Brahms: Cello sonatas Andrei Korobeinikov & Alexander Kniazev

• 1 I. Allegro non troppo 14:39
• 2 II. Allegretto quasi minuetto 05:36
• 3 III. Allegro 06:43
• 4 I. Allegro vivace 08:38
• 5 II. Adagio affetuoso 07:13
• 6 III. Allegro passionato 07:12
• 7 IV. Allegro 04:47
• 8 I. Allegro alla breve 08:20
• 9 II. Adagio 04:33
• 10 III. Un poco presto e con sentimento 02:52
• 11 IV. Presto agitato 05:39
• Total Runtime 01:16:12

Info for Brahms: Cello sonatas

Arnold Schoenberg acknowledged Brahms' extraordinary skill in opening out classical forms to new horizons. Some 20 years separate the composition of the cello sonatas of this composer preoccupied with the inner existence, who for all his respect for form was no academician, but continued in the style of Beethoven. They represent perfect examples of the artistry with which Brahms resolved the textural problems raised by the combination of the two instruments.

Kniazev’s discography includes recordings of chamber works by Bach, Mozart, Brahms, Rachmaninov, Shostakovich, Chopin, Franck, Ysaÿe, an anthology of works for cello by Reger, Dvořák’s Cello Concerto, Tchaikovsky’s Variations on a Rococo Theme and Bloch’s Schelomo among other pieces. “This recording by Kniazev has put all previous recordings of Reger’s cello sonata’s and suites in the shade. This disc is an example of one of the finest ever interpretations of Reger’s music,” wrote Fanfare magazine (USA). He has frequently appeared in a trio with Boris Berezovsky and Dmitry Makhtin and, more recently, with Nikolai Lugansky and Vadim Repin. The musician’s discs have received high praise in expert ratings and have been awarded prestigious prizes including Germany’s Echo Klassik, France’s Diapason d’Or and Britain’s Gramophone Prize.

Alexander Kniazev is an Honoured Artist of Russia and a soloist with the Moscow Philharmonic.

'Kniazev is an artist who has an incredibly sense of musicality, elemental thinking and a phenomenally perfect technique.' (BBC Music Magazine)

Alexander Kniazev, violoncello
Andrei Korobeinikov, piano

Andrei Korobeinikov
was born in Moscow in 1986. This outstanding pianist all over the world and was rewarded more than 20 prizes in national and international competitions among them Alexander Scriabin International Piano Competition and Rachmaninov Piano Competition in Los Angeles in 2005 where he received a special public prize. At the age of 19, he graduated with honors from the Moscow Conservatory (Best musician of the decade) and pursued his studies at the Royal College of Music in London.

Being regularly invited over the world, he appeared with prestigious orchestras such as Philharmonia Orchestra, St Petersburg Philharmonic, Konzerthausorkester Berlin, Orchestre National de France, NHK Symphony Orchestra, Budapest Festival Orchestra, Sinfonia Varsovia, Lahti Symphony Orchestra, Tchaikovsky Symphony Orchestra of Moscow…

In chamber music, he plays with distinguished musicians such as Vadim Repin, Alexander Kniazev, Dmitri Makhtin, Borodin Quartet.

In 2008, he recorded his first CD for Mirare, devoted to Scriabin. The recording brought him extraordinary success and awards : Diapason d’Or of the year of Diapason Magazine, Choc of Classica magazine and was followed by two CDs : a selection of Beethoven Sonatas and Bagatelles and one dedicated to Shostakovich Preludes op.34 and the 2 Concertos (with Lahti Symphony Orchestra/Okko Kamu). The latest was acclaimed by the international press (Gramophone, Diapason d’or, BBC Music Magazine…). The pianist recently completed for Mirare Scriabin solo cycle that he recorded at the Bayerischer Rundfunk in Munich and is now considered to be one of the finest Scriabin interpretation.

This exceptional artist of multiple talents also graduated at the age of 17 from the Law European University of Moscow. He composes his music and writes poetry.

His recent appearences with Maestro Ivan Fisher and the Konzerthausorchester Berlin in Rachmaninov’s 2nd Piano Concerto, with Maestro Yuri Temirkanov and the St Petersburg Philharmonic Orchestra in Tchaikovsky 1st Piano Concerto and Rachmaninov Paganini Variations were marked by extraordinary succes.

Highlights of 14/15 season also include concerts with Budapest Philharmonic Orchestra/Pinchas Steinberg, Tchaikovsky Symphony Orchestra of Moscow Radio/Vladimir Fedoseyev, NHK Philharmonic Orchestra/Vladimir Fedoseyev, recitals (Paris Théâtre des Champs-Elysées, Taipei National Concert Hall…), two special japanese and canadian tour with the violonist Vadim Repin and an upcoming UK tour with Dresden Philharmonic Orchestra.

Alexander Kniazev
was born in Moscow in 1961. He began his cello studies at the age of six with Alexander Fedorchenko and graduated from the Moscow Conservatory in 1986. He then went on to study with the renowned organist Galina Kozlova and graduated from Nizhny-Novgorod Conservatory as an organist in 1991.

Alexander Kniazev is a laureate of the National Cello Competition in Vilnius (1977), the International Cello Competition in Cassado (1979), the Chamber Music Competition in Trapani (1987) with the pianist Ekaterina Voskressenskaya, the International Tchaïkovsky Competition in Moscow (1990) and the UNISA Competition in Pretoria (1992).

He has appeared with such distinguished conductors as Evgeny Svetlanov, Yuri Temirkanov, Mstislav Rostropovitch, Vladimir Fedoseyev, Yuri Bashmet, Maxim Shostakovitch and Neemi Jarvi.

His chamber music partners include Vadim Repin, Nikolai Lugansky, Viktor Tretyakov, Boris Berezovsky, Dmitry Makhtin, Laurent Korcia, Augustin Dumay, Maria-Joao Pires and Mikhail Voskresensky.

As well as performing, he teaches at the Moscow Conservatory and regularly gives master classes in Europe and Asia.

During the 2002 season, Alexander Kniazev appeared at the Tanglewood Festival, with the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra, and with the NHK Orchestra in Japan. His latest appearances - in France at "Festival de Saint Denis", "Nuits de Suquet", La Roque d'Anthéron, Sisteron and Menton, in England at the Harrogate Festival, and in Portugal at the Espinho Festival - have been acclaimed by critics and audiences.

Alexander Kniazev's latest recording of the complete Bach Cello Suites was released on Warner Classics in 2004. In May 2004, he performed the Elgar Cello Concerto with the St. Petersburg Philharmonic Orchestra in Venice. In July 2004 , he appeared in recital with Evgeny Kissin at the Montpellier and Verbier festivals. 2005 saw the release of a CD of Russian trios by Boris Berezovsky, Dmitry Makhtin and Alexander Kniazev. Kniazev's latest recording is a collaboration with pianist Nikolai Lugansky. The programme includes sonatas by Rachmaninov and Chopin, as well as Rachmaninov's Vocalise.

Booklet for Brahms: Cello sonatas