Evgenij Gunst ; Claude Debussy

Released by Oehms Classics in 2016, this recording highlights the intersection of French Impressionism and the lesser-known works of the Russian composer and critic Evgenij Gunst. The album serves as an archival effort to bring Gunst's chamber music, which had largely faded from the standard repertoire following the upheavals of the early twentieth century, into dialogue with the established, atmospheric soundscapes of Claude Debussy.

The recording features violinist Elena Denisova and pianist Susanne Maria Schwarz, who aim to showcase the lyrical intensity of Gunst’s compositions alongside Debussy’s refined structures. The collaboration was received by critics as a diligent exploration of musical synthesis, providing a rare opportunity for listeners to experience how Gunst adapted late Romantic sensibilities and Impressionist textures within his own distinct harmonic language.