Dutilleux, Tout un Monde Lontain, Emmanuel Bertrand, Luzerner Sinfonieorchester and James Gaffigan

We mark Henri Dutilleux's 100th birthday this coming January 16th. Tout un Monde Lontain (Harmonia Mundi 902209) is a disk celebrating the composer with the remarkable cellist Emmanuelle Bertrand playing the principal role on three works that fit well together. The first to consider is the "Sonata for Cello and Piano," Claude Debussy's final work which roughly coincides with Dutilleux's birth. The Dutilleux works on the program also feature the cello prominently, namely his "Trois Strophes sur le nom de Sacher pour violoncelle solo" from 1982 and the cello concerto "Tout un monde lontain" completed in 1970 on commission from the celebrated Msitislav Rostropovich.

Pianist Pascal Amoyel joins Ms. Bertrand for the Debussy; the Luzerner Sinfonieorchester under James Gaffigan does the honors for the concerto. Emmanuelle's technical and expressive abundance makes of the music all we might hope for. She is a formidable cellist, a gift of our times, and the music on the program brings out her remarkable brilliance fully.

The putative affiliation of Debussy and Dutilleux is made palpable with the inclusion of Claude's sonata, played with all the depth one might expect from the potent pairing of Bertrand and Amoyel. I've posted on them both, together and separately, on here before--so there are some other wonderful releases covered. Look them up.

The solo cello work is filled with plenty of substance and grit.

But it is the "Tout un monde lontain" that forms the center attraction here. Dutilleux was inspired by Baudelaire's "Flowers of Evil" and the mood of mystical passion pervades the work.

This album is a significant treat for all who appreciate Dutilleux but surely also for anyone who responds to marvelous cello artistry in a modern tonal world. It is an exceptionally rewarding performance and very beautiful music at that.

Totally recommended.