In the second volume of the “ASM Forte Forward” series, Anne-Sophie Mutter performs works by two composers who are particularly close to her heart. One is André Previn (1929–2019), to whom the violinist was married for several years and with whom she remained close friends until his death. As a jazz pianist, conductor, and composer, this magnificent musician’s versatile talent 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 tribute to Baroque music and to an instrument that is rather unusual in contemporary music ensembles. Another instrument used here outside its usual 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 composed “Ringtone Variations”: “I wanted to work with material that is very simple and familiar to everyone,” says Currier. “This is the only piece where you suddenly get a new variation when a cell phone rings in the audience!”

Andre Previn: Violinkonzert Nr. 2 mit 2 Cembali; Klaviertrio
+Sebastian Currier: Ringtone Variations für Violine & Kontrabass