Movses Pogossian

Movses Pogossian – Tigran Mansurian: Con anima (2020)
FLAC (tracks) 24 bit/96 kHz | Time – 01:19:23 minutes | 1,39 GB | Genre: Classical
Studio Masters, Official Digital Download | Front Cover | © ECM New Series

Conceived jointly by violinist Movses Pogossian and violist Kim Kashkashian on the occasion of Tigran Mansurian’s 80th birthday, the Con anima project brings together a dedicated cast of players to perform the Armenian composer’s chamber music. The emphasis is on newer pieces – only the Third String Quartet dates from the 20th century – but there is a timeless quality to Mansurian’s work, all of which resounds with the spirit of his homeland. “His works are full of signifiers that come from Armenian ornaments, paintings or stones, “ writes Elena Dubiunets in the CD notes. “His music itself feels as if it was carved out of stone.” Sonata da Chiesa is dedicated to the memory of priest-composer-folklorist Komitas, an enduring inspiration for Mansurian. Agnus Dei is influenced by Armenian sacred music, and Die Tänzerin is based upon an Armenian folk dance.

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Movses Pogossian – Bach: 6 Sonatas & Partitas for Solo Violin, BWV 1001-1006 (2017)
FLAC (tracks) 24 bit/96 kHz | Time – 02:52:23 minutes | 2,90 GB | Genre: Classical
Studio Masters, Official Digital Download | Digital Booklet, Front Cover | © New Focus Recordings

Acclaimed Armenian born violinist Movses Pogossian releases his performance of the full set of Bach’s iconic Six Sonatas and Partitas for Solo Violin. Pogossian’s soulful and thoughtful version strikes an ideal balance between various approaches to Bach. He incorporates the best characteristics of historically informed performance alongside aspects of the expansive, violinistic style associated with 20th century readings. His deep understanding of the structure of these works provides the foundation for the entire recording, elucidating the genius craft behind the fugues, the elegant harmonic architecture of the slow movements, and the brilliant “fortspinnung” or “spinning out” of motivic and episodic material in the fast movements. His lively articulation in dance movements is matched with a lyrical purity in the slower material. Pogossian mines the spiritual core of the slow movements brilliantly, preserving forward direction at deliberate tempi that allow him to explore the emotional color of each note. His approach is influenced by close work with György and Márta Kurtág, whose essential insights on Bach and music in general have inspired legions of wonderful musicians the world over. Pogossian is Professor of Violin at UCLA and can be heard as a soloist and chamber musician worldwide, as a champion of new compositions and virtuoso performer of works in the traditional canon.
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