Isabelle Faust en Alexander Melnikov in Brahms en Schumann

Faust and Melnikov

Do they still have secrets from each other? Violinist Isabelle Faust and pianist Alexander Melnikov have a very happy musical marriage. The number of CDs on which they play together is considerable, the repertoire rich. Both are well-versed in historically informed performance practice, and they also use modern equipped instruments. A better compliment than this is hardly conceivable: 'Faust and Melnikov at least give the illusion that they react to the music on the spot and recreate it', according to Gramophone .

Brahms and Schumann

The viola occupies a vital position in romantic chamber music. Although it was a clarinettist, Richard Mühlfeld, who persuaded Brahms to return to chamber music in later life, Brahms nevertheless conceived his two clarinet sonatas, opus 120, as viola sonatas as well. The two works are each other's opposites: in op. 120 no. 1 a sombre but free spirit speaks, in no. 2 a mood of tenderness and softness prevails. Schumann's first two violin sonatas also form an opposing couple. Characteristic of the Second , op. 121, is the positive energy with which Schumann freed himself from his depression after the labour dispute with the Düsseldorf Musikverein.