Christoph Croisé: Folklore

The Strad Issue: August 2026

Description: A traversal of folk idioms offers much pleasure

Musicians: Christoph Croisé (cello) Ana Bakradze (piano)

Works: Music by Bartók, Boulanger, Falla, Fauré, Sarasate, Schumann and Tsintsadze

Catalogue number: AVIE AV2837

A barrage of emotions impacts on this varied collection of cameos from Christoph Croisé and Ana Bakradze. Sarasate’s virtuosity in Zigeunerweisen proves exhilarating, with the original violin scampering impressively translating to the cello. In contrast, the rich Romantic and sophisticated vein of Schumann’s language in the Fünf Stücke im Volkston nods to folk, the last movement of which is particularly rustic with the tripping rhythms, but boasts inspired lyrical melodies as well.

Along the way we have Bartók’s Romanian Dances, which accurately reflect the folk music he encountered, but of course cast into his unique style. Here I particularly like this duo’s use of rubato, which almost seems to choreograph the dance steps. Tsintsadze’s wonderful Georgian pieces range from the pizzicato strumming of ‘Chonguri’ to the tender lullaby of ‘Nana’. Both players have an impressive palette of colours in their performances, which ignites this set, while also adding eloquence to the simplicity of Nadia Boulanger’s Three Pieces. Fauré’s Sicilienne offers a lilting and bewitching 6/8 metre in a gentle pulse, but paprika is more to the fore in Falla’s Suite populaire espagnole, with tempestuous fiery invention in ‘Jota’ and ‘Polo’. All in all, a wonderful listening experience.

JOANNE TALBOT