Antonio Vivaldi - Jean Barrière

The BaRock Experience - Masterpieces for cello and organ

Jelena & Ljerka Očić

Label: Challenge Classics
Format: CD
Barcode: 0608917260724

Catalog number: CC 72607
Releasedate: 27-09-13

"Our wish was, in a way, to „digest“ our knowledge of Baroque music, but also to take an artistic step forward, similar to one that painters often take in the genesis of their work. We tried to „paint“ our own personal view of the music that was our privilege to interpret. We allowed ourselves to be invited, in the exquisite moment of interpretation, into a world of inspiration that the music itself reveals. In our dialogue, in this world of inspiration, our imagination, gave birth to new, improvisational, ideas. I found myself free to find new musical lines that Vivaldi and Barrière might have used, in order to give the continuo more autonomy in the musical interaction.

Jelena’s playing was awakening my inspriation to improvise, to fulfil my desire to transform the organ into a sophisticated orchestra that would support, with its colors, and merge into the cello lines."

A wonderful unorthodox recording with the couple cello and organ
Famaous repertoire but seldom recorded
Two Croatian sisters with their first recording

“The recording of this CD I can describe as one of my most beautiful and most exciting musical experiences. I always enjoy playing with my sister Jelena, but this time our bonding rose to an even higher level of empathy, and it became a search for new and adventurous artistic expression.“

Inspiration, imagination and improvisational ideas led both musicians to new musical lines that Vivaldi and Barrière might have use. The continuo got more autonomy in the musical interaction.

The French cellist and composer Jean-Baptiste Barrière started his career as a privileges by King Louis XV at Fontainebleau. To his Majesty he wrote several sonatas which are still known for their sensitivity and fine tonality, their emotional resonance and deep sonority.

Three books of chamber music by Antonio Vivaldi present exquisite sonatas with fine melodies and expressive harmonies. Jelena and Ljerka Ocic present three of those which both loved most.