For those unaware, Christoph Croisé channels his prowess as a cellist – “he’s got it all – technical chops, impeccable musicianship and imaginative daring” (Gramophone) – into compositional ingenuity on the first album devoted entirely to his own works.

Entitled Voyage Exotique (and releasing May 5th, 2023 via AVIE Records), Christoph draws inspiration from a variety of musical role models, including contemporary and centuries past, paying homage to the time-honored evolution of classical music that has melded current conventions with popular styles. Traditional forms, such as sonata and concerto, are imbued with jazz, blues, bossa nova and improv to create, as Christoph puts it, “a musical and cultural melting pot.”

Christoph’s compositional urge was spurred by the pandemic and lockdown. The four works on Voyage Exotique were written between 2020 and 2022. He also cites current world events as a motivating influence.

His first cello concerto, imbued with high-wire virtuosity that makes full use of the cello’s – and Christoph’s – capabilities, opens a programme that also includes an imaginary intergalactic journey in the form of a clarinet trio, and a sonata for cello and piano that is by turns pensive, agitated and longing, yet ultimately hopeful. The title track, a “Grand duo” for two cellos is, in the truest sense of the word, an “exotic journey” through foreign sound cultures and myriad cello effects.

CHRISTOPH CROISÉ (b. 1993)
Cello Concerto No. 1 Op. 6 for cello & string orchestra with percussion
1. Allegro (5.18)
2. Adagio – Cadenza (7.57)
3. ‘Berlin Bass’: Allegro (5.18)
4. ‘THIS IS IT’: Presto – Allegro (5.29)

Voyage Exotique Op. 2 Grand Duo for 2 cellos
5. Blu Rhino Track (4.47)
6. A Train to Ugudu Yelu or Lonely Whales Trip (4.52)
7. Tarantula Spiritualis (3.23)
8. Black Mamba Island (5.39)

Clarinet Trio Op. 4 for clarinet, cello & piano
9. Gathering of the Intergalactic (5.08)
10. Flight through the Milky Way (9.53)
11. Mercurium (Bossa) (3.24)

Cello Sonata No. 1 Op. 9 for cello & piano
12. The Escape (4.37)
13. Lullaby for Arthur (4.26)
14. Moderato – Allegro (5.00)
15. Basso Ostinato (Dance of the Dead Soldiers) (5.17)

Opening on Cello Concerto No. 1 Op. 6 for cello & string orchestra with percussion, the stirringly playful Allegro is then followed by an ornately sculpted Adagio – Cadenza, the veritably skittish ‘Berlin Bass’: Allegro, the piece culminating with the relatively stern affair ‘THIS IS IT’: Presto – Allegro.

Next we get Voyage Exotique Op. 2 Grand Duo for 2 cellos, which opens on the building aching yearn within Blu Rhino Track, the dreamy A Train to Ugudu Yelu or Lonely Whales Trip, then come the more fervent Tarantula Spiritualis and the dutifully cultured Black Mamba Island brings it all to a close.

Next we are presented the trilogy of Clarinet Trio Op. 4 for clarinet, cello & piano, which opens on the delicate gossamer within Gathering of the Intergalactic, then moves seamlessly into the lively, bluesy at times Flight through the Milky Way, closing on the strident Mercurium (Bossa).

The final work is Cello Sonata No. 1 Op. 9 for cello & piano, which first brings forth the gently fervent hunger within The Escape, a most beautiful Lullaby for Arthur, a resoundingly ardent one minute, gently melodic the next Moderato – Allegro, the quartet, and the recording, coming to a close on the fluttering hipsway of Basso Ostinato (Dance of the Dead Soldiers).

Recording: 28 April (1–4) & 28 November (5–8) 2022, Reformierte Kirche Niederlenz, Switzerland; 16 September 2022, Alte Kirche Boswil, Switzerland (9–15) Musicians:
Christoph Croisé, composer, cello
Kammerorchester der Niederlenzer Musiktage (1–4)
Annette Jakovcic, cello (5–8)
Damien Bachmann, clarinet (9–11)
Oxana Shevchenko, piano (9–15)

Official Purchase Link

Christoph Croisé - Voyage Exotique [Official CD Trailer]

Official Website