Album

They have guts, cellist Alexandre Bouzlov and pianist Viatcheslav Poprugin. Imagine: for their debut disc, they have chosen three of the most difficult, most powerful, and most imaginative works in the nineteenth century cello repertoire: Beethoven's tender Sonata in C major, Op. 102/1; Brahms' muscular Sonata in F major, Op. 99, and Schumann's fantastic Fünf Stücke im Volkston. And they nearly pull it off: Bouzlov clearly has the technique and the temperament to play the most difficult music brilliantly and Poprugin has the sense and the sensibility to accompany Bouzlov with taste and sympathy. That they do not quite reach the heights of Beethoven's Sonata, plumb the depths of Brahms' Sonata, or express the whimsy of Schumann's Fünf Stücke is, however, more because of their youth as artists than because of their lack of artistry. While listeners may prefer Rostropovich or Maisky or Schiff's recordings of these works, this does not diminish the excellence of Bouzlov and Poprugin's recording. And, given the excellence of their performances, one has every reason to hope that, in time, Bouzlov and Poprugin may match their illustrious forbearers. Delos' sound is warm enough, but just a little too distant.

© James Leonard, All Music Guide

CD 1
Ludwig van Beethoven Composer Cello Sonata No.4 in C, Op.102, No.1 Work 14:27 Viatcheslav Poprugin Piano, Alexandre Bouzlov Cello
1	1.Andante (attaca); 2.Allegro vivace	7:21			$1.49
2	3.Adagio. Tempo d'andante (attaca); 4.Allegro con brio	7:06			$1.49
Johannes Brahms Composer Cello Sonata No.2 in F, Op.99 Work 27:49 Viatcheslav Poprugin Piano, Alexandre Bouzlov Cello
3	1.Allegro vivace	9:19			$1.49
4	2.Adagio affettuoso	6:55			$0.99
5	3.Allegro appassionato	6:55			$0.99
6	4.Allegro molto	4:40			$0.99
Robert Alexander Schumann Composer 5 Stücke im Volkston, for cello and piano, Op.102 Work 16:57 Viatcheslav Poprugin Piano, Alexandre Bouzlov Cello
7	1.Vanitas vanitatum: Mit Humor	3:25			$0.99
8	2.Langsam	3:56			$0.99
9	3.Nicht schnell, mit viel Ton zu spielen	4:17			$0.99
10	4.Nicht zu rasch	2:11			$0.99
11	5.Stark und markiert	3:08			$0.99