The present CD with music for cello and piano is one of many that denounces the disadvantage of female composers. Unfortunately, this kind of positive discrimination threatens to invalidate its own purpose, because the title 'Composers' suggests a pathetic kind of subculture. It is a pity, because the level of the programmed works is very high. It is therefore to be hoped that this music will find
… its place in more 'mixed' recitals, because these women can effortlessly compete with their male colleagues. The beautiful Sonata op.17 by Luise Adolpha le Beau equals the technical level of Brahms; and that is something that cannot be said of most Brahms epigons. Also strong are Nadia Boulanger's Trois Pièces, whose brilliant, but sister Lili, who died prematurely, was the first to win the prestigious Prix de Rome. Unfortunately Nadia Boulanger suffered so much from her self-criticism that she chose to propagate Stravinsky's neoclassicism over composing. Also noteworthy is the Sonata op.10 by Johanna Senfter, whose overly thick style betrays the influence of her obese teacher Max Reger. The CD opens with Clara Schumann's Drei Romanzen op.22, originally written for violin and piano. (HJ) 22 by Clara Schumann, originally written for violin and piano. (HJ) 22 by Clara Schumann, originally written for violin and piano. (HJ)more
