For those of you not in the know, this year, legendary cellist Antonio Meneses celebrates his 65th birthday and the 40th anniversary of winning first prize and the gold medal at the 1982 Tchaikovsky Competition.

Shortly after that triumph Antonio made a renowned recording of Brahms’ Double Concerto with conductor Herbert von Karajan.

Here on the just-released Brahms: Cello Sonatas & Songs, along with pianist Gérard Wyss, he revisits the composer’s music on his 11th recording for AVIE and his first of Brahms’ two cello sonatas, generously paired with a selection of lieder arrangements.

Cello Sonata No. 1 in E minor Op. 38
1. I. Allegro non troppo (14.43)
2. II. Allegretto quasi Menuetto (5.43)
3. III. Allegro (6.54)

Songs for cello & piano, arr. Norbert Salter 1868–1935 & David Geringas b. 1946
4. Feldeinsamkeit Op. 86 No. 2 (3.36)
5. Wie Melodien zieht es mir leise durch den Sinn Op. 105 No. 1 (2.17)
6. Sapphische Ode Op. 94 No. 4 (2.28)
7. Wiegenlied Op. 49 No. 4 (2.06 )
8. Liebestreu Op. 3 No. 1 (2.11)
9. Minnelied Op. 71 No. 5 (3.07)
10. Immer leiser wird mein Schlummer Op. 105 No. 2 (3.11)

Cello Sonata No. 2 in F Op. 99
14. I. Allegro vivace (9.12)
12. II. Adagio affettuoso (6.59)
13. III. Allegro passionato (7.45)
14. IV. Allegro molto (4.46)

Antonio mines Brahms’ baritonal sound world, extracting the full expressive range of the cello. Opening on Cello Sonata No. 1 in E minor Op. 38, the sterner fare of the near-fifteen minute Allegro non troppo is first brought forth and is backed by the flirtatious Allegretto quasi Menuetto and then the closer is the forthright melodies within Allegro.

Similar qualities infuse a selection of seven Lieder in arrangements - Songs for cello & piano, arr. Norbert Salter 1868–1935 & David Geringas b. 1946 - that sound so effective on the cello that one cannot help but wonder whether somewhere in the back of his mind Brahms had the sound of the instrument – he was, after all, an accomplished player in his youth, and it would remain central to his chamber music output throughout his life.

The new recording culminates with Cello Sonata No. 2 in F Op. 99, which begins with the yearningly beautiful, near-ten minute Allegro vivace, before bringing us the somber affair Adagio affettuoso, then comes the inspiringly uplifting Allegro passionato, the work ending with the gentle ballroom twirl of Allegro molto.

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