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Leokadiya Kashperova: Cello Sonata no 2 in e minor Op.1 no. 2 (c. 1896) - a world premiere. Anastasia Kobekina and Luka Okros give the specially-recorded premiere performance in modern times of this work of rich Russian romanticism. An important figure in St Petersburg musical life - not least as 'the finest' pupil of Anton Rubinstein and the piano teacher of one Igor Stravinsky - the score of Kashperova's lyrical sonata was forgotten about after the Revolution of 1916. Thanks to the detective work of the musicologist Graham Griffiths and colleagues in the St Petersburg archives, the sonata has been edited and performed here for the first time by current ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ New Generation Artist, the cellist Anastasia Kobekina and the Georgian-born pianist, Luka Okros. This sonata must surely rank as one of the most assured Opus 1's in musical history so it's not surprising that Kashperova was once the toast of St Petersburg musical life.

In 2015, when former Radio 3 New Generation Artist Ruby Hughes discovered Clytemnestra by the Welsh composer Rhian Samuel, the work had not been performed since its première some 20 years earlier. Hughes describes the 24-minute score as ‘sun-scorched and luscious’ as well as ‘intensely visceral’. Rhian Samuel assembled her own text, based on Aeschylus' tragedy Agamemnon and focusing Clytemnestra’s deep anguish at the death of her daughter and her need for revenge. Bringing this wide spectrum of human emotions to life, Ruby Hughes is supported by the ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ National Orchestra of Wales and conductor Jac van Steen.

Leokadiya Kashperova: Cello Sonata no. 2 in e minor Op. 1 no. 2
Anastasia Kobekina (cello)
Luka Okros (piano)

Rhian Samuel: Clytemnestra
Ruby Hughes (soprano)
³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ National Orchestra of Wales
Jac van Steen (conductor)