Dvorak: Violin Sonata in F major, Op. 57 (B 106)

Dvorák's music for violin and piano comes from many periods in his career. An early Sonata in A minor of 1873 is lost. Of the works which do survive, several, including the Notturno and Four Romantic Pieces, are skilful arrangements of earlier works (the Notturno is a reworking of the central section of the E minor String Quartet, while the Four Pieces were originally written for viola and piano).

There are two extensive compositions exclusively for violin and piano: the Sonata in F major, interestingly designated by the composer as being for 'piano and violin', and the popular Sonatina in G major, composed during his stay in America. Both are models of perfection in this most relaxed of chamber-music genres.

The Ballad in D minor was composed in the autumn of 1884 specifically for publication in the Christmas edition of the London Magazine of Music and is a work with a tragic and passionate tone akin to that of the Seventh Symphony.

Sony is pleased to announce the first of three albums by British violinist Jack Liebeck, who has recently signed an exclusive recording contract with us.

The first recording under this exciting new agreement features works by Dvorák, namely the Concerto for Violin and Orchestra in A minor, Op. 53; Violin Sonata in F, Op. 57 and Violin Sonatina in G, Op. 100, featuring the Royal Scottish National Orchestra under Garry Walker with pianist Katya Apekisheva.

Born in 1980 in London, Jack Liebeck studied at the Purcell School of Music and the Royal Academy of Music. Since making his concerto debut with the Hallé Orchestra, he has performed with many orchestras of international repute including the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic, London Philharmonic, English Chamber and Royal Scottish National Orchestras, under the baton of renowned conductors including Martyn Brabbins, Sir Neville Marriner, Sakari Oramo, Libor Pesek, Jukka Pekka Saraste and Leonard Slatkin.

Jack Liebeck is a committed chamber musician and in 2002 made his acclaimed London recital debut to a sold-out Wigmore Hall. He is also the leader of the Fibonacci Sequence chamber ensemble and Artistic Director of the Oxford May Music Festival. Collaborations have included performances with Bengt Forsberg, Lynn Harrell, Angela Hewitt, Christopher Maltman, Joan Rodgers and Jean-Yves Thibaudet.

Recent performances include the Mendelssohn Concerto with the Indianapolis Symphony under Douglas Boyd and the Lindberg Concerto with the Royal Stockholm Philharmonic and Oslo Philharmonic orchestras; and acclaimed recitals in London’s Wigmore and Queen Elizabeth Halls.

“…The name is …Liebeck. And those who know a thing or two about the violin know to be there… when the bow touches the strings… the electricity really sparks” The Times

These two composers are closely connected. Suk studied composition under Dvorak at the Prague Conservatory and later married Dvorak’s daughter Ottilie. Both composers were excellent pianists and shared a lifelong passion for the violin. “Antje Weithaas counts among the great violinists of our time” FonoForum