THE CHAMBER MUSIC OF PAUL PARAY

Paray's chamber music consists of two sonatas; one for violin and piano and another for cello and piano; a string quartet; a piano trio (lost); and three miniatures for violin and piano. All but the three short pieces are recorded here.

The Sonata for Violin and Piano was written in 1908 and published by Jean Jobert. The work is dedicated to the celebrated violinist of the day, Hélène Jourdan-Morhange, to whom Maurice Ravel also dedicated his Sonata for Violin and Piano. The sonata is laid out according to the classical three-movement plan.

The Sonata for Cello and Piano was completed in 1921, when Paul Paray had just been named principal assistant conductor to Camille Chevillard of the Concerts Lamoureux Orchestra in Paris. This Sonata was dedicated to Paray's's intimate friend, the cellist Gérard Hekking (1879-1942)who, with Paray's gave the work its premiere in 1920.

Paray's String Quartet was composed during his confinement at Darmstadt where he had been taken as a prisoner in World War I. The String Quartet is dedicated to Lucien Capet, author of the important treatise, La Technique do l'archet. The Quartet was premiered in 1920.

CD booklet contains valuable information about the composer and each of the works presented along with musical themes that guide the listener in appreciation of the development of the music.

The Performers:

Nadine Deleury, cellist, was born in Arras, France, near Paul Paray's native cit of Le Tréport. Her first teacher was Bernard Fonteny. She entered the paris Conservatory, where she studied with André Navaraa, and later in Brazil with Aldo Parisot. At Yale University she received a master's degree in 1981. Nadine is principal cellist of the Michigan Opera Theater Orchestra.

Robert deMaine, cellist, began musical studies at the age of four with his mother and sister, both accomplished cellists. He made his solo debut at age twelve with the Oklahoma City Symphony Orchestra, playing Tchaikovsky's Rococo Variations. A fellowship alumnus and magna cum laude graduate of the Eastman School of Music and Yale University, his teachers included Leonard Rose, Steven Doane, Paul Katz, Aldo Parisot, Bernard Greenhouse, Janos Starker and Luis Garcia-Renart. He is now Principal Cellist of the Detroit Symphony Orchestra.

Eduard Perrone, pianist, studied piano with Lee Luvisi, music composition with Moritz Bomhard, and orchestral conduction with Jorge Mester. He was ordained priest for the Archdiocese of Detroit in 1978 and is currently devoted to performing, recording and editing for publication, in cooperation with editions Jobert, Paris, the music of Paul Paray's.

Varty Manouelian, violinist, born in Plovdiv, Bulgaria, began her career at age four at the Petkov School of Music and continued her violin studies at the Bulgarian Academy of Music in Sofia. She made her American debut in 1993 with the North Carolina Symphony, winning first prize in the Bryan International Competition and winning standings in a number of other competitions. Having appeared as a soloist with numerous orchestras in the U. S., Bulgaria, the former Soviet Union, Poland, Spain and Italy, she joined the Detroit Symphony Orchestra in 1998.

Marian Tanau, violinist, is Romanian-born. He first picked up the violin at age four and began his musical education in his hometown and then graduated from Liceul de Muzica "Jhon Vidu" and at the Conservatorul de Muzica "G.Dima," earned a Diploma de Licenta in Fine Arts and Violin Performance. He has held full-time positions in orchestras in Romania, and in Toledo, Ohio. In 1993, Tanau took the position of first chair violin in the Chautauqua Symphony Orchestra, New York. Tanau joined the Detroit Symphony Orchestra in 1995. He has received many honors, awards and scholarships.

James Van Valkenburg, violist, is Assistant Principal Viola of the Detroit Symphony Orchestra. As a founding member of the International String Quartet he toured the would with concerts, winning several notable prizes. He has played chamber music with many of distinguished musicians including Menahem Pressler, Gidon Kremer, Mischa Maisky, David Shifrin, and Isaac Stern. His recent recordings, on the Koch International label, includes a violin-viola duet by William Bolcom, piano quartets by Franz Waxman and the Stravinsky septet.