Lorenzo Marcolla

‘Scacco Matto’ is a continuation of Senni’s distinctive “pointillistic” style - where gated, taut sounds are arranged relentlessly as drumless rhythms and melody, which this time come in more song based structures. On this bold sonic ‘Rave-Voyeuristic’ statement, he takes the synthetic synapse manipulation of Trance and Computer Music, but intentionally encourages short circuits, resulting in unexpected signal paths moving in different directions, and making new fascinating shapes.

In this wonderful recording, cellist Lorenzo Meseguer and pianist Mario Mora bring together four composers who have historically been undervalued: From Fanny Mendelssohn’s Fantasia to Gustav Jenner’s Sonata in D major, the album also includes Felix Mendelssohn’s Sonata op. 58, a masterpiece for this combination, and an arrangement for cello and piano of Clara Schumann’s Three Romances op. 22.

Emerging from the pandemic like a bubble of oxygen from the ocean depths, this recording project is built around two ideas that lie at the heart of the Chapelle Musicale Reine Elisabeth. On one hand it perfectly embodies the ideal of a continuing relationship between masters and artists in residence by bringing together three generations of musicians with Miguel da Silva, Lorenzo Gatto and the young artists currently in residence at the Chapel, providing an opportunity for the former to pass on their mastery and knowledge to the latter. On the other, it also fulfils a desire to bring together a number of artists in an ensemble that unites chamber music with a string orchestra for major works. The string octet, a form made even more attractive by its rarity, was adopted by two composers of genius: Mendelssohn and Enescu. These youthful works, nonetheless mature and filled with musical riches, echo each other here by highlighting their contrasts.