Composer: GEORGY L'VOVICH CATOIRE (1861-1926)

Tracks/ Timings: CATOIRE: Violin Sonata No.2 "Poème", Op.20 (20:50); Élégie, Op.26 (4:13); Violin Sonata No.1, Op.15 (28:43); RAVEL: Pièce en forme de habanera (3:10); Tzigane (10:31)

Information:
Georgy L'vovich Catoire was born in Moscow on April 27th 1861, to parents of French descent. Aside from his musical education Catoire had studied mathematics and science at Moscow University and in 1884 graduated with high honors. After his death Catoire and his music fell into oblivion. Outside of Russia he had never achieved any noticeable recognition, and in Russia his personal and musical profile did not at all correspond with the ideological demands the new masters expected to be met by a Soviet composer. His music, nevertheless, was championed by such outstanding Soviet musicians as Alexander Goldenweiser, David Oistrakh, Mstislav Rostropovitch and Leonid Kogan, but still today Catoire ranks among the most neglected composers. Violinist Hervig Zack and pianist Bernd Zack have taken up Catoire's cause; this CD brings together all of his music for violin and piano along with two works by Maurice Ravel.