcadi Volodos, and Arabella Mr. Foster’s discography includes a Steinbacher. number of highly acclaimed recordings

TRACK INFORMATION LINER NOTES ARTISTS ACKNOWLEDGMENTS MORE ← ←

Acknowledgments

PRODUCTION TEAM Executive producer and recording producer Job Maarse Balance engineer Jean-Marie Geijsen | Recording engineer Erdo Groot What we stand for:

Liner notes Jörg Urbach | English translation Fiona J. Stroker-Gale Cover photo Jean-Baptiste Millot | Design Joost de Boo Product management Kasper van Kooten The Power of Classical Music PENTATONE believes in the power of classical music and is invested in the

This album was recorded at Friche la Belle de Mai, Marseille, 20-30 June 2017 philosophy behind it: we are convinced that refined music is one of the most ← important wellsprings of culture and essential to human development. ← True Artistic Expression We hold the acoustic tastes and musical preferences of our artists in high regard, and these play a central role from the start to the end of every recording project. This ranges from repertoire selection and recording technology to choosing cover art and other visual assets for the booklet.

Sound Excellence PENTATONE stands for premium quality. The musical interpretations delivered PENTATONE TEAM by our artists reach new standards in our recordings. Recorded with the most Vice President A&R Renaud Loranger | Director Simon M. Eder | A&R Manager powerful and nuanced audio technologies, they are presented to you in the most Kate Rockett | Head of Marketing, PR & Sales Silvia Pietrosanti luxurious, elegant products.

←

Sit back and enjoy

DISCOVER MORE MARI & MOMO KODAMA