The flute and piano duo Cantilena, made up of flautist Odinn Baldvinsson and pianist Patricia Romero, are based in the UK and are establishing a fine reputation since the release of their debut CD (also eponymous), for a wide range of repertoire, mainly Romantic, both popular and less well known. So on this superb album, we have the beautiful Concertino of Chaminade, and Dutilleux’s Sonatine, both quite well known; the Suite by Widor is a little known piece by a composer more famed for his organ music and is very much in the French Romantic mould: also exquisite is the rare Sonata by Georgian composer Taktakishvili; finally Piazzolla’s Histoire du Tango – a very well known piece but amazingly this is its first ever recording in the version for flute and piano.
Composer: Henri Dutilleux
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Enchantment – music for flute and piano
Kenneth Smith is principal flute of the Philharmonia Orchestra, and also has a busy solo career; for many years he has partnered pianist Paul Rhodes, in a duo which has gained an enviable reputation for quality in both the concert hall and on recordings. The duo’s first CD for Divine Art features a glorious programme of French romantic music*.
Supplied in a high quality digipak. Cover art: from “Paris by Night” by the esteemed artist Nina Mikhailenko.
* We know Franck was Belgian – but he was also a Francophone, and spent much time in Paris.