This package contains some of the best loved violin music ever written, ranging from Bach’s famous Chaconne to Beethoven’s lucent ‘Spring’ Sonata, and Massenet’s beautiful Méditation to Sarasate’s spirited Zigeunerweisen. Enjoy this mixture of lyrical, highly emotional and virtuosic pieces.

Beethoven’s violin sonatas are part of the core repertoire of any violinist. His early sonatas were composed in the Classical tradition and captivate performers and audiences with their emotionality and melodic beauty. Beethoven’s middle period sonatas include such highlights as the famous ‘Spring’ and ‘Kreutzer’ Sonatas, the latter of which inspired Tolstoy to his compelling novella. Beethoven’s last violin sonata was composed for his royal pupil Archduke Rudolph and the French violinist Pierre Rode. Delightful melodies and intense harmonies make this piece a singular treasure of the genre.

Discover some rarities by Khandoshkin, the first Russian violinist-composer at the Imperial court of St Petersburg. His compositions were influenced by European music, but they also show Russian sensibility. His sonatas for solo violin combine brilliant violin technique and strong emotionality.

Also included are violin sonatas by Kraus, who is often referred to as ‘The Swedish Mozart’. The sonatas are elegant, charming and delightful.

Enjoy emotional and entrancing works by Dvořák and Tchaikovsky, as well as arrangements of popular pieces of those two composers by Fritz Kreisler.

Besides, some highly virtuosic showpieces by violin legend Wieniawski and a beautiful lyrical violin sonata by Taneyev are included in this Romantic package.

The complete solo Caprices by Paganini, the greatest violin virtuoso if his time, complete this thrilling package. The Caprices are beloved by violinists who still face their incredible challenges with excitement.

Busoni’s first violin sonata was composed in the Romantic tradition whereas in the second he has found his own personal style.

Pizzetti’s powerful and somber violin sonata is regarded as the most impressive Italian sonata for violin and piano.

Grieg wrote about his violin sonatas “These three works are among my very best and represent different stages in my development: the first, naïve and rich in ideals; the second, nationalistic; and the third with a wider outlook.”

Some rarities for violin and piano by Sinding complete this versatile package.

During the 20th century composers developed new ways of treating the violin as a virtuosic instrument and also explored new techniques and sonorities.


20th Century Part 3: Russian Violin Works

This package contains captivating compositions by the Russian masters.

The famous violinist David Oistrakh inspired Prokofiev to compose works for the violin. The sonatas presented here are full of contrasts: intensely dramatic moments are followed by beautiful lyrical passages.

Shostakovich also composed his violin sonata for David Oistrakh, who premiered the piece in Moscow in 1969. It is one of Shostakovich’s most uncompromising works with expressive outbursts, dissonances and intense climaxes.

Medtner’s works for violin and piano contain Russian folk-dance elements and allusions to Orthodox liturgical chants.

At the beginning of his career, Roslavets was one of the most rebellious avant-garde Soviet composers, whereas his later works recall a more Romantic, late 19th century style.

20th Century Part 4: North & South American Violin Works

Enjoy Arnold’s violin sonatas, in which gentle lyricism is followed by fierce drama, powerful and passionate violin sonatas by Swiss-born American émigré Bloch, and Bolcolm’s energetic and tense works.

Cadman wrote about his violin sonata: “I have the hallucination that it is American in spirit with a bit of the Pacific Coast and desert country in it. It is lyrical and DIRECT but isn't American life that anyway(?)”

Corigliano’s lively works for violin and piano are rich in contrast. Enjoy two pieces based on his film score for ‘The Red Violin’ for which he won an Academy Award: the immensely beautiful Chaconne and the virtuosic The Red Violin Caprices are popular with performers and audiences alike.

Ives described his first violin sonata as “a kind of reflection and remembrance of the peoples’ outdoor gatherings in which men got up and said what they thought, regardless of consequences.” The movements of the second sonata have illustrative titles: “Autumn”, “In the Barn” and “The Revival”. Ives said about the third sonata: “An attempt to suggest the feeling and fervor - a fervor that was often more vociferous than religious - with which the hymns and revival tunes were sung at the camp meetings held extensively in New England in the ‘70s and ‘80s.” The forth sonata titled “Children’s Day at the Camp Meeting” illustrates marches, songs and sounds of nature.

Compositions by Carpenter, Copland and Brazilian Guarneri complete this lively package.