Brahms: Viola Sonata No. 1 in F minor, Op. 120 No. 1

Tabea Zimmermann and Kirill Gerstein return to the studio to record the follow-up to their highly praised first duo album. The new disc includes spellbinding performances of three late works by significant 19th century composers: Brahms mature Sonata in F minor, Schubert‘s melancholic Arpeggione sonata, and Franck‘s splendid Sonata in A major, all masterly performed on viola. This new disc explores three works by major 19th-Century figures, each written during the composers’ final years. All three works on the new recording were originally composed for an instrument other than viola.

One of Brahms’ final chamber works, the dramatic Sonata in F minor, was intended for clarinet, though Brahms himself adapted the work to the range and technical possibilities of the viola. Also near the end of his life was Franz Schubert when he wrote his superb 'Arpeggione' sonata. The work was commissioned by a friend of the composer’s, who requested a sonata for a new kind of instrument: the arpeggione, a hybrid between the cello and the guitar. Written just four years before his death, César Franck’s A major sonata is also beloved by cellists but has been rarely heard from violists.

Tabea Zimmermann is one of the leading contemporary viola players worldwide. Awarded the Echo Klassik as Instrumentalist of the Year in 2010, Zimmermann has recently been Artist in Residence at the Cologne and Luxemburg Philharmony, as well as the Kunstfest Weimar, Bozar Festival Brussels and the Elbphilharmonie Konzerte in Hamburg. Of her recent disc of Bach and Reger solo suites, Gramophone wrote: “here is playing full of warmth, of depth, of meditation and of full maturity … gorgeous.”

Russian pianist Kirill Gerstein has quickly proven to be one of today’s most intriguing young musicians. Recipient of the 2010 Gilmore Artist Award, Gerstein’s solo release on myrios classics, featuring music by Schumann and Liszt, was played, according to The New York Times, “with exquisite technique, refined musicianship and engrossing imagination”, and was shortlisted by the NY Times’ Holiday Gift Guide as one of the 25 best classical recordings of 2010. This SACD release from myrios classics is available from harmonia mundi UK on January 14, 2013, as is the back catalogue.

This exciting release gathers together in one neat package the two late sonatas for which Brahms’ viola versions have become standard repertoire together with two trios for Clarinet and Horn that are more rarely heard for viola but work equally well. For this recording Max also plays the Klengel arrangement of the G Major Violin Sonata (with a few revisions of his own)

Played by one of the world’s most charismatic violists Maxim Rysanov, of whom Yuri Bashmet declared “my rival has arrived!” Remarkably, Max has been awarded Editor’s Choice from Gramophone Magazine for both his recital discs to date, including Kancheli’s Styx and Tavener’s The Myrrh-Bearer on ONYX (ONYX4023) of which the reviewer said “it was a privilege to review”

Maxim is accompanied by several of Russia’s most exciting younger generation of players. Katya Apekisheva for example recently won an Editor’s Choice for her debut CD of Grieg Lyric Pieces, while Kristine Blaumane has recently been appointed principal cellist of the London Philharmonic Orchestra

Max embarks on a major Brahms tour with Katya Apekisheva and others to coincide with this release with many dates in UK and France in November (please see ONYX website Concert Schedule for exact details). His other regular recital partners are Janine Jansen, Julian Rachlin and Mischa Maisky.

Robin and Tim formed their Duo in 2008, and quickly discovered a strong rapport in playing together. Their concerts and recording together since then have constituted a small but precious part of their busy careers.

“The desire to make this recording built up slowly over a number of years. Viola recitals are increasingly rare, and a recording seemed one way to honour the decades of close acquaintance with these beloved jewels of the viola repertoire. Tim and I felt that we might find inspiration and spontaneity in a concert performance that could elude us in a studio recording.” Robin Ireland

For many years, Henninge Landaas was principal viola of the Norwegian Chamber Orchestra and has also been co-principal viola in the Oslo Philharmonic Orchestra.

She has toured extensively as a member of the award winning Vertavo String Quartet. She performs these works with the British pianist Tim Horton.

Brahms Op.120 sonatas were originally intended for the clarinet, but he also arranged them for viola. Presented here in a stunning recording, Rachel Roberts has established herself internationally as a soloist and chamber musician and Lars Vogt needs no introduction.

It was not until 1879 that Brahms completed his first violin sonata, which was then transcribed more than a century later for viola by the Hungarian violist Csaba Erdélyi.

In 1894 the outstanding clarinettist Richard Mühlfeld inspired Brahms to compose several works, including two sonatas, published with an eye to marketability for either clarinet or viola, whose autumnal nuances admirably suit the dark-toned stringed instrument.

In each, viola and piano enjoy the status of equal partners, reveling in Brahms’s subtle interplay of melody, rhythm and harmony.