Leos Janacek: Sonate für Violine & Klavier on CD

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Following the highly acclaimed recording of J. B. Foerster's violin concertos (BBC Symphony Orchestra / Jiri Belohlavek, Supraphon SU 3961-2), the violinist Ivan Zenaty – who has gained international renown as both a virtuoso and pedagogue – and the pianist Martin Kasik have chosen violin sonatas by three Czech composers from the turn of the 20th century. Nedbal's and Novak's not overly known and in stylistic terms distinctly romantic works contrast with Janacek's sonata, an opus of the mature Master whose modernity places it firmly in the 20th century. In Janacek's third (yet only preserved) violin sonata there are distinctly »Russian« undertones, reflecting the period it began to originate: the outset of World War I. Novak's romantically flamboyant sonata was written under Dvorak's supervision and is clearly influenced by Chopin and Liszt; Novak's Sturm und Drang is referred to on occasion. Oskar Nedbal's early work bears witness to his mastery of both instruments and rich melodic invention. The intensity of the listener's experience is augmented by the technical bravura and musical maturity with which the two performers have undertaken this repertoire.