ODYSSEY Cosima Soulez Larivière & Philipp Scheucher

• Karol Szymanowski (1882 - 1937): Myths, Op. 30:
• 1 Szymanowski: Myths, Op. 30: I - La fontaine d’Arethuse 05:40
• 2 Szymanowski: Myths, Op. 30 : II - Narcisse 07:45
• 3 Szymanowski: Myths, Op. 30: III - Dryades et Pan 08:23
• Paul Hindemith (1895 - 1963): Sonata in E-flat major, Op. 11 No. 1:
• 4 Hindemith: Sonata in E-flat major, Op. 11 No. 1: I - Frisch 04:35
• 5 Hindemith: Sonata in E-flat major, Op. 11 No. 1: II - Im Zeitmaß eines langsamen, feierlichen Tanzes 04:46
• John Corigliano (b. 1938): Sonata for Violin and Piano:
• 6 Corigliano: Sonata for Violin and Piano: I - Allegro 02:46
• 7 Corigliano: Sonata for Violin and Piano: II - Andantino 07:05
• 8 Corigliano: Sonata for Violin and Piano: III - Lento 05:08
• 9 Corigliano: Sonata for Violin and Piano: IV - Allegro 08:12
• Kevin Puts (b. 1972): „Aria“:
• 10 Puts: „Aria“ 05:33
• Total Runtime 59:53

Info for ODYSSEY

Under the title "Odyssey", the French-Dutch violinist Cosima Soulez Larivière and the Austrian pianist Philipp Scheucher lead us through a legendary world, starting with Karol Szymanowski's "Myths" op. 30. The three movements "Arethusa", "Narcissus", "Dryads and Pan", which are strongly influenced by impressionism, draw on motifs from Greek mythology and are considered a milestone in the duo repertoire for violin and piano due to their various innovative playing techniques. The following two-movement Sonata in E-flat major op. 11 No. 1 by Paul Hindemith is also influenced by impressionism, with Hindemith's very specific, simple and "classical" musical language clearly shining through at all times. The sonata for violin and piano by the American composer John Corigliano from 1962/63 impresses with its diverse moods, which are underlined by impressively virtuosic as well as lyrical or complex rhythmic elements. The finale is the breathtaking "Aria" by his compatriot Kevin Puts, who is called the 'master of polystyle' and has enjoyed great success in recent years with his latest opera "The Hours".

Cosima Loulez Lariviere, violin
Philipp Scheucher, piano

Cosima Loulez Lariviere
Franco-Dutch violinist Cosima Soulez Larivière has already built a name for herself, having been awarded numerous prizes – 3rd prize at the Joseph Joachim Competition, 1st prize at the inaugural Bartók World Competition & Festival, 1st prize at the Brahms Competition and 3rd prize and the Bach prize at the Postacchini Competition. ‍

Concerts have brought her all over Europe (Concertgebouw, Wigmore Hall, Franz Liszt Academy) as well as to Japan, Singapore and the United States. Soulez Larivière has a great interest in modern and contemporary composers and as such, has performed works by Pēteris Vasks, Sofia Gubaidulina, Steve Reich, Rebecca Saunders and Fazil Say. Additionally, she enjoys playing chamber music and often performs alongside her brother, violist Sào Soulez Larivière. ‍

Soulez Larivière has participated in several festivals, namely - IMS Prussia Cove, Accademia Chigiana (where she received the ‘Giovanni Maniezzo’ Award), Seiji Ozawa Academy, Ravinia Steans Institute, Verbier Festival Academy (where she received the APCAV Award), Tanglewood Music Centre and ‘Chamber Music Connects the World’ at the Kronberg Academy. ‍

She has participated in masterclasses with, i.a., Ilya Gringolts, Ana Chumachenco and Miriam Fried and was part of the Accademia Stauffer (studying with Salvatore Accardo) from 2019-2023. ‍

Soulez Larivière holds a scholarship from the Studienstiftung des deutschen Volkes since 2017 and was previously supported by the Young Artists Foundation gGmbH (2018-2021), Live Music Now Hannover e.V.(2015-2019), and the English-Speaking Union (2015). In 2021, she received a scholarship from the Villa Musica Rheinland-Pfalz Foundation. ‍

As a result of the pandemic, she took part in several streamed broadcasts and concerts, notably, Daniel Hope’s Hope@Home (Arte tv), Renaud Capuçon’s Beethoven project‘ Ludwig à Paris’ (Medici tv) and Heidelberger Frühling's Digital Festival ‘Lasst uns spielen!’. ‍

Soulez Larivière was born in Paris and was taught by Igor Volochine from a young age. When she was 8 years old, she was awarded a scholarship to the Yehudi Menuhin School, where she became a pupil of Natasha Boyarsky. She obtained both her Bachelor and Master of Music degrees from the University of Music, Drama and Media in Hanover with Krzysztof Wegrzyn. She is currently studying at the Kronberg Academy (Professional Studies) with Mihaela Martin. ‍

As a scholarship holder of the Deutsche Stiftung Musikleben, she was generously loaned a violin made by Giovanni Grancino (Milan, 1675).

Philipp Scheucher
Whether in Vienna’s Musikverein, Leipzig’s Gewandhaus, Berlin’s Konzerthaus or Hamburg’s Elbphilharmonie – Philipp Scheucher is at home in the most prestigious concert halls of the world. When he was awarded First Prize at the International Music Prize (Cologne), the German Broadcasting Corporation, WDR, stated Scheucher’s “absolute stage presence and his crisp-lively sound of his interpretations set new quality standards.”

Philipp Scheucher was born in Graz (Austria). At the age of ten, his extraordinary musical talent was noticed by Maria Zgubic at the University of Music and Performing Arts (Graz), where his career as a pianist started to develop. With the guidance of Markus Schirmer, he found his own personality and artistry on the piano. He received further impulses from Ilja Scheps at the “Hochschule für Musik und Tanz Köln” (Konzertexamen) and Markus Becker at the “Hochschule für Musik, Theater und Medien Hannover” (chamber music) in Germany.

In 2022 his Artist Diploma at the prestigious Royal College of Music in London guided by Ian Jones and Dorian Leljak.

In addition to his career as a concert pianist, it is also very important for him to pass on his knowledge to others. Therefore, he pursued a degree in instrumental pedagogy, which he completed in June 2014 in record time. In June 2018, his master’s diploma with unanimous distinction followed, for that he was awarded the honorary prize by the Austrian Government as one of the 50 best Master alumni. Philipp Scheucher himself is guest at international masterclasses and currently leads a piano class at the Johann-Joseph-Fux Conservatory in Graz.

Numerous prizes at international competitions and his latest success as the 2nd prize winner at the International Beethoven Competition in Vienna 2021 led to concert engagements around the world. Philipp Scheucher’s numerous concert invitations important cultural centres all around Europe, in Canada, the United States, Brazil, South Africa, Russia, China and Japan.

Over the last years, he won several other prizes at renowned international piano competitions: the first prize at the „International Music Award“ in Cologne (Germany), the first prize at the “Aarhus (Denmark) International Piano Competition” and the first prize in the international piano competition “Vila de Xàbia (Spain)”.

Other important awards include the second prize at the “13th UNISA International Piano Competition” in Pretoria (South Africa) and not less than six prizes at the “Pianale Academy” in Germany. He was invited to perform in the prestigious “Van Cliburn International Piano Competition” in Texas (U.S.) and in both 2018 and 2022 he was among the top ten emerging young pianists to perform in the “Honens International Piano Competition” in Calgary (Canada).

Philipp Scheucher’s active collaboration with renowned conductors and orchestras include concerts with the Graz Philharmonic Orchestra, the “K&K Philharmonic Orchestra”, the “WDR Broadcasting Orchestra”, the Johannesburg Philharmonic Orchestra or the Portuguese Philharmonic Orchestra under the baton of Dirk Kaftan, Michael Hofstetter, Alexander Prior, Mei-Ann Chen, Daniel Boico or Osvaldo Ferreira.

His repertoire includes a wide range covering the standard repertoire of today’s classical pianists. As the international prize winner in Vienna and the Beethoven-House Bonn award Philipp Scheucher is an expert a leading artist, when it comes to Beethoven‘s works.

More recently, his affinity for contemporary music is being appreciated, and is confirmed by many of his collaborations with living composers. He was involved e.g. in the premiere of Marc-André Hamelin’s piano solo work “L’homme armé” or Fuyuhiko Sasaki’s “Sacrifice” in memoriam of the Fukushima nuclear disaster. He collaborated with the Austrian composer Matthias G. Kendlinger to premiere his piano concerto “Larissa”.

Since 2022 he is a member of the project and music group SYMPHONIACS created by DJ Andy Leomar in Berlin. The genre combines classical music with electro-dance-pop elements and brings classical music to a broad audience.

With the “Wiener Urtext Edition” and pianist Markus Schirmer he released the score album “Expedition Piano” with CD. Further productions include cooperations with the “Steirischer Tonkünstlerbund” and the “K&K Philharmonics”. Likewise Philipp Scheucher is regularly invited to international festivals, such as the “Copenhagen Summer Festival”, the „styriarte“, „ar|:s:|onore“ in Graz and the „Matthias Kendlinger Music Festival“ in Lviv.

His solo debut album “QUASI FANTASIA” played on the new Bösendorfer concert grand 280 VC – Vienna Concert was released in June 2019 by KNS Classical in cooperation with sound engineer and Grammy Award-winner Georg Luksch. The double album „Concert apéritif du Piano“ followed in November 2020 and the „BEETHOVEN“ album by Naxos in 2022

Philipp Scheucher is an official “Bösendorfer Artist”.

„His absolute presence onstage and his clean, attentive sound of his interpretations set new quality standards.” - WDR Broadcast

Booklet for ODYSSEY