Je m’agite et je cours - Sonates van Chopin, Bosmans & Strohl
Romantics, Rebels, and Rita:
an afternoon recital featuring sonatas by Chopin, Bosmans and Strohl, performed by cellist Anna Litvinenko and pianist Danilo Mascetti
About the Artists
Cellist Anna Litvinenko and pianist Danilo Mascetti form a dynamic duo known for their spontaneity, virtuosity, and refined expressiveness. Their performances are marked by an engaging balance of intellectual curiosity and artistic imagination, making every recital both unique and deeply personal.
Sharing a passion for both early and contemporary repertoire, Anna and Danilo often create programs that place works by composers such as Auerbach and Jolivet alongside Beethoven or Mendelssohn, weaving a captivating dialogue across centuries. Their interpretations are informed by an understanding of 18th- and 19th-century performance practice, which adds historical depth and emotional nuance to their sound.
About the Program
On Sunday 9 November, Anna and Danilo invite the audience to join them in an exploration of three richly expressive works for cello and piano — each revealing a distinct facet of the Romantic and early modern spirit.
Frédéric Chopin’s Sonata for Cello and Piano (1846–47) is one of the composer’s few chamber works and among his final large-scale creations. Written in collaboration with his close friend Auguste Franchomme, the piece reflects both Chopin’s lyrical intimacy and his late stylistic boldness.
Henriëtte Bosmans’ Sonata for Cello and Piano (1919), composed when she was just 24, showcases her remarkable gift for melodic writing and emotional directness. Deeply connected to the cello — her father was a celebrated cellist who passed away soon after her birth — Bosmans later formed close artistic partnerships with cellists Frieda Belinfante and Marix Loevensohn. Her sonata bridges late-Romantic intensity and a distinctly modern voice.
Connecting these two works is Rita Strohl’s Lento Tristamente from the Sonate Dramatique “Titus et Bérénice” (1892) — a rare example of programmatic music for cello and piano. Inspired by Racine’s tragedy Bérénice (1670), this lament portrays the emotional turmoil of Bérénice as she confronts Titus’s decision to sacrifice love for duty:
“Je m’agite, je cours, languissante, abattue,
La force m’abandonne, et le repos me tue.” — Racine
Through this program, Anna and Danilo trace a path of passion, rebellion, and reflection — where Romantic lyricism meets the expressive freedom of the early 20th century.
Anna Litvinenko, cello
Danilo Mascetti, piano
