Three Viola Sonatas

The three violin sonatas on this album were written between November 1924 and March 1925. They show Julius Röntgen at the peak of his abilities. His friendly respect for the great North German and Viennese masters has clearly found its way into his creative thinking, and he employs a wide variety of techniques with unerring hand. Röntgen has a thorough knowledge of the instruments - he is himself an excellent pianist, and the piano part is very demanding. The viola part makes skillful use of the instrument's advantages without ever overtaxing it. Violist Herbert Kefer studied cum laude at the Universität für Musik in Wien. In 1980 he founded the Artis Kwartet together with three colleagues. The quartet made more than thirty recordings, some of which were awarded the Grand Prix du Disque and the Diapason d'Or. In 1991 Herbert Kefer was appointed principal viola at the Muziekuniversiteit Graz / Institut Oberschützen. Energy, expression and emotion characterize the musicianship of Austrian top pianist Markus Schirmer. He won numerous prizes and distinctions and conquered a number of major concert halls and festivals. He has collaborated with many renowned orchestras and chamber music plays an important role in his work.