Parisian Cello Sonatas

​​ A Journey Through the Belle Époque

​Lidy Blijdorp and Tobias Borsboom will be presenting their new CD, which features Parisian cello sonatas. César Franck’s famous Sonata for violin was originally written for him, but he gave Jules Delsart his blessing for a magnificent cello arrangement, which they use to open their recital.

Franck’s lyrical masterpiece paved the way for a new generation of French composers, who were inspired by the composer’s unique and innovative style. Nadia Boulanger was one of that generation. In her Trois Pièces, expressiveness, tenderness, and virtuosity follow one another. Claude Debussy's Cello Sonata from 1915 is one of the highlights of the cello repertoire. Composed during the First World War, this deeply personal work is a profound statement. With its improvisational style, jazz influences and unexpected twists and turns, Debussy created a unique soundscape in which the cello whistles, strums and sings.

Matthijs Vermeulen, who lived and worked in Paris, wrote his Cello Sonata in 1918, inspired by Debussy. It is a bridge between the Netherlands and France, and between tradition and innovation. In the concert, the composer’s daughter, Odilia Vermeulen, will talk about her father's masterpiece.

The Duo
Lidy Blijdorp has been praised by the press as a cellist with ‘breathtaking musicality’ (Amsterdam Cello Biennale) and ‘stunning’ narrative power. De Volkskrant wrote, ‘From a hazy dream to a fierce attack: Blijdorp can do it all!’ She won two Edison Awards for her debut album, Journeyers, and plays the legendary cello of Anner Bijlsma. Bijlsma said of her, ‘She plays the cello superbly and has a very special musical personality.’
Pianist Tobias Borsboom, winner of the Dutch Classical Talent Award, is praised for his ‘jewel-like touch’ (Trouw) and his ability to breathe life into music as a ‘peerless master storyteller’ who ‘conjures associations and connections’.

Together, Lidy and Tobias are what critics call a ‘golden duo’: ‘perfectly attuned to each other’, they have ‘a perfect balance of technical mastery and emotional depth’.
On their collaboration, Lidy and Tobias say: ‘During rehearsals, we can read each other’s thoughts very well. We talk about the music in terms of images, colours, and cinematic scenes.’