Fairytale Duo Arnicans

• Paul Juon (1872 - 1940): Fairytale:
• 1 Juon: Fairytale: Op. 8 for Cello and Piano (1904) 05:31
• Sonata Op. 54 for Cello and Piano (1912):
• 2 Juon: Sonata Op. 54 for Cello and Piano (1912): I. Allegro moderato 09:21
• 3 Juon: Sonata Op. 54 for Cello and Piano (1912): II. Andantino 03:49
• 4 Juon: Sonata Op. 54 for Cello and Piano (1912): III. Allegro risoluto 05:33
• Jānis Ķepītis (1908 - 1989): Suite for Cello and Piano (1959) "Three Episodes from the Fairy-tale Devil's Life":
• 5 Ķepītis: Suite for Cello and Piano (1959) "Three Episodes from the Fairy-tale Devil's Life": I. A Walk 02:23
• 6 Ķepītis: Suite for Cello and Piano (1959) "Three Episodes from the Fairy-tale Devil's Life": II. Romance 03:01
• 7 Ķepītis: Suite for Cello and Piano (1959) "Three Episodes from the Fairy-tale Devil's Life": III. Humoresque 03:44
• Serenade in D Major (1939):
• 8 Ķepītis: Serenade in D Major (1939) 04:40
• Scherzo (1954):
• 9 Ķepītis: Scherzo (1954) 02:01
• Romance in A Major (1965):
• 10 Ķepītis: Romance in A Major (1965) 04:52
• Sonata for Harp and Cello (1974):
• 11 Ķepītis: Sonata for Harp and Cello (1974): I. Moderato (Arr. for Piano and Cello) 05:02
• 12 Ķepītis: Sonata for Harp and Cello (1974): II. Presto (Arr. for Piano and Cello) 03:35
• 13 Ķepītis: Sonata for Harp and Cello (1974): III. Adagio (Arr. for Piano and Cello) 05:22
• 14 Ķepītis: Sonata for Harp and Cello (1974): IV. Allegro moderato (Arr. for Cello and Piano) 06:13
• Total Runtime 01:05:07

Info for Fairytale

A strong feeling of anticipation, followed by unbridled curiosity and imaginations of evocative landscapes real and otherwise immediately possess one's heart after the first few bars of "Fairytale", the opening piece of this exquisitely unique album. The programme, performed by cello / piano duo, Duo Arnicans, includes the world premiere recordings.

Paul Juon came from a Swiss emigre family that settled in Latvia and then Russia. Juon was educated in Germany and eventually moved back to Switzerland. Opening this album's selection is Fairytale; followed by the world première recording of the "second edition" of his Sonata for Cello and Piano Op. 54. The 1924 press characterises the work as: "Of neo-Romantic character, fresh, sonorous, pleasing and zestfully written. This sonatas once interesting and rewarding should become a repertoire piece for every virtuoso!"

Latvian composer, pianist, and educator Janis Kepitis is perhaps most aptly described by a chamber music student of his as "A man with a miracle in his heart". Suite (1959), subtitled 'Three Episodes from the Fairy-tale Devil's Life', was dedicated to the Latvian cellist Ernests Bertovskis. Witty, cheerful, and rather cheeky compositions they evoke the somewhat simple-minded, gullible and yet wicked character of the fairy tale devil of Latvian folklore. The Sonata for Cello and Harp is another rarity, composed in 1974, which has never before been recorded.

The Swiss-based, Latvian-German Duo Arnicans invite us to explore the quaint rarities of Fairy-tales and magical thinking; a treat too hard to refuse after we are lured into their enchanting art by the first notes in this album.

Arta Arnicane, piano
Florian Arnicans, cello

Arta Arnicane
Communication with the audience, coupled with talent for creating a special concert atmosphere have taken the young Latvian pianist Arta Arnicane to a large variety of performance venues across the world.

Her quality of winning listeners’ full attention, combined with the warmth and intelligence of her programmes and interpretations, allows her to fascinate both small gatherings and large audiences in concert halls such as the Rudolfinum, Prague and the Zurich Tonhalle.

Born into a family with a strong and longstanding musical tradition, she started playing the piano and composing at the age of four. Supported by numerous scholarship awards and eminent artists such as John Lill and Homero Francesch, Arta has studied in several countries and graduated with distinction from the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland (2004), the Latvian Academy of Music (2008), and Zurich University of the Arts (2010 and 2012).

Her professors Sergejs Osokins, Norma Fisher and Homero Francesch influenced the artistic development of Arta’s personality and guided her into the international music scene. Arta has won many prizes at international music competitions, including the ‘Vianna da Motta’ (2001), ‘Premio Iturbi’ (2010), and ‘Prague Spring’ (2011) to name but a few.

Arta is especially devoted to creating thematic and narrative programmes, as well as discovery and performance of rare repertoire. Her creative collaboration with conductor John Gibbons has included performances of both piano concertos by William Alwyn and the recording of the powerful and expressive piano concerto by William Wordsworth (Toccata Classics, 2019). Arta is also an enthusiastic chamber musician and performs regularly in a duo with her husband, cellist Florian Arnicans. This is the third album released by the ‘Duo Arnicans’, following the emotionally charged programme of sonatas by F. Chopin and E. von Dohnanyi (2015) and the more lyrical album ‘Enchanted’ (2018).

Florian Arnicans
has the rare gift of captivating and inspiring his audience. A sound and music experience that touches the soul!

Born in Germany, Florian Arnicans received his first cello lessons at the age of 5 and quickly discovered his passion and vocation for music. After receiving his first artistic training at the Belvedere Music School in Weimar, Florian Arnicans soon was in a position to take up studies at the Franz Liszt University of Weimar for highly gifted talents, starting at a mere 17 years of age. Brunhard Böhme, Johannes Goritzki, Patrick Demenga and Thomas Grossenbacher were among his most important instructors. Florian Arnicans has always been inspired by other instrumentalists. He was influenced most by the pianist Homero Francesch and the violinist Pierre Amoyal, alongside whom Florian Arnicans regularly performed as a soloist and chamber musician on the international stage.

Florian Arnicans feels particularly attached to the romantic era. Numerous CD and radio recordings testify to his great artistic work and have received positive reviews around the world. In addition to his concert activities, Florian Arnicans teaches with great passion. He is a regular guest lecturer of master classes in the Czech Republic, Switzerland and at the Latvia Music Academy.

Florian Arnicans continues to be a sought-after soloist, chamber and orchestral musician. He regularly plays alongside well-respected orchestras and at international music festivals such as the Bodensee Festival (2013), Bregenz Festival (2013), London Proms (2014), Lucerne Festival (2016) or the Menuhin Festival Gstaadt (2018).

A significant step in Florian’s musical and personal development was the founding of Duo Arnicans together with his wife and pianist Arta in 2013. Since then, the duo has performed on numerous concert stages in Switzerland, Germany, Great Britain as well as Latvia and has been awarded with great enthusiasm from the audience.

This album contains no booklet.