Sol Gabetta - Prayer (2014) [Hi-Res]

'Prayer' offers the listener an intimate and meditative musical journey, with poignantly chosen pieces. Sol was inspired to record this album from her experience of playing the piece 'Prayer' by Swiss-born Jewish composer Ernest Bloch as an encore in her concerts.

As she searched to expand this repertoire, she came across other pieces by Bloch, Dmitri Shostakovich and the cellist Pablo Casals. The pieces on this CD are inspired by religious Jewish themes.

Ernest Bloch (1880-1859): Swiss born Jewish composer who moved to the US in 1916. Sol chose his three part piece 'From Jewish Life', 'Nigun' and 'Méditation Hébraïque' and recorded them with the Amsterdam Sinfonietta. Bloch’s most famous piece 'Schelomo' – a larger three movement piece for cello and orchestra was recorded with the Orchestre National de Lyon under Leonard Slatkin.

Dmitri Shostakovitch's song cycle "From Jewish Folk Poetry", op.79 is based on traditional Jewish songs and originally written for violin and piano. Sol chose 4 pieces from this cycle and had them arranged for solo cello and string orchestra by the Russian composer Mikail Bronner.

The piece 'The Song of the Birds' by famous 20th century composer and cellist Pablo Casals was often played by Casals himself as an encore. The composition was regarded by Casals as a political statement – as a plea for freedom. Sol recorded this piece originally as a solo piece with the cello group of the Amsterdam Sinfonietta.