Michalis Sourvinos - Louis Sauter: Das Birnli will nit fallen and Other Works for the Young (2023)

This release from Phasma-Music presents a selection of works for the young by contemporary composer Louis Sauter (b. 1955), recorded by world-class musicians. The composition dates span the period ranging from 1980 to 2022.

The two highlights of the album are musical tales. The first, Das Birnli will nit fallen for narrator and symphonic orchestra, is based on a tale by the Brothers Grimm. It is wonderfully read in English by a young prodigy, Paul Adam, accompanied by the great Symphonic Orchestra of the Moldovan National Philharmonic directed by Mihail Agafita. The second is L’histoire du petit joueur de flûte for narrator, tin whistle and piano, on a text by Hélène Sauter who also recorded the work, beautifully accompanied by flautist Iwona Glinka and pianist Vicky Stylianou. The booklet of the album includes the texts of both tales in English.

Also featured in the album are various works for solo guitar (Michalis Sourvinos), including Sauter’s first published work, Pièce pour guitare Op. 1, as well as his arrangements of songs from the County of Nice. These are followed by works for solo piano (Vicky Stylianou), including the creative Variations on “We Wish You a Merry Christmas” and the Sonatine basque (which was composed for yet another musical tale). The album concludes with Sauter’s rhythmic duet Quinquina, wonderfully performed by Iwona Glinka and Vicky Stylianou.