Janine Jansen & Denis Kozhukhin, Brahams Sonatas

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Image courtesy of L'Auditori.

Brahms’s three sonatas for violin and piano are considered to be some of the most important examples of Romantic chamber music. The first two were composed during summer retreats, when the composer could take in the breathtaking views of Lake Wörthersee in Pörtschach (Carinthia) and Lake Thun in Hofstetten (Bern). Sonata No. 1, Op. 78, is nicknamed the "Rain Sonata," while Sonata No. 2, Op. 100, is also known as the "Meistersinger Sonata" — its title referring to two earlier vocal works, one by Brahms himself and the other by Wagner, both of which inspired him and contribute to the lyrical character of these pieces.

In addition to the three works, the program also features the nostalgic and richly ornamented melodic line of Ysaÿe’s Poème élégiaque, Op. 12. The melody also takes center stage in Messiaen’s Theme and Variations, written when he was only 24 years old, which reveals his precocious and distinctive approach to variation form. In contrast, Ravel’s Sonata No. 2 leads us into the world of jazz, blues, and dance rhythms.

The concert offers the opportunity to experience these five extraordinary compositions interpreted by two of today’s leading international performers: violinist Janine Jansen and pianist Denis Kozhukhin.

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