Chopin & Rachmaninoff

Cello Sonatas

Brian Thornton 

Spencer Myer

 

For their fourth collaboration on the Steinway & Sons label, esteemed cellist Brian Thornton and acclaimed pianist Spencer Myer present a gorgeous program of music by Chopin and Rachmaninoff.


 

 

Steinway & Sons is thrilled to release Rachmaninoff & Chopin: Cello Sonatas by cellist Brian Thornton and pianist Spencer Myer on February 7, 2025. This is the most recent of several exceptional collaborarations between the two artists.

As Imani Danielle Mosley writes in her liner notes for the album:

"Much of these two sonatas is about partnership; the nature of chamber music lends itself to this reading. And with these works, the idea of partnership occurs not only in their respective histories but in the interplay of the instruments themselves, with piano and cello performing equally. 

For Chopin and Auguste Franchomme — friend, colleague, and dedicatee of the Cello Sonata, Op. 65 — partnership extends beyond this piece. Friends for seventeen years, the pair co-wrote the Grand duo concertant, B. 70, and Franchomme reworked the cello part for the Introduction and Polonaise brillante, Op. 3. The Cello Sonata emerged from Chopin’s late period, towards the end of his life, acting as a bridge between the past and the future. Overflowing with themes, the sonata plays with form. Some hear the opening of “Gute Nacht” from Schubert’s Winterreise structuring the work, lending to the cello’s singing quality in the first movement. Thinking about the sonata through this lens deepens the idea of partnership, where the vocal and piano lines work together to convey an emotion, here perhaps, melancholy.

Partnership is also at the center of Rachmaninoff’s Cello Sonata, Op. 19. Anatoly Brandukov, the sonata’s dedicatee, was Rachmaninoff’s close friend, even the best man at Rachmaninoff’s wedding. Much like Chopin’s friendship with Franchomme, Rachmaninoff and Brandukov’s friendship was also collaborative with the cellist premiering all of Rachmaninoff’s chamber works. The piano and cello work as equals, something Rachmaninoff insisted on, reluctantly calling it a ‘cello sonata.’ And unlike the melodic material in the Chopin that evokes a Schubertian melancholia, here we see Rachmaninoff working his way out of the depression that followed the disastrous premiere of his First Symphony just a few years prior. Instead of finality, we experience triumph."

–  Imani Danielle Mosley


“One is taken in by the sheer beauty of tone Brian Thornton draws from his instrument. Elegance and poise also mark his playing, complemented by equally beautiful contributions from pianist Spencer Myer.” 

Fanfare
 

“It’s undeniable that Brian Thornton dialogues on his strings so masterfully that it’s akin to a tender operatic vibrato. Soulful and innately expressive with occasional bouts of colorful excitement will titillate the listener to maximum enjoyment. This clearly couldn’t be given the superior dimension without the deft maneuvers by Spencer Myer.”

ConcertoNet.com


“Superb, strong performances here from Thornton and Myer... American chamber playing at its best.”

AllMusic.com
 

 
 Album Credits

Chopin & Rachmaninoff: Cello Sonatas / Brian Thornton, Spencer Myer • STNS 30246

Release Date: 2/7/2025

Recorded June 17-19, 2024 at Severance Hall, Cleveland, Ohio.
Producer: Elaine Martone

Recorded, Edited, Mixed and Mastered by Robert Friedrich, Five/Four Productions, LLC.®

 

Executive Producers: Eric Feidner and Jon Feidner
Art Direction: Jackie Fugere
Design: Cover to Cover Design, Anilda Carrasquillo
Project Coordinator: Renée Oakford
Photos: Roger Mastroianni

About the Artists

Brian Thornton is a distinguished cellist and proud Steinway Recording Artist, performing here alongside his collaborative pianist, Spencer Myer. With over thirty-one seasons as a member of the cello section of the Cleveland Orchestra, he embraces the philosophy of performing with purpose, utilizing music as a transformative tool to celebrate and elevate exceptional artists.


His debut album, Kol Nidrei and Beyond - Lev's Story, highlights the lyrical qualities of the cello and serves as a heartfelt tribute to the memory of Mr. Aronson. Brian has released four other albums that explore the rich vocal textures of the cello, featuring compositions ranging from the timeless works of Schumann and Brahms to contemporary pieces by modern female-identifying composers from Iran.

Education and mentorship are central to Brian’s mission. He is passionate about teaching and conducting young musicians, traveling worldwide to share his expertise and inspire the next generation of cellists. His journey began in the public school system of Chicago, which ignited his commitment to outreach programs that empower young musicians.

Brian’s influence knows no borders; he has traveled from Kolkata, India to Osaka, Japan, encouraging young musicians to not only refine their craft but also to harness the power of music to create a positive impact within their communities. With a keen interest in contemporary music, Brian has premiered over one hundred new solo cello works globally, continually pushing the boundaries of the instrument and its expressive potential.

Lauded for “superb playing” and “poised, alert musicianship” by the Boston Globe, and labeled “definitely a man to watch” by London’s The Independent after his 2012 Wigmore Hall recital debut, American pianist Spencer Myer is one of the most respected and sought-after artists on today’s concert stage. 

Spencer has been soloist with the Cleveland Orchestra, the Cape Town and Johannesburg Philharmonics, and the Indianapolis and New Haven Symphonies, among others. His 2005 tour of South Africa included a performance of Beethoven’s five piano concerti with the Chamber Orchestra of South Africa, followed by six subsequent return tours. An in-demand chamber musician, his artistic partners have included cellists Lynn Harrell and Ralph Kirshbaum, clarinetist David Shifrin, soprano Nicole Cabell, and the Jupiter, Miami and Pacifica String Quartets.     

Spencer’s career was launched with three important prizes: First Prize in the 2004 UNISA International Piano Competition in South Africa, the 2006 Christel DeHaan Classical Fellowship from the American Pianists Association and the Gold Medal from the 2008 New Orleans International Piano Competition. He is also a laureate of the 2005 Cleveland and Busoni International Competitions. He was a member of Astral Artists’ performance roster from 2003-2010.

Previously on the piano faculty of Boston’s Longy School of Music, Spencer is currently Associate Professor of Piano at the Indiana University Jacobs School of Music, where he received the 2024 Trustees Teaching Award. He has released five albums on the Steinway & Sons label — Piano Rags of William Bolcom, three CDs with cellist Brian Thornton, and most recently Four Chopin Impromptus. Spencer Myer is a Steinway Artist.

 

About Steinway & Sons label

The STEINWAY & SONS music label produces exceptional albums of solo piano music across all genres. The label — a division of STEINWAY & SONS, maker of the world’s finest pianos — is a perfect vessel for producing the finest quality recordings by some of the most talented pianists in the world.

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