Eastern Enchantment

Music has an incredible power to convey emotions beyond words, to transport us to places rich in history, culture, and deep human expression. With Eastern Enchantment, I complete a trilogy of recordings that has taken me through the great traditions of German and French music and now leads me into the heart of Slavonic and Hungarian repertoire. This album is not just a continuation—it is a statement of passion, of intensity, and of the profound depth that characterizes the music of this region. These works, each in its own way, reveal the soul of their composers, full of struggle, nostalgia, resilience, and raw beauty.

My personal connection to this music began years ago when I first had the opportunity to perform in Hungary and the Czech Republic. From the moment I set foot in this country, I was struck by the richness of their musical cultures — the way folk traditions are woven seamlessly into classical composition, the depth of feeling that permeates even the most rhythmically driven dances. Performing with Hungarian and Czech musicians and experiencing their instinctive approach to phrasing, articulation, and expression changed the way I understood this repertoire. Their playing carried an emotional directness, an unapologetic boldness that felt both deeply personal and universally resonant.

That experience shaped my vision of how to approach this music—not as an outsider interpreting a distant tradition, but as a musician immersing myself in its language, its energy, and its soul. The raw intensity of Hungarian folk melodies, the push and pull of their rhythmic freedom, the bittersweet harmonies that seem to carry both joy and sorrow within a single phrase—all of these elements left an indelible mark on me. They taught me that this music is not just about technical mastery, but about storytelling, about breathing life into every note with an honesty that transcends mere interpretation.

Philippe Tondre

Antal Doráti (1906-1988) - Duo Concertante pour Hautbois et Piano (1983)

Pavel Haas (1899-1944) - Suita pour Hautbois et Piano Opus 17 (1939-1941)

Klement Slavický (1910-1999) - Suita pour Hautbois et Piano (1956-1960)

Bohuslav Martinů (1890-1959) - Quatuor pour Hautbois, Violon, Violoncelle et Piano H. 315 (1947)

Philippe Tondre, oboe

Danae Dörken, piano

Sarah Christian, violin

Maximilian Hornung, cello