Various Composers - Spiegel im Spiegel (Onutė Gražinytė; Edward King)

Information

1. Olivier Messiaen - Quatuor pour la fin du temps: V. Louange à l'éternité de Jesus
2. Arvo Pärt - Fratres
3. Johann Sebastian Bach - Sonata for Viola da Gamba No. 1 in G Major, BWV 1027: I. Adagio
4. Johann Sebastian Bach - Sonata for Viola da Gamba No. 1 in G Major, BWV 1027: II. Allegro ma non tanto
5. Johann Sebastian Bach - Sonata for Viola da Gamba No. 1 in G Major, BWV 1027: III. Andante
6. Johann Sebastian Bach - Sonata for Viola da Gamba No. 1 in G Major, BWV 1027: IV. Allegro moderato
7. Arvo Pärt - Da pacem Domine
8. Alfred Schnittke - Sonata No. 1 for cello and piano: I. Largo
9. Alfred Schnittke - Sonata No. 1 for cello and piano: II. Presto
10. Alfred Schnittke - Sonata No. 1 for cello and piano: III. Largo
11. Arvo Pärt - Spiegel im Spiegel
12. Olivier Messiaen - Quatuor pour la fin du temps: VIII. Louange à l'immortalité de Jésus

Onutė Gražinytė, piano

Edward King, cep

Aidija Chamber Choir (7)

Romualdas Gražinis, conductor

Date: 2025

Label: Accentus Music

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Marking Arvo Pärt’s 90th birthday in 2025, Spiegel im Spiegel offers a meditative tribute centered on his signature works Fratres, Da pacem, and Spiegel im Spiegel. Performed by pianist Onutė Gražinytė, cellist Edward King, and the Aidija Chamber Choir under Romualdas Gražinis, the program frames Pärt’s music with complementary works: Messiaen’s Louanges, Bach’s Sonata for Viola da Gamba, and Schnittke’s Cello Sonata. Together, these pieces create a dialogue across centuries, uniting stillness, devotion, and reflection. This album is both homage and spiritual journey, a sonic meditation on peace, presence, and the eternal.

Onutė Gražinytė, Lithuanian pianist, began her studies at age five under the guidance of her musician parents and trained at the National Čiurlionis School of Arts in Vilnius. She continued her education in Hanover with Roland Krüger and later in Berlin with Kirill Gerstein, drawing inspiration from eminent pianists including Andrei Gavrilov and Stephen Kovacevich. Recognized with an award from the President of Lithuania in 2015, she has performed widely across Europe with major orchestras such as the Lithuanian State Symphony, Salzburg Mozarteum, and Lyon Philharmonic. An active chamber musician, she collaborates frequently, notably with her husband, cellist Edward King.

Edward King, New Zealand-born cellist and pedagogue, was appointed Professor of Violoncello at the Leopold Mozart College of Music, University of Augsburg, in 2023. A prizewinner at the Lutosławski and Markneukirchen competitions, he also received a special award from Krzysztof Penderecki for his interpretation of Divertimento. Active across Europe and beyond, he combines solo, chamber, and ensemble work, embracing genres from early to contemporary and experimental music. He has served as principal cellist with leading ensembles and appears frequently as jury member and teacher worldwide. King is a member of O/Modernt Chamber Orchestra, co-founded hear now berlin, and performs extensively with his wife, pianist Onutė Gražinytė, as the Gražinytė–King Duo.

High Resolution 24-bit / 96 kHz