Dora The Exporer

The pianist Ekaterina Litvintseva won critical praise for her solo album on Piano Classics (PCL10226) of piano music by Dora Pejacevic: 'You owe it to yourself to make the acquaintance of Dora Pejacevic if you haven't done so already.' (Fanfare, May 2022) With her colleagues in Trio RoVerde, she now turns to the Croatian composer's chamber music. The Cello Sonata dates from 1913, the same year as Pejacevic wrote the first piano concerto by any Croatian composer. Like Brahms's First Cello Sonata and Elgar's Cello Concerto, it is cast in a moody E minor, with a yearning character are established from the outset by a long-limbed cantabile melody for the cellist.

This is CPO’s second release of Pejačević’s chamber music. The internationally active and renowned Sine Nomine Quartet from Switzerland and Oliver Triendl are outstanding advocates on behalf of this versatile composer. The last movement of the Piano Quintet Op. 40 is a highlight; with a solemn introduction and animated theme, which pervades the entire movement with kinetic energy.