From Oblivion to Rediscovery: Release Concert for RESURGENCE

Address

Skovgaardsgade 2C,
Aarhus

From Oblivion to Rediscovery: Release Concert for RESURGENCE

Description

The cellist Janne Fredens and the pianist Søren Rastogi present the first complete recording of the Russian composer Leokadiya Kashperova's two cello sonatas at a special release concert at Det Jyske Musikkonservatorium in Aarhus on Saturday 14 November at 15.00. On 13 November 2026 the Danish record label OUR Recordings releases the album RESURGENCE, which brings two hitherto almost unknown works of Romantic chamber music to light. The album contains the first complete recording of Leokadiya Kashperova's (1872–1940) two sonatas for cello and piano, Op. 1. In her own day Kashperova was a highly acclaimed Russian pianist and composer. She was a pupil of the legendary Anton Rubinstein and later became piano teacher to the young Igor Stravinsky. After the Russian Revolution, however, her music almost completely disappeared from concert life, and for decades she was known primarily as Stravinsky's teacher. In recent years Kashperova's music has experienced a remarkable international rediscovery. BBC Radio 3 has devoted an entire series of programmes to her works, and orchestras such as the BBC Symphony Orchestra and Rundfunk-Sinfonieorchester Berlin have performed and recorded her orchestral music. With RESURGENCE, Janne Fredens and Søren Rastogi now contribute to the rediscovery of her chamber music. The sonatas draw musical threads to, among others, Brahms, Tchaikovsky and Rachmaninoff, while also containing a strong and independent composer's voice. Janne Fredens and Søren Rastogi have worked intensively with the works for a year and a half, among other things as part of the FOKU project Kashperova Sonatas at Det Jyske Musikkonservatorium. The work has not only been about rehearsing and recording the music, but also about finding an interpretation of works that do not yet have any established performance tradition. Music and stories about the rediscovery At the release concert Janne Fredens and Søren Rastogi will play excerpts from the sonatas. The audience will also have the chance to hear two talks that each from their own angle shed light on the work of rediscovering, recording and spreading classical music. Dr. Graham Griffiths, musicologist and Honorary Visiting Research Fellow at City St George's, University of London, comes to Aarhus to give the talk Leokadiya Kashperova: A New Dawn. Graham Griffiths is one of the internationally leading researchers on Kashperova's life and music. Through more than 20 years of research and extensive archive studies in Russia he has been a driving force behind the rediscovery of her works. He is, among other things, the author of the first biography of Kashperova, published by Cambridge University Press in 2023, and editor of the music publisher Boosey & Hawkes' editions of her music. Lars Hannibal, guitarist, co-founder and director of OUR Recordings, will talk about the work of recording, releasing and marketing classical music in 2026. Taking RESURGENCE as his starting point, he gives an insight into the opportunities and challenges of bringing rarely heard repertoire out to an international audience. About the musicians Janne Fredens is a former member of the award-winning Jalina Trio and is principal cellist of Randers Kammerorkester. In recent years she has had a particular focus on rediscovering overlooked music for cello and piano. Søren Rastogi is an internationally active concert pianist who has collaborated with a great many prominent musicians. He is professor of piano at Det Jyske Musikkonservatorium. Together, Fredens and Rastogi are artistic directors of Odsherred Kammermusikfestival. In 2024 they released the album UPHEAVAL on OUR Recordings with music by four female composers from the beginning of the 20th century. With RESURGENCE they continue their joint work of bringing overlooked musical voices to light. Practical information Release concert: RESURGENCE Date: Saturday 14 November 2026 at 15.00 Venue: Kammermusiksalen, Det Jyske Musikkonservatorium, Aarhus After the concert a glass of wine and snacks will be served, and there will be an opportunity to meet the performers and talk about the music and the recording. The album RESURGENCE is released internationally on OUR Recordings on 13 November 2026. The concert is free, and you can simply turn up without a ticket. Come in good time.