Luigi Boccherini: Sonatas for Cello and Continuo, Vol. II Michal Kanka, Jaroslav Tuma, Petr Hejny

• Luigi Boccherini (1743 - 1805): Sonata No. 4 in A Major, G. 4:
• 1 Boccherini: Sonata No. 4 in A Major, G. 4: I. Allegro moderato 06:05
• 2 Boccherini: Sonata No. 4 in A Major, G. 4: II. Adagio 03:56
• 3 Boccherini: Sonata No. 4 in A Major, G. 4: III. Affetuoso 03:27
• Sonata No. 2 in C Minor, G. 2b:
• 4 Boccherini: Sonata No. 2 in C Minor, G. 2b: I. Adagio 03:09
• 5 Boccherini: Sonata No. 2 in C Minor, G. 2b: II. Allegro 04:22
• 6 Boccherini: Sonata No. 2 in C Minor, G. 2b: III. Allegretto 02:45
• Sonata No. 5 in G Major, G. 5:
• 7 Boccherini: Sonata No. 5 in G Major, G. 5: I. Allegro militare 04:28
• 8 Boccherini: Sonata No. 5 in G Major, G. 5: II. Largo 03:26
• 9 Boccherini: Sonata No. 5 in G Major, G. 5: III. Tempo di minuetto 03:06
• Sonata No. 13 in A Major, G. 13:
• 10 Boccherini: Sonata No. 13 in A Major, G. 13: I. Allegro 03:53
• 11 Boccherini: Sonata No. 13 in A Major, G. 13: II. Largo 03:49
• 12 Boccherini: Sonata No. 13 in A Major, G. 13: III. Allegro 03:17
• Sonata No. 18 in C Minor, G. 18:
• 13 Boccherini: Sonata No. 18 in C Minor, G. 18: I. Moderato 05:12
• 14 Boccherini: Sonata No. 18 in C Minor, G. 18: II. Largo 03:44
• 15 Boccherini: Sonata No. 18 in C Minor, G. 18: III. Minuetto (e Trio) 03:03
• Sonata No. 15 in G Major, G. 15:
• 16 Boccherini: Sonata No. 15 in G Major, G. 15: I. Allegro 03:34
• 17 Boccherini: Sonata No. 15 in G Major, G. 15: II. Larghetto 03:47
• 18 Boccherini: Sonata No. 15 in G Major, G. 15: III. Allegro 03:27
• Total Runtime 01:08:30

Info for Luigi Boccherini: Sonatas for Cello and Continuo, Vol. II

“Did Boccherini ever write a piece of music that was less than delightful? If he did, it wasn’t a cello sonata - at least on the evidence of this disc. We don’t know for sure how many of these sonatas he wrote: Gérard, Boccherini’s Köchel, listed 34, and more recent discoveries bring the total to 42. In this second volume, Michal Kaňka, the cellist of the renowned Pražák Quartet, plays six, and he plays them beautifully, with a warm, singing tone and an elegance that bespeaks Boccherini’s galant style.

This isn’t the deepest music you’ll ever hear for cello, but it is endlessly varied and chock-full of lovely melodies. Perhaps it’s best taken a couple of sonatas at a time; you don’t want to overdose on sweets. Kaňka plays a modern instrument in the modern style though not with excessive warmth or Romantic swoonings. (…) What you do get is a set of affectionate performances, with sprightly rhythms and technical finesse, surely enough to satisfy all but zealots. Kaňka is successful too in conveying the huge variety Boccherini found within the limits of the style of his period, his patrons’ preferences, and his own inclinations. (…) Kaňka is joined by harpsichordist Jaroslav Tůma and second cellist Petr Hejný, both of whom provide fine support.

The music goes down smoothly, with the occasional mournful note to break the placid surface. The G major (G.5) begins with a charming march, the first movement of the A major (G.4) is a tuneful pleasure, the Largo of G.13 is a mournfully elegant lament, the sprightly Minuetto of G.18 is like a remembrance of a ghostly dance, and so it goes, on and on, with precious delights tripping over each other, movement by movement.” (Dan Davis, ClassicsToday)

Michal Kaňka, cello
Jaroslav Tůma, harpsichord
Petr Hejný, cello

Michal Kanka
Born in Prague in 1960, Michal Kanka took up the cello under leadership of Mirko Skampa at the age of seven. Later, he studied in the Prague Conservatory under prof. Viktor Moucka (cellist of the famous Vlach string quartet). During his studies at the Prague Academy of Fine Arts - under the tutelage of Prof. Josef Chuchro - he participated in the G. Piatigorsky Seminars in Los Angeles with Andre Navarra, Maurice Gendron and Paul Tortelier in 1983 and 1984.

In 1980, Michal Kanka received honorable mention at the international Prague Spring Competition. One year later, he was awarded the grand prize for all categories in the Czechoslovak National Competition. This initial success has been followed by top prizes in the Tchaikovsky Cello Competition in Moscow in 1982 and in the Prague Spring Competition in 1983 (first prize). In 1986, Michal won the ARD International Competition in Munich.

Michal Kanka has performed with leading European orchestras such as the Czech Philharmonic Orchestra, the Prague Radio Orchestra, the Bayerischer Rundfunk Orchestra, the West Berlin Rundfunk Orchestra, Liverpool Philharmonic, the Nagoya Phil., the Lausanne Chamber Orchestra, the Prague Chamber Orchestra, the Prague Chamber Philharmonic...He has appeared as a soloist in Germany, Austria, Denmark, Switzerland, the Netherlands, Italy, France, Spain, Portugal, North and South America and Japan. He has been a regular soloist of the Brno Philharmonic Orchestra since 1995 and nominated soloist of The Prague Radio Orchestra since 2003.

Michal Kanka has recorded for Czech Radio, Radio France, Bayerischer Rundfunk, Hessischer Rundfunk, Suedwest Rundfunk, AVRO Radio Holland... His CDs were released for Supraphon, Bonton, Panton, Radioservis Prague, Nuova Era (Italy). Now, exclusively for the Praga digitals (distributed by Harmonia Mundi France). His recent recordings: Boccherini - 7 cello sonatas, Myslivecek - 6 cello sonatas (world first recording), Kodaly - compositions for cello. For this recording, he was awarded several prices (Choc de la Music, diapason D ' OR), Boccherini - cello sonatas (volume 2), Martinu- small pieces for cello and piano, Beethoven - complete of cello sonatas and variations (CHOC de la Musique). Sonatas by Rachmaninov and Mjaskovskij (diapason D ' OR), Rubinstein, Brahms, Chopin, Grieg, Schubert, Franck, Saint-Saëns, Boëllmann and Haydn cello concertos, sonatas by M. Weinberg (CHOC du MOI).The releases of the year 2010 are D. Schostakovich and E. Bloch.

Michal Kanka has been an active chamber music player. As a member of the Prazak string quartet and the Beethoven string trio he has appeared on major concert stages in the whole world and recorded many pieces for the CD company Praga digitals.

He plays an outstanding instrument made by French violin-maker Christian Bayon 2006 and the bow made by French bow-maker Nicole Descloux 2000.

Booklet for Luigi Boccherini: Sonatas for Cello and Continuo, Vol. II