Leon Bosch: The Russian Double Bass

Here the solo double bass music represents ‘salon’ music and is a celebration of the importance of melody to Russian solo double bass playing. To the intense expression of melancholy and tragedy heard in the music of both Glinka and Shostakovich is added an extrovert and romantic approach - a touch of Italian opera flowers within this choice of solo Russian double bass pieces. The repertoire spans a historical period of enormous political changes and not least compositions from a period of extreme uncertainty when artists such as Rachmaninov, Glière, and Koussevitzky lived. Such was the outlook of the time that their direct contemporary and philosopher Beryaev wrote “Never before were Russians so acutely aware of the illimitable unknown surrounding human life” “of the mystery and the terrifying abyss with which man is faced” (Dream and Reality). Russians lived in “a state of expectancy, - a revelation as well as a revolution”.

Read an interview about Leon Bosch’s recording project at Leon Bosch Interview

Track list:

Anton Grigor'yevich Rubinstein
1. Melodie  

Sergei Vasilievich Rachmoninoff
2. Prelude Op.23 No.10  

Anton Grigor'yevich Rubinstein
3. Romance  

Sergei Koussevitzky
4. Andante Op.1 No.1
5. Valse Miniature Op.1 No.2
6. Chanson Triste Op.2
7. Humoresque Op.4

Rheinhold Gliere
8. Intermezzo Op.9 No.1
9. Tarantella Op.9 No.2
10. Prelude Op.32 No.1
11. Scherzo Op.32 No.2

Sergei Vasilievich Rachmoninoff
12. Romance Op.6  
13. Elegy Op.3  

Mikhail Glinka
14. Susanin's Aria  

Sergei Vasilievich Rachmoninoff
15. Vocalise Op. 34 No. 14

Dmitri Shostakovich
16. Romance from "The Gadfly"