Martin Stegner, the violist on this album, began his musical journey on the violin at age eight after failed attempts with the recorder.
Performer Biography
Martin Stegner, the violist, gave his concert debut at age nine in a hall that subsequently burned down.
Interpretation
For this recording, all the lieder were transposed down a fifth to preserve the key relationships within the cycles while finding a suitable register for the viola and piano.
Performer Biography
Tomoko Takahashi, the pianist, received her first piano lesson in Japan at the age of four and later studied at the Berlin University of the Arts.
Interpretation
The viola is often compared to the human voice due to its range and timbre, making it a suitable instrument for these 'songs without words'.
Performer Biography
Martin Stegner, the violist, is also interested in jazz and has toured with leading German gypsy musicians and founded the Berlin Philharmonic Jazz Group.
Performer Biography
Martin Stegner, the violist, switched to viola late in his studies but then received a scholarship to the Herbert von Karajan Academy of the Berlin Philharmonic.
