When Christoph Met Christopher.

A magical, musical meeting of minds occurred when Swiss cellist Christoph Croisé and Canadian composer Christopher Tyler Nickel first connected. Christopher already had a cello concerto in the works, and in Christoph he found the perfect partner to interpret his composition. Christoph’s passion for new music aligned with his admiration for Christopher’s modern yet clear aesthetic.

The composer elaborates, “One of the joys of working with Christoph was that he understood the emotions [of the concerto] right from the start. He’s such an intuitive player and I knew immediately that he understood what I was after. What more could a composer ask for?”

Christopher is no stranger to the concerto genre, having penned many for winds and brass. But this is his first for a stringed instrument, a challenge he relished and enjoyed – with Christoph’s input – as he explored the variety of colors, timbres and harmonic possibilities of the instrument.

Their collaboration led Christopher to compose two new works for Christoph, for cello and piano. The intimate, seven-movement Reflections on Requiem draws on melodic themes from the composer’s Requiem. The two miniatures Echoes of Tranquility were inspired by a suggestion from Christoph to compose accessible modern music for today’s listening lifestyle. Without any artistic compromise, Christopher delivered what Christoph calls “beautiful little masterpieces”.

CHRISTOPHER TYLER NICKEL (b. 1978)

Concerto for Cello No. 1** (2023)
1. I. Andante inquieto​ [12:18]
2. II. Presto​ [4:31]
3. III. Cantabile con rubato​ [9:38]
4. IV: Allegro con fuoco​ [8:58]

Reflections on Requiem* (2025)
5. I. Andante​ [3:58]
6. II. Andante misterioso [​4:29]
7. III. Reflectively [​4:17]
8. IV. Andante misterioso [​6:18]
9. V. Andante​ [3:27]
10. VI. Reflectively​ [4:14]
11. VII. Solemn​ [6:15]

12. Echo of Tranquility I * (2025) [​3:17]

​​​​ 13. Echo of Tranquility II * (2025) [​4:48]

Recorded at CBC Studio One, Vancouver, Canada, July 30 & 31, 2025, Christopher opens his new recording on Concerto for Cello No. 1: which begins with the decadently opulent masterstrokes shown within Andante inquieto​ and the brings us the more strident fare of the bountiful, veritably cinematic Presto​, the stirring Cantabile con rubato, rounding out on the furtively scurry some Allegro con fuoco​.

Then comes Reflections on Requiem: which opens on the thoughtfully yearning Andante, the glistening stillness of Andante misterioso and the opulent demeanor of Reflectively before we are brought forth a gentle strength behind Andante misterioso, the dulcet piano work of Andante​, the piece running out on the sheer gossamer of the aptly titled Reflectively and the hushed elegance of Solemn​; the new recording ending on the thoughtful musings of Echo of Tranquility I and the ambiently sculpted Echo of Tranquility II.

Musicians:
Christoph Croisé, cello
Oxana Shevchenko, piano *
Vancouver Contemporary Orchestra **
Clyde Mitchell, conductor **

Official Purchase Link

www.christophernickel.com