Zoltán Kodály - Sonata for Solo Cello (Truls Mørk)

Information

Composer: Zoltán Kodály

• Sonata in B Minor for solo cello, Op. 8

Truls Mørk, cello

Date: 2026

Label: 2L (Lindberg Lyd, Norway)

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Composed in 1915, Zoltán Kodály’s Sonata for Solo Cello, Op. 8 represents a landmark in cello repertoire, widely regarded as the most important unaccompanied work since Johann Sebastian Bach’s Cello Suites. The piece fuses Hungarian folk traditions—shaped by Kodály’s collaboration with Béla Bartók—with modernist techniques, significantly expanding the instrument’s expressive and technical scope. Its distinctive retuning enhances resonance and supports its tonal framework, while demanding techniques heighten its virtuosity. Premiered in 1918 by Jenő Kerpely and later championed by János Starker, the sonata has become a cornerstone of the professional cello repertoire.

Truls Mørk (b. 1961) is a distinguished Norwegian cellist renowned for his intensity, technical mastery, and rich tone. Born in Bergen into a musical family, he studied with his father before training under prominent teachers such as Frans Helmerson, Heinrich Schiff, and Natalia Shakhovskaya. His international breakthrough came in 1982 at the International Tchaikovsky Competition. Mørk has performed with leading orchestras including the Berlin Philharmonic and New York Philharmonic, collaborating with conductors such as Simon Rattle. A strong advocate of contemporary music, he has premiered numerous works and received major awards, including a Grammy for his recording of Benjamin Britten’s cello suites. He also teaches at the Norwegian Academy of Music and performs on a 1723 Domenico Montagnana cello.

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