Beethoven: The Violin Sonatas Bella Hristova & Michael Houstoun

• Ludwig van Beethoven (1770 - 1827): Violin Sonata No. 1 in D, Op. 12 No. 1:
• 1 Violin Sonata No. 1 in D, Op. 12 No. 1: I. Allegro con brio 09:17
• 2 Violin Sonata No. 1 in D, Op. 12 No. 1: II. Tema con variazioni (Andante con moto) 07:25
• 3 Violin Sonata No. 1 in D, Op. 12 No. 1: III. Rondo (Allegro) 04:58
• Violin Sonata No. 2 in A, Op. 12 No. 2:
• 4 Violin Sonata No. 2 in A, Op. 12 No. 2: I. Allegro vivace 06:46
• 5 Violin Sonata No. 2 in A, Op. 12 No. 2: II. Andante, più tosto allegretto 05:16
• 6 Violin Sonata No. 2 in A, Op. 12 No. 2: III. Allegro piacevole 05:03
• Violin Sonata No. 3 in E-Flat, Op. 12 No. 3:
• 7 Violin Sonata No. 3 in E-Flat, Op. 12 No. 3: I. Allegro con spirito 08:39
• 8 Violin Sonata No. 3 in E-Flat, Op. 12 No. 3: II. Adagio con molt'espressione 06:33
• 9 Violin Sonata No. 3 in E-Flat, Op. 12 No. 3: III. Rondo (Allegro molto) 04:11
• Violin Sonata No. 4 in A Minor, Op. 23:
• 10 Violin Sonata No. 4 in A Minor, Op. 23: I. Presto 07:17
• 11 Violin Sonata No. 4 in A Minor, Op. 23: II. Andante scherzoso, più allegretto 07:58
• 12 Violin Sonata No. 4 in A Minor, Op. 23: III. Allegro molto 05:24
• Violin Sonata No. 5 in F, Op. 24 'Spring':
• 13 Violin Sonata No. 5 in F, Op. 24 'Spring': I. Allegro 10:13
• 14 Violin Sonata No. 5 in F, Op. 24 'Spring': II. Adagio molto espressivo 05:49
• 15 Violin Sonata No. 5 in F, Op. 24 'Spring': III. Scherzo (Allegro molto) 01:13
• 16 Violin Sonata No. 5 in F, Op. 24 'Spring': IV. Rondo (Allegro ma non troppo) 06:37
• Violin Sonata No. 6 in A, Op. 30 No. 1:
• 17 Violin Sonata No. 6 in A, Op. 30 No. 1: I. Allegro 07:53
• 18 Violin Sonata No. 6 in A, Op. 30 No. 1: II. Adagio molto espressivo 07:00
• 19 Violin Sonata No. 6 in A, Op. 30 No. 1: III. Allegretto con variazioni 08:01
• Violin Sonata No. 7 in C Minor, Op. 30 No. 2:
• 20 Violin Sonata No. 7 in C Minor, Op. 30 No. 2: I. Allegro con brio 08:00
• 21 Violin Sonata No. 7 in C Minor, Op. 30 No. 2: II. Adagio cantabile 09:42
• 22 Violin Sonata No. 7 in C Minor, Op. 30 No. 2: III. Scherzo (Allegro) 03:32
• 23 Violin Sonata No. 7 in C Minor, Op. 30 No. 2: IV. Finale (Allegro) 05:23
• Violin Sonata No. 8 in G, Op. 30 No. 3:
• 24 Violin Sonata No. 8 in G, Op. 30 No. 3: I. Allegro assai 06:43
• 25 Violin Sonata No. 8 in G, Op. 30 No. 3: II. Tempo di menuetto 08:42
• 26 Violin Sonata No. 8 in G, Op. 30 No. 3: III. Allegro vivace 03:31
• Violin Sonata No. 9 in A, Op. 47 'Kreutzer':
• 27 Violin Sonata No. 9 in A, Op. 47 'Kreutzer': I. Adagio sostenuto (Presto) 14:35
• 28 Violin Sonata No. 9 in A, Op. 47 'Kreutzer': II. Andante con variazioni 16:49
• 29 Violin Sonata No. 9 in A, Op. 47 'Kreutzer': III. Finale (Presto) 08:51
• Violin Sonata No. 10 in G, Op. 96:
• 30 Violin Sonata No. 10 in G, Op. 96: I. Allegro moderato 11:44
• 31 Violin Sonata No. 10 in G, Op. 96: II. Adagio espressivo 06:12
• 32 Violin Sonata No. 10 in G, Op. 96: III. Scherzo (Allegro) 02:03
• 33 Violin Sonata No. 10 in G, Op. 96: IV. Poco allegretto 08:41
• Total Runtime 04:00:01

Info for Beethoven: The Violin Sonatas

A 4-album set of beautifully presented recordings of the complete Beethoven violin sonatas, performed to the very highest standards by violinist Bella Hristova and pianist Michael Houstoun.

Beethoven’s ten Sonatas for Violin and Piano present a formidable, unique challenge to violinists and pianists. The variety and technical demands of Beethoven’s sonatas require musicians of exceptional ability and energy.

Michael Houstoun and Bella Hristova fit the requirements exactly. After winning the 2007 International Michael Hill Violin Competition, Bella Hristova has built a reputation as a musician of poise and power. Michael Houstoun’s recent performances of Beethoven’s complete Piano Sonatas met with huge acclaim for fluency.

"Every sound she draws is superb" (The Strad, UK)

Bella Hristova, violin
Michael Houstoun, piano

Engineer by Steve Garden with assistance from John Kim
Recorded at the Symphonia Theatre, Auckland, Sept 2017
Produced by Kenneth Young

Bella Hristova
Acclaimed for her passionate, powerful performances, beautiful sound, and compelling command of her instrument, violinist Bella Hristova is a musician with a growing international career. She recently appeared as soloist with the Milwaukee and Kansas City symphonies and toured New Zealand, performing Beethoven’s ten sonatas with acclaimed pianist Michael Houstoun. This season she performs Vivaldi with the New York String Orchestra at Carnegie Hall, Sibelius with the Hawaii and Wheeling symphonies and the Brevard Philharmonic, Barber with the National Philharmonic Orchestra, and Mendelssohn with the Winnipeg Symphony. She has performed at major venues and worked with conductors including Pinchas Zukerman, Jaime Laredo, Rossen Milanov, and Michael Stern. A sought-after chamber musician, she performs at festivals including Australia’s Musica Viva, Music@Menlo, Music from Angel Fire, Chamber Music Northwest, the Santa Fe Chamber Music Festival, and the Marlboro Music Festival. Her recording, Bella Unaccompanied (A.W. Tonegold Records), features works for solo violin by Corigliano, Kevin Puts, Piazzolla, Milstein, and J. S. Bach. She is recipient of a 2013 Avery Fisher Career Grant, first prizes in the Young Concert Artists International Auditions and Michael Hill International Violin Competition, and a laureate of the International Violin Competition of Indianapolis. She attended the Curtis Institute of Music, where she worked with Ida Kavafian and Steven Tenenbom, and received her artist diploma with Jaime Laredo at Indiana University. An alum of The Bowers Program (formerly CMS Two), Ms. Hristova plays a 1655 Nicolò Amati violin.

Michael Houstoun
In 1973 at the age of twenty he entered and placed third in the Van Cliburn International Piano Competition. This led to a year of study with Rudolf Serkin at the Curtis Institute of Music in Philadelphia. In 1975 he placed fourth in the Leeds International Piano Competition and then in 1982 sixth in the Tchaikovsky International Piano Competition.

After living overseas for six years - including a valuable period of study with Brigitte Wild in London - he returned home in 1981 where he has enjoyed his life as something of an 'Artist in ResideNZ', performing recitals, concertos and chamber music all over the country year in year out. Most years he performs one or two new programs and consequently has built a very large repertoire spanning from J S Bach to the present day. Included are many compositions by NZ composers and quite a few commissions.

Houstoun has twice presented the complete Beethoven sonatas in seven-concert cycles. More recently he has performed the 48 Preludes and Fugues of Bach's 'Well-tempered Klavier' in two-concert events. Since 1999 he has recorded for Rattle with five of his albums winning Classical Record of the Year awards.

This album contains no booklet.