Sonata for Violin and Piano No. 1 in G major, Op. 78

Vivace ma non troppo


  • Recorded: 31st October 2013
  • Record Place: The Martínek Studio, Prague
  • First Release: 2014
  • (P) 2014 SUPRAPHON a.s.
  • Genre: Chamber Music

Artists

  • music by: Johannes Brahms
  • violin: Jana Vonášková-Nováková
  • piano: Irina Kondratenko

Album

Jana Vonášková, Irina Kondratěnko

Brahms: Violin Sonatas

Catalogue Number: SU 4170-2
Published: 21st February 2014
Genre: Chamber Music
Format: 1 CD
Johannes Brahms - Sonatas for Violin and Piano: No. 1 in G major, Op. 78; No. 3 in D minor, Op. 108.
Johannes Brahms / Albert Dietrich / Robert Schumann - F. A. E. Sonata for Violin and Piano

Jana Vonášková - violin, Irina Kondratenko - piano

Shortly after the release of the complete Brahms piano trios (Smetana Trio, SU 4072-2), Jana Vonášková has returned to the German master, this time in tandem with the brilliant Latvian pianist Irina Kondratenko. In addition to two Brahms violin sonatas, the CD features the F.A.E. Sonata, a work created jointly by Brahms, Schumann and Dietrich as a gift (and a puzzle) for the celebrated violinist Joseph Joachim. Although Brahms's ebullient Scherzo is generally known, the sonata in its entirety has only rarely been recorded or performed on stages. The letters F.A.E. stand for Joachim's credo in life: Frei, aber einsam (Free, but lonely), with the respective notes also being the cornerstones of the work's motivic material. Brahms wrote his mature Sonata No. 1 in G major almost concurrently with his violin concerto. Sonata No. 3 in D minor already clearly possesses the nature of a concertante piece, placing extreme technical requirements on the performers. Bearing witness to the extraordinary qualities of the violinist Jana Vonášková are her numerous successes (her debut with the Prague Philharmonia conducted by Jiří Bělohlávek, victory at the Young Concert Artists Trust in London, Wigmore Hall debut, etc.), as well as acclaimed recordings she has made as a member of the Smetana Trio. For Vonášková, Brahms is above all a heartfelt matter.

Jana Vonášková's Brahms - with heart and passion.

Reviews

“Vonášková-Nováková is most alert to the chambe music subtleties of Brahms's writing. She is particularly good at interacting with the piano and in demarcating moments where she is the soloist of the accompanist. It's a pity, however, that her pianist is not quite on the same level.“
BBC Music Magazine, June 2014

“This duo is young but already exceptionally experienced, and their ensemble sounds excellent…Op.108 re­ceives an intelligent, thoughtful and occasionally withdrawn reading – in the sense of the character of the music being autumnal.“
MusicWeb International, 30th July 2014

Johannes Brahms
Sonata for Violin and Piano No. 1 in G major, Op. 78
1. Vivace ma non troppo 10:46
2. Adagio 08:06
3. Allegro molto moderato 07:48
Albert Dietrich, Robert Schumann, Johannes Brahms
F.A.E. Sonata for Violin and Piano
4. I. Allegro 11:20
5. II. Romanze 02:48
6. III. Scherzo 05:29
7. IV. Finale 07:06
Johannes Brahms
Sonata for Violin and Piano No. 3 in D minor, Op. 108
8. Allegro 08:15
9. Adagio 04:22
10. Un poco presto e con sentimento 03:02
11. Presto agitato 05:37