On his latest release, renowned cellist and long-time MSU Music faculty member Suren Bagratuni teamed up with Soojin Kim to feature sonatas from Strauss, Franck, and Chopin.
Celebrated cellist Suren Bagratuni has released his newest album, Three Cello Sonatas: Strauss, Franck, and Chopin, a beautiful interpretation of sonatas he recorded with pianist Soojin Kim.
Recorded in 2025 and released on the Blue Griffin label on February 6, 2026, the idea for this album emerged shortly after Bagratuni finished recording his previous release, Brahms: Three Sonatas. His passion for Romantic music continued to linger, motivating him to record more works from the era—music he describes as feeling “close.” The album also serves as a meaningful documentation of the repertoire he has been recently performing.
For this recording, Bagratuni collaborated with Soojin Kim, an MSU doctoral candidate in piano performance and collaborative piano. Kim is the pianist in his studio, and they have performed together since 2023.
“Working with Professor Bagratuni pushed me to my limits, and I’m grateful for his trust and how much this project helped me grow,” she said.
A prolific performer and recording artist, Suren Bagratuni’s latest release is a two-disc album that begins with sonatas by Strauss and Franck and concludes with a Chopin sonata on disc two.
The two-disc album begins with Strauss and Franck, followed by the Chopin Sonata on disc two.
“There is nothing more suitable than opening the album with Strauss,” Bagratuni said.
The bold F-major chord at the beginning speak for itself, immediately capturing listeners’ attention. Written in Strauss’s youth, the piece already reveals the explosive energy and dramatic intensity that would define his later style.
The Franck Sonata highlights lyrical depth and organic musical flow.
“Playing this work with Professor Bagratuni naturally shaped long musical arcs and expansive phrasing, allowing the profound lyricism of the piece to emerge even more clearly,” Kim shared.
Chopin’s Cello Sonata appears as its own disc, in part because of its length, but also because of its distinct character. It places exceptional emphasis on the piano part.
Soojin Kim, an MSU doctoral candidate in piano performance and collaborative piano, is the pianist in Suren Bagratuni’s studio. The duo has performed together since 2023, but this is their first collaboration on a full album recording.
“Soojin is a wonderful pianist, and this is the piece where you can really hear her shine,” Bagratuni noted.
The work also holds deep personal meaning for Kim.
“Chopin is one of my most beloved composers, and this Sonata holds a particularly special place in my heart,” she said.
These three sonatas together illustrate the evolution of the cello sonata genre. Compared to earlier works, the cello takes on a far more prominent, virtuosic role both musically and technically. Still, Bagratuni emphasizes that technique should never be the listener’s focus; musical expression must remain paramount. This philosophy also influences his editing approach: he prefers larger musical cuts rather than obsessing over micro-details that might disrupt the broader structure or overshadow the music’s expressive arc.
From the pianist’s perspective, Kim’s goal is finding a balance in which both musicians elevate one another.
“Studying collaborative piano teaches me to listen more attentively, remain flexible, and read another musician’s musical language,” she explained.
Whether creating a blended sound, shaping a shared phrase, or exchanging musical ideas, she described the process as deeply rewarding.
“Cello music makes me relearn how to sing,” she said. “The cello’s wide breath, natural legato, and voice-like expressiveness constantly inspire me to search for a truly ‘singing’ tone on the piano.”
For listeners, enjoying an album may be as simple as making a cup of tea and pressing play. But for the artists, the process behind the recording can be far more complex and stressful than many imagine.
Bagratuni describes his initial discomfort with being in the studio due to the equipment and the microphone positioned right in front of the cello. Although recording should capture meaningful musical moments, it can also heighten musicians’ perfectionism.
“The first five minutes always kill me,” he admits, “but after that, I gradually focus on the music and let go of being perfect.”
Musicians’ Quick Takes
One word to describe each piece!
| Bagratuni | Kim |
| Strauss | Youth | Youth |
| Franck | Nostalgia | Soul |
| Chopin | Sorrow | Whisper |
Purchase the new double album at Blue Griffin Recording and listen on Amazon Music, Apple Music, Spotify, and YouTube Music.
His ability to ease into the studio experience is a result of his years of experience recording professionally, but Bagratuni also expresses gratitude for his producer, Sergei Kvitko, who recently received a Grammy nomination. Bagratuni singled out Arevik Mkrtchyan, as well, an Armenian artist he met online during the pandemic. They began collaborating, and the cover of this new recording features Mkrtchyan’s artwork which beautifully captures the atmosphere and emotional world of the music.
In this era of rapid technological growth, making music can be faster and easier than we ever imagined. Yet some artists remain genuine in their craft—grounded, intentional, and shaping their work piece by piece. Their efforts are not just for personal satisfaction or reflections on life, but also for seeking the deeper human connections that seem to be gradually fading today.
Bagratuni is one of those artists. Humble and true to his craft, he approached this album with his usual care and thoughtfulness, and he honored the next generation of musicians by joining forces with Kim. Strauss, Franck, and Chopin—three classics. Nothing flashy, just solid, honest voices worth listening to.
By: Yu-Chen Lin
Yu-Chen Lin is a doctoral candidate in Professor Bagratuni’s cello studio. She is a contributing writer to the MSU College of Music, and her work includes her article, “A Love Letter to Spartans: The Beauty of Vulnerability and Belonging.”
