Haunting. Breathtaking. Cool. Sublime. Brilliant. Magnificent. The consistent quality about Claus
Ogermann's writing for so many various performers is that it is so MESMERIZING. This particu-
lar performance of his "Works for Violin & Piano" (Sarabande-Fantasie/Duo Linco/Preludio and
Chant/Nightwings) by French pianist Jean-Yves Thibaudet and vilolinist Yue Deng in these duo
settings is NO exception. I first became aware of the classical pianist Thibaudet after hearing
his marvelous 1997 jazz flavored solo piano recording, "Conversations With Bill Evans", on the
London label; a heartfelt tribute by Thibaudet to the late, great jazz pianist Evans and no easy
feat for a classically trained artist like Thibaudet. A native of Lyons, France, he became a major
player on the international concert stage during the early 1980's. Violinist Yue Deng was born in
Hebel, China and comes out of the Oberlin Conservatory and Julliard. She has recorded with Bar-
bra Streisand, Barry Manilow, Diana Krall, Johnny Mandel, Willie Nelson, and Dionne Warwick, as
well as playing on numerous movie scores. Ogermann's "Works for Violin and Piano" contains two
pieces that were FIRST performed by the violinist Aaron Rosand in recorded orchestral settings:
"Sarabande-Fantasie", from 1990 and the four movement "Concerto Lirico for Violin and Orchestra",
from 1986 (known here as "Duo Lirico"), both found on a 1998 Ogermann cd on the Koch Label.
The third piece on "Works" is "Preludio and Chant" (also found on the Rosand/Ogermann cd), writ-
ten by Ogermann in 1979 for and first recorded by Latvian violinist Gidon Kremer, and dedicated
to Manfred Grater of Cologne, Germany. The last selection, "Nightwings", is a gorgeous short piece
by Ogermann that was first recorded by jazz violinist Joe Venuti in 1975, and has been covered
by a wide variety of artists over the years, including guitarist Jan Akkerman, and the two, late,
great jazz saxophonist's Stanley Turrentine ("Nightwings" from 1977), and Michael Brecker ("City-
scape" from 1982), both recordings made, as well, with Ogerman and his Orchestra. I first heard
"Nightwings" on Akkerman's classic 1978 "Aranjuez" record that was also made with Ogerman's
Orchestra. Here, on "Works", "Nightwings" is described as the "fifteenth in a collection of relative-
ly short pieces for violin and piano that were conceived as "encores". The (highly demanding) melo-
dic content recalls a genre prized by virtually every great violin virtuoso of the past". The readings
and performances by Thibaudet and Yue Deng of Ogermann's pieces on "Works" are brilliant, exqui-
site, and stunning. Claus revelaed his only concern with this recording was to "stir the listener's
emotions". He certainly accomplished that with me. A magnificent, haunting, and timeless work of
art. EXTRAORDINARY. 500 million stars.
P.S. For aother look at Yue Deng's impeccable playing on violin in a duo
setting, check out her 2004 collaboration with pianist Roger Kellaway call-
ed, "Yue Both Sides Now", available on Kellaway's own label, consisting of
nine pieces with improvised piano and Yue's exquisite performances. The
composers they cover include Django Reinhardt, Joni Mitchell, Duke Elling-
ton, Bill Evans, Billy Strayhorn, and several original tunes by both Kellaway
and Yue herself. Her incredible 11 minute solo performance of Strayhorn's
"Lush Life" is, alone, worth having. Marvelous and HIGHLY recommended.
