Grieg: Violin Sonatas

http://www.renaud-bray.com

http://www.renaud-bray.com

*** Résumé en anglais seulement *** Edvard Grieg (1843-1907) is without doubt the most significant Norwegian composer. He was educated at the Leipzig Conservatory, where his early models were Schubert, Mendelssohn and Schumann. Later, in his early twenties, he developed an affinity for Norwegian peasant culture thanks to the influence of the great Norwegian musician Ole Bull. That effected a major change in his musical outlook, and for the rest of his life he immersed himself in Norwegian literature and folk music, placing him firmly in the ranks of the nationalist composers that characterized the second half of the 19th century. Grieg himself writes about his violin sonatas in a letter of 1900: 'the three Sonatas for violin and piano belong to my best works and represent periods of my development; the first, naive, rich in models; the second, national; the third with the widest horizons.” The first sonata in F major is a lyrical and passionate work, brimming with melodies that echo the folk tunes of Norway. Grieg's second sonata in G major is more introspective, with its delicate themes and tender moments, showcasing his emotional depth. The final sonata in C minor is a dramatic and powerful piece, marked by its intense emotions and virtuosic passages. Played by young violinist Germana Porcu Morano, winner of the prestigious Concorso Internazionale per Violinisti Michelangelo Abbado in Milano. Her partner at the piano is Bruno Canino, nestor of the Italian pianist guild, having played with all the musical celebrities of the 20-th century.