Osvaldo Golijov; Anna Clyne - Perfectly Free (Maja Bogdanović)

Information

Composer: Osvaldo Golijov; Anna Clyne

• Golijov - Azul for cello, obbligato group and orchestra
• Clyne - Dance for cello and orchestra

Maja Bogdanović, cello

Robbrecht Van Cauwenberghe, accordion

Phion Symphony Orchestra

David Cohen & Xandi van Dijk, conductors

Date: 2026

Label: Challenge Classics

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Perfectly Free presents live recordings of two contemporary cello concertos—Osvaldo Golijov’s Azul and Anna Clyne’s DANCE—performed by cellist Maja Bogdanović with the Phion Symphony Orchestra at the Stift International Music Festival. The album captures the Dutch premieres of both works under conductors David Cohen and Xandi van Dijk. Golijov’s Azul unfolds as a vivid, cosmic soundscape blending Baroque echoes, Piazzolla-inspired rhythms, and unusual orchestral colors, including accordion and exotic percussion. In contrast, Clyne’s five-movement DANCE, inspired by Rumi, explores powerful emotional and technical extremes. The recording reflects deep artistic collaboration and embodies the festival’s spirit of creative freedom, curiosity, and musical adventure.

Cellist Maja Bogdanović is widely recognized as one of today’s leading performers, praised for her expressive tone and interpretative maturity. Following a celebrated recital debut at Carnegie Hall’s Weill Recital Hall, she has performed with major orchestras worldwide, including the Tonhalle Orchester Zurich, Tokyo Philharmonic, Munich Chamber Orchestra, and Belgrade Philharmonic. In the United States she has appeared at the Grand Teton Music Festival and with several regional symphony orchestras. An active chamber musician, she regularly performs at prominent international festivals alongside distinguished artists such as Martha Argerich and Yuri Bashmet. Bogdanović also champions contemporary music, premiering works by composers including Sofia Gubaidulina and Krzysztof Penderecki, with whom she has collaborated closely.

High Resolution 24-bit / 48 kHz