RHENÉ-EMMANUEL BATON (1879-1940): Violin Sonatas No. 1, Op. 24 and No. 2, Op. 46, Suite Ancienne for Violin and Piano, Op. 55, Cello Sonata, Op. 28, Piano Trio, Op. 31.

Description: A pianist, composer and orchestral conductor, Rhené-Baton led many world premieres of the time was conductor at the Opéra- Comique and led international tours of the famous Les Ballets Russes. These five works (mostly dating from 1921-27) are highly attractive, full of dazzling colors, folksy melodies and rhythms, and instrumental virtuosity. It was through his own music that he felt most free to express his Breton identity. Both the Cello Sonata and Violin Sonata call for piano playing of great virtuosity, probably because Rhené-Baton intended those parts for himself, while the melody line unfolds in a mode of archaic, neoclassical lyricism. The peak of his achievement in the chamber-music genre, however, is the A minor trio, composed in 1923. The second movement is a “Divertissement sur un vieil air Breton” – the “vieil air” in question being “Gwin ar c’hallaoued” (the Wine of Gall), one of the best-known Breton tunes. 2 CDs. Wolferl Trio.