Andre Previn / Sebastian Currier: American Tunes #1 – Anne-Sophie Mutter

In this second volume of the ASM Forte Forward series, Anne-Sophie Mutter performs works by two composers close to her heart.

First, André Previn (1929–2019), to whom the violinist was married for several years, and with whom she remained close friends until his death. A jazz pianist, conductor and composer, the multifaceted talents of this great musician opened up new musical worlds for her. Here she presents his Piano Trio (2009), as well as his Violin Concerto No. 2, composed in 2010 for solo violin, string orchestra and harpsichord, a nod to Baroque music and to an instrument that is unusual in contemporary music ensembles.

Another instrument featured outside of its normal context is the double bass: Anne-Sophie Mutter asked Sebastian Currier to write a duo for her and double bassist Roman Patkoló, one of the scholarship recipients of her foundation. For this commission Currier wrote Ringtone Variations: “I wanted to work with material that is very simple and familiar to everyone”, says Currier. “This is the only piece where, if a phone went off in the audience, suddenly you have a new variation!”