An evening held as part of the Pablo Casals Day –Barcelona, a celebration and commemoration of the historical and symbolic link between Pau Casals and the Palau, and the international reach of the master musician.
Every cello lover knows that Truls Mørk is one of today’s greatest performers. He has always steered clear of the star system, but his cello speaks and sings for him, captivating us with its voice. His playing radiates purity—free of unnecessary effect—while his intensity, virtuosity, and emotion shine through. Truls Mørk devotes himself completely to music, whether performing Bach’s Suites or contemporary works, having premiered more than thirty compositions. His repertoire and discography are immense and carefully curated, often in collaboration with close musical partners such as Håvard Gimse, with whom he has been performing and recording for 20 years.
For this concert in honor of Casals, he has chosen two masterpieces that Casals loved and played frequently in his youth. One of these is the magnificent and tumultuous Grieg Sonata, which Casals had the rare opportunity to perform with the composer himself at the piano. Grieg was so delighted that he declared: “This man doesn’t play, he resurrects.” The other is the cello version of Franck’s Sonata, dedicated to Casals’ great friend Eugène Ysaÿe. Casals firmly believed that Franck had not only envisioned the violin when composing the piece but had also considered the cello—and he felt it sounded even better on the latter. There is no doubt that Truls Mørk will prove this to be true!
Håvard Gimse, piano
Sonata for cello and piano, in A minor, op. 36
Pièce, op. 39
Sonata for cello and piano, in A major
Truls Mørk (cello)
His captivating performances, which combine fierce intensity, integrity, and elegance, have established him as one of the most outstanding cellists of our time.
In the early years of his career, he won numerous awards in competitions such as the Tchaikovsky Competition in Moscow, the Cassadó Cello Competition in Florence, the UNESCO Prize at the European Radio Competition in Bratislava, and the Naumburg Competition in New York.
Håvard Gimse (piano)
He is one of the most outstanding pianists in the Nordic region. He has performed on stages such as Wigmore Hall, Carnegie Hall, and Concertgebouw and has recorded for labels like Sony and Naxos. A specialist in Nordic repertoire, he has worked with renowned orchestras and collaborates on chamber music projects. He is a professor at the Norwegian Academy of Music and leads initiatives for young talents.