Schoenberg: Phantasy for Violin with Piano Accompaniment, Op. 47

While Schoenberg’s final two string quartets inhabit atonal sound worlds, the Third draws on Classical forms such as theme-and-variations, minuet and sonata-rondo, its unsettling opening movement recalling a fairytale picture, ‘The Ghostship’, its Adagio a movement of spiritual depth and beauty.

Schoenberg was particularly pleased with his Fourth String Quartet, which follows a creative logic of continual development and variation derived from the music of Bach and Mozart, Beethoven, Brahms and Wagner.

The Phantasy is a virtuosic peroration for violin with commentary from the piano, a prime example of Schoenberg’s avowed aim to write ‘really new music which, as it rests on tradition, is destined to become a tradition’.

“Robert Craft was put on this earth to produce clear blueprints of Schoenberg and Stravinsky scores.” Gramophone

This debut recital disc from violinist Kaoru Yamada and pianist Sholto Kynoch is a breathtaking performance of a fascinating and beautiful programme based around the Fantasy repertoire for violin and piano. For Schubert’s song Sei mir gegrüsst, they are joined by rising stars of the singing world, soprano Rhona McKail and tenor Nicky Spence.

”The great international success that Salome Kammer has enjoyed with Pierrot lunaire is certainly a factor of her double talent as an actress and musician. ... The same technical perfection and special feeling distinguish this recording by the Ensemble Avantgarde.” (Compact)

Roman Totenberg is world renown for his unique artistry and repertoire covering the entire spectrum of violin literature. A master performer and teacher, he continues to impart his wisdom to younger musicians beyond his 100th birthday. This remarkable release marks a special moment in the violin world.

The young German violinist, Carolin Widmann, resident in Britain, follows up her romantic Schumann debut on ECM – nominated for a Gramophone Award this month – with ‘Phantasy of Spring’, a very different recording of four uncompromising 20th century pieces –

performances of which she has a deserved international reputation. While she made her critically-acclaimed ECM debut last autumn with a thoughtprovoking account of Schumann’s three violin sonatas, Carolin Widmann’s reputation as a pioneering interpreter of contemporary music is spreading continuously. Teaming up with English pianist Simon Lepper she now presents a most varied spectrum of 20th century violin literature. By exploring the acoustic and expressive conflicts between the stringed instrument and the well-tempered keyboard, all four pieces are preoccupied with duo constellations beyond the traditional role models. Uncompromising and fiery renderings make for adventurous listening throughout.

Carolin Widmann (sister of German composer Jorg Widmann) gave the world premieres of no fewer than five violin concertos last year, including that of John Woolrich which she reprises with the Northern Sinfonia next April. She made her BBC Proms debut last year performing the Stravinsky Violin Concerto with the BBC Symphony Orchestra under George Benjamin, and on 19 November makes her Wigmore Hall recital debut with Dénes Várjon playing the Schumann sonatas. Simon Lepper is especially known for his work accompanying singers, among them Bryn Terfel, Angelika Kirchschlager, Mark Padmore, Felicity Palmer, Kate Royal and Joan Rodgers. He is an official accompanist for the BBC Cardiff Singer of the World Rosenblatt Song Prize and the Yehudi Menuhin Violin Competition.