Catalogue

Summary:

Lullabies – an EP by Christoph Croisé

Following the success “Lullaby for Arthur” (from Cello Sonata No. 1, Op. 9), Christoph Croisé has composed four new Lullabies to form a brand new Op. 18 set. Avie Records will be releasing each new Lullaby as a unique single between February and August, culminating in a 5-track EP release in November 2025: to include all four new compositions, plus his celebrated “Lullaby for Arthur” to complete the programme.

In the Baroque era, crafting a successful Adagio was regarded as one of the greatest challenges for a composer. Drawing from this tradition, I have created four distinct slow pieces for cello and piano, where the two instruments alternate in presenting the themes and weaving intricate variations. The Lullabies, Op.18 were composed in September and October 2024, inspired by my concert tour across South Africa earlier that year. My travels took me from Cape Town through Pretoria to Johannesburg, allowing me – thanks to generous friends – not only to explore the cities but also to meet remarkable people and immerse myself in South Africa’s breathtaking landscapes. The beaches of Cape Town, the dramatic vistas of Chapman’s Peak, the serene beauty of the Aquila Game Reserve, and the vibrant life of smaller towns and townships are a source of immense inspiration. The interplay of colours, the rhythms of the savanna, the wildlife, and the shifting light of the sun – all resonated with a natural cycle of emergence and transformation, beginnings and endings, life, and decay. In the Lullabies, Op. 18, I sought to evoke a continuous flow that remains unbroken throughout each piece, transcending shifts in harmony, voicing, or rhythm. Each lullaby is dedicated to someone from my closest circle, reflecting their essence in a unique musical narrative. My hope is that the Lullabies, Op. 18 offer listeners a vivid and intimate journey through a tapestry of evocative scenes.

Christoph Croisé

Tracklist:

Christoph Croisé (b. 1993)

Lullabies, Op. 18 for cello and piano
1. Lullaby for Béatrice

Christoph Croisé, cello
Ana Bakradze, piano

Recording: 29 November 2024, Kammersaal UdK Berlin, Germany.
Producer: Shintaro Sugiura