Alexander Melnikov - Brahms: Piano Sonatas Nos.1 & 2 '2011

Tracks list

Tracklist

01. Sonata in F-Sharp Minor, Op. 2: I. Allegro non troppo, ma energico
02. Sonata No. 2 in F-Sharp Minor, Op. 2: II. Andante con espressione
03. Sonata No. 2 in F-Sharp Minor, Op. 2: III. Scherzo (Allegro) – Trio
(Poco più moderato)
04. Sonata No. 2 in F-Sharp Minor, Op. 2: IV. Finale: Introduzione –
Allegro non troppo e rubato – Molto sostenuto
05. Scherzo in E-Flat Minor, Op. 4
06. Piano Sonata No. 1 in C Major, Op. 1: I. Allegro
07. Piano Sonata No. 1 in C Major, Op. 1: II. Andante (nach einem altdeutschen
Minnelied)
08. Piano Sonata No. 1 in C Major, Op. 1: III. Scherzo (Allegro molto e con
fuoco)
09. Piano Sonata No. 1 in C Major, Op. 1: IV. Finale (Allegro con fuoco)

Johannes Brahms was just 19 years old in 1852-53 when he wrote the first two
piano sonatas he deemed worthy of publication. In these extended 4-movement
compositions he built on the heritage of Beethoven.

The fact that Brahms had produced a pair of masterpieces was immediately
recognised by his mentor Robert Schumann, who eased his young colleague’s
way into the future with his celebrated article ‘New Paths’ of
1853.

Alexander Melnikov was born in Moscow in 1973 and began his music studies at the
age of six, at Moscow’s Central Music School, then continued at the
city’s Tchaikovsky Conservatory from which he graduated in 1997 (class of
Lev Naumov). Regularly invited by Sviatoslav Richter, he participated in his
festivals in Moscow (December Nights), and his chamber music festival at La
Grange de Meslay (Tours, France). He completed his postgraduate studies with
Elisso Virssaladze in Munich. From 2000 to 2002 he was a BBC New Generation
Artist.

Alexander Melnikov appears regularly in recital at the world’s leading
concert halls with major orchestras. Besides his well-established duo with
Isabelle Faust his partners include Vadim Repin, Natalia Gutman, Yuri Bashmet,
Alexander Roudine, Pieter Wispelwey, Jean-Guihen Queyras, and many others. In
piano duo repertoire he appears regularly with Andreas Staier, Boris Berezovsky,
and Alexei Lubimov. He also regularly performs on the fortepiano with Concerto
Köln.

He has recorded several CDs on harmonia mundi, as a soloist (Scriabin,
Rachmaninov, Shostakovich) or as a chamber musician (Isabelle Faust, Jean-Guihen
Queyras, Teunis van der Zwart). His recording of the Shostakovich Preludes &
Fugues was a Gramophone Critics’ Choice 2010.

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