BRAHMS VIOLA SONATAS OP.120/2 GESANGE OP.91

I. Allegro Appasionato
Ii. Andante Un Poco Adagio
Iii. Alegretto Grazioso
Iv. Vivace
No.1 Gestillte Sehnsucht
No.2 Geistliches Wiegenlied
I. Allegro Amabile
Ii. Allegro Appasionato
Iii. Andante Con Moto

This new recording contains Brahms’ complete music in which the viola
plays a solo part: the two Sonatas Op. 120 and the 2 Gesänge Op. 91, for
alto, viola and piano.
Brahms’ two viola sonatas are masterworks of his late style: the perfect
handling of the sonata form sets the structure for autumnal
reminiscenses and melancholic introspection, alternated by either
passionate or tender interludes.
Beautiful performances by violist Luca Sanzo and pianist Maurizio
Paciariello, who made an excellent recording of Hindemith’s Viola
Sonatas for Brilliant Classics (BC94782): “Strong performance….a real
winner” (Musicweb).
A special treat is the voice of Sara Mingardo in the Zwei Gesänge, one of
the foremost altos of today, who sung with Claudio Abbado, Riccardo
Chailly, Myung-Whun-Chung, Rinaldo Alessandrini.