Alexander Melnikov, Isabelle Faust - Brahms, Schumann: Violin Sonatas (2015)

A 19th-century ‘trio sonata’. Isabelle Faust and Alexander Melnikov have already given us an acclaimed version Brahms’s First Violin Sonata, in 2007. They now complete the cycle with the other two sonatas of 1886 and 1888, and add a fascinating rarity dating from 35 years earlier: the ‘F-A-E’ Sonata, a collaborative effort by three composers in honour of the great violinist Joachim, who had to guess who had written which movement! He did so with ease, for the Scherzo is as eminently Brahmsian as the Intermezzo and Finale are Schumannesque. Alexander Melnikov will be contributing his take on a score his mother gave him that belonged to Sviatoslav Richter in September BBC Music Magazine.

Tracklist:

01. I. Allegro (8:05)
02. II. Adagio (4:27)
03. III. Un poco presto e con sentimento (2:54)
04. IV. Presto agitato (5:39)
05. I. Nicht schnell (3:13)
06. II. Einfach, innig (3:56)
07. III. Nicht schnell (4:06)
08. I. Allegro amabile (7:43)
09. II. Andante tranquillo - Vivace (5:50)
10. III. Allegretto grazioso (quasi Andante) (5:24)
11. I. Allegro (11:52)
12. II. Intermezzo (2:28)
13. III. Allegro (4:44)
14. IV. Finale (7:18)