Review: Sylvia Huang & Boris Kusnezow – Ode to Mother Nature

Ode to Mother Nature

Eugène Ysaÿe (1858 - 1931): Chant d’hiver, Op. 15:
1 Ysaÿe: Chant d’hiver, Op. 15 13:55
Gabriel Dupont (1878 - 1914): Journée de printemps:
2 Dupont: Journée de printemps: No. 1, Au matin 05:01
Lili Boulanger (1893 - 1918): D’un matin de printemps:
3 Boulanger: D’un matin de printemps 04:37
Dora Pejačević (1885 - 1923): Violin Sonata No. 1 in D Major, Op. 26 “Spring”:
4 Pejačević: Violin Sonata No. 1 in D Major, Op. 26 “Spring”: I. Allegro 08:52
5 Pejačević: Violin Sonata No. 1 in D Major, Op. 26 “Spring”: II. Andante con moto 06:27
6 Pejačević: Violin Sonata No. 1 in D Major, Op. 26 “Spring”: III. Allegro molto 06:35
Edvard Grieg (1843 - 1907): Lyric Pieces, Op. 43:
7 Grieg: Lyric Pieces, Op. 43: No. 6, To Spring (Arr. for Violin and Piano by Hans Sitt) 03:00
Einojuhani Rautavaara (1928 - 2016): Summer Thoughts:
8 Rautavaara: Summer Thoughts 04:24
Camille Pépin (b. 1990): Autumn Rhythm:
9 Pépin: Autumn Rhythm 07:47
Gabriel Dupont: Journée de printemps:
10 Dupont: Journée de printemps: No. 2, Au soir 05:28
Total Runtime 01:06:06

The ode has had an accepted place in classical music since Beethoven's explicitly titled "Ode to Joy." Violinist Sylvia Huang and pianist Boris Kuznetsov have now compiled not just one piece, but an entire album as a song with a dedication: "Ode to Mother Nature" is the title, and musically spans an entire year.

The album's eight works are by four composers, male and female, born between 1843 and 1990. They are the Norwegian Edvard Grieg (*1843), the Belgian Eugène Ysaÿe (*1858), the Frenchman Gabriel Dupont (*1878), the Hungarian Dora Pejačević (*1885), the Frenchwoman Lili Boulanger (*1893), the Finnish Einojuhani Rautavaara (*1928), and the Frenchwoman Camille Pépin (*1990). This should provide some variety, even if some might now frown, because modern composers… – but don't worry. The soundscape presented to Mother Nature proves to be balanced and friendly.

Even the Song of Winter, Chant d'hiver, Op. 15 by Ysaÿe, demonstrates how comprehensively sensitive and delicate Huang and Kuznetsov approach the compositions. You can feel the winter stillness and peace in every note, without feeling chilly. The duo maintains this warmth and affection for the selected pieces until the last note at minute 66 of the recording. And the time in between is by no means simple and harmonically pure.

For example, there's Lili Boulanger's D'un matin du printemps, which neither skimps on dynamics nor tempo, nor holds back when faced with harmonic challenges. The same applies to Camille Pépin's Autumn Rhythm, which, with its shifted metrics, poses its own unique musical challenges. Nevertheless, both are a listening pleasure, as are the other compositions. Whether the piano lays foundations or touches on impressions, the violin rushes in staccato or whispers harmonies – every note is carefully balanced and sensitively presented.

The finely tuned recording also contributes to the enjoyment, placing the grand piano of the German-Russian Kusnezow slightly in the background to the right, allowing the violin of the Belgian Huang to shine in front of it slightly to the left. It is recommended to enjoy the recording with headphones, as the tone and wood of the violin by the French luthier Jean-Baptiste Vuillaume can then be heard particularly beautifully. This is another plus for the quality of the recording.

Ode to Mother Nature is a sensitive and fantastical album that celebrates the magic of classical piano-violin duets along with the annual cycle. (Thomas Semmler, HighResMac)

Sylvia Huang, violin
Boris Kusnezow, piano