Rebay: Sonatas for Flute and Guitar

An instrument that is almost entirely absent from the output of the great pre-twentieth-century composers, the guitar has long been viewed as a means to discovering new repertoire and neglected composers. One such example is Ferdinand Rebay, whose works (which have only recently come to light) present a unique case in bridging the central-European gap. This release is dedicated to his two Sonatas for Flute and Guitar.

Rebay believed that the blending of wind and guitar timbres produced a far more attractive sound than that of winds and piano, and the two sonatas -- written in 1942 -- date from an immensely productive period as regards the composer's chamber duo output for guitar. Heavy in dialogue, they reveal a technique deeply rooted in Viennese tradition; from the Neoclassical style of the First, whose Scherzo exudes Beethovenian inspiration, to the stirringly Romance feel of the Second, with its broad phrasing and intensely lyrical passagework, these are two strikingly different works of character that together illuminate a fascinating area of past-century music-making.

In representing the first recording of the two sonatas -- works that currently exist only in manuscript form -- this release forms a significant addition to Brilliant Classics' chamber music discography. The two young Spanish artists on the disc, María José Belotto and Gonzalo Noqué (who created the performing editions), set a high standard with their virtuosic display, arguing a strong case for why this composer deserves to be better known.

Other information:
- First recordings of the works made in 2011, performed from manuscripts.
- Includes booklet notes and biographies of the performers.
- The combination of flute and guitar enjoy a long tradition, going back to Robert De Visée, and, later in the Classical Period, composers Joseph Kaspar Mertz and Mauro Giuliani. The combination is a happy one, the long and flowing cantilenas of the flute embedded in the rich sonorities and harmonies of the guitar.
- Brilliant performances by Maria José Belotto and Gonzalo Noqué, who also participated in Brilliant Classics' earlier Rebay issue: the Quartets (BC 9250).