Bengt Ericson Performs Small Pieces For The Romantic Cello & Viola Da Gamba

Released in 1977 on the Swedish label BIS, this recording features cellist Bengt Ericson alongside collaborators including harpist Karin Langebo and lutenist Rolf La Fleur. The album serves as a diverse survey of chamber music, juxtaposing late Romantic cello repertoire by composers such as Saint-Saëns, Fauré, and Cassadó with earlier works for viola da gamba by composers like Telemann, Morley, and Gibbons. It reflects the label’s foundational commitment to high-fidelity documentation of varied classical repertoires, particularly in the Nordic scene.

The production captures an eclectic stylistic range, likely intended to showcase Ericson’s versatility across both modern and early music instruments. By pairing the resonant, lyrical nature of the romantic cello pieces with the more restrained, historical textures of the viola da gamba selections, the record offers a curated listening experience designed for the discerning chamber music enthusiast of the late 1970s. As a part of the early BIS catalog, the LP is noted for the label’s pursuit of natural, transparent sound engineering which became a signature of their future releases.