Leoš Janáček’s Pohádka (meaning ‘a tale’) is inspired by The Tale of Tsar Berendyey, an epic poem by Russian writer Vasily Zhukovsky dating from 1832. It opens this program by Czech and Hungarian composers, carefully selected by cellist Laura van der Heijden and pianist Jâms Coleman because the works “embody the notion of passing on ancient folk tales, tales which have lived amongst peoples and across lands for centuries.” 

Folk tales are inextricably connected with folk music, so it is no surprise to find the tireless folksong collector Zoltán Kodály well-represented; by his Cello Sonata (Op. 4), Cello Sonatina from 1909 and two songs (arranged for cello and piano by van der Heijden). Janáček’s Violin Sonata in A Flat Minor, beloved of both performers, has been arranged for cello and piano (again by van der Heijden) to allow them to present it alongside Pohádka. A short work by András Mihály (1917-1993) and arrangements of songs by Antonín Dvořák and Vítezslava Kaprálová, a tremendous talent who died tragically of tuberculosis at 25, complete this...