The finale of Brahms's E minor Cello Sonata was conceived during his creative morning strolls in Baden-Baden, a town Clara Schumann admired.
Critical Reception
Brahms's cello sonatas were initially not universally appreciated, with some listeners finding their dense texture overwhelming, but they quickly became recognized as outstanding works.
Composition History
The second Cello Sonata was composed during a more carefree period in 1886, while Brahms was simultaneously working on three other chamber music pieces in Switzerland.
Recording & Production
This recording was made in April 2013 at the Liszt-Konzerthalle in Raiding, Austria, and features a Steinway & Sons D piano and an Antonio Stradivari 'ex-Magg' cello.
Composer Biography
Johannes Brahms once stated that while he had played the violin, his true instrument was the cello, on which he performed concerts.
Composition History
Brahms began his first Cello Sonata in 1862 after facing disappointment in not securing a post in Hamburg and dealing with family conflict.
Compositional Technique
The first Cello Sonata features a strict balance between the cello and piano, a characteristic reminiscent of Ludwig van Beethoven's sonatas.
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Mendelssohn-Bartholdy: Cello Sonata No. 2 in D Major & Strauss: Cello Sonata in F Major
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Schumann / Schubert: Schumann & Schubert
Rachmaninoff: Sonata for Cello and Piano Op. 19, Two Pieces for Cello and Piano Op. 2 & Trio Élégiaque No. 1 - Shalygin: “Tristissima” for Cello and Piano
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David Popper: Complete Transcriptions for Violoncello & Piano
