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.