FERDINAND RIES (1784-1838): 3 Airs Russes Variés, Op. 72 (First Recording), Cello Sonata in C, Op. 20, LUDWIG VAN BEETHOVEN (1770-1827): Cello Sonata in F, Op. 5/1.

Description: For Ries completists, here is a 13-minute set of variations on Russian folk tunes (whether real or manufactured is still not known) which the composer wrote for a series of concerts he gave with cellist Bernhard Rombert in St. Petersburg in 1812. Pity there’s not more to this disc because the ten pages of English notes on the works and the relationship between Ries and Beethoven are as good as they come. Juris Teichmanis (cello), Hansjacob Staemmler (fortepiano).