Max Reger (1873-1916)
CD 1
Caprice in A minor (without opus number)
Sonata in F minor Op. 5
Caprice in B minor Op. 79e Nr. 1
Little Romance in D major Op. 79e Nr. 2
Sonata in G minor Op. 28
Romance in G major (without opus number)
CD 2
Sonata in F major Op. 78
Aria from the Suite in A minor Op. 103a (arranged for cello
and piano by the composer)
Sonata in A minor Op. 116
Guido Schiefen, cello
Jacob Leuschner, piano
Max Reger has remained a controversial composer, in a
way perhaps comparable to Wagner, Hindemith and
Shostakovich. Even today, the presence of his oeuvre
is by no means a matter of course in concert life or
on recordings; there are still numerous musicians,
including serious ones, who reject his work, at times
with good reason. And indeed, even a trained, experienced listener may find it difficult to grasp, let alone
comprehend a large composition by Reger at first
hearing. Nor is everyone aware that Reger composed
four sonatas for violoncello and piano. The present
recording does a great deal to compensate for this gap
in knowledge.