Whereas pianist Marc Pantillon regularly appears on Claves recordings; it is a première with the Swiss label for cellist Sébastien Singer. A keen lover of chamber music – he performs all over the world with the Schweizer Klaviertrio – the young musician from Neuchâtel is diving straight into the deep end here with Beethoven's 5 Sonatas.

Scores; as writer Etienne Barilier reminds us in his generous text; which take us on a three-stage journey through the composer's progressing genius. "At each stage; the works acquire new momentum; new dimension. These stages could even be called crises; from which Beethoven's genius emerged victorious and more mature each time."

First of all there is the pre 1800 Beethoven with the two Sonatas op. 5; exploring grounds where neither Mozart nor Haydn had been before him; Boccherini apart; we need to go back as far as Vivaldi and Bach to find the cello in such a place of honour. There follows a 15-year break before the birth of opus 69; bathed in the lyrical and peaceful atmosphere of the Pastoral Symphony.

The two Sonatas op. 102 date from 1815; shortly before the Ninth Symphony. "Beyond opus 100; says Barilier; we reach the thinner; yet prodigiously pure air of the highest heights." Heights climbed with exceptional skill and intelligence by the Singer-Pantillon pair. A complete collection that will make its mark.