Beethoven: Complete Violin Sonatas, Vol. 2 – Op. 12 Alberto Bologni & Giuseppe Bruno

• Ludwig van Beethoven (1770 - 1827): Violin Sonata No. 1 in D Major, Op. 12 No. 1:
• 1 Violin Sonata No. 1 in D Major, Op. 12 No. 1: I. Allegro con brio 09:35
• 2 Violin Sonata No. 1 in D Major, Op. 12 No. 1: IIa. Tema con variazioni. Tema 01:26
• 3 Violin Sonata No. 1 in D Major, Op. 12 No. 1: IIb. Var. 2 01:23
• 4 Violin Sonata No. 1 in D Major, Op. 12 No. 1: IIc. Var. 2 01:23
• 5 Violin Sonata No. 1 in D Major, Op. 12 No. 1: IId. Var. 3 01:16
• 6 Violin Sonata No. 1 in D Major, Op. 12 No. 1: IIe. Var. 4 02:06
• 7 Violin Sonata No. 1 in D Major, Op. 12 No. 1: III. Rondo. Allegro 05:05
• Violin Sonata No. 2 in A Major, Op. 12 No. 2:
• 8 Violin Sonata No. 2 in A Major, Op. 12 No. 2: I. Allegro vivace 06:52
• 9 Violin Sonata No. 2 in A Major, Op. 12 No. 2: II. Andante più tosto allegretto 05:14
• 10 Violin Sonata No. 2 in A Major, Op. 12 No. 2: III. Allegro piacevole 05:20
• Violin Sonata No. 3 in E-Flat Major, Op. 12 No. 3:
• 11 Violin Sonata No. 3 in E-Flat Major, Op. 12 No. 3: I. Allegro con spirito 08:50
• 12 Violin Sonata No. 3 in E-Flat Major, Op. 12 No. 3: II. Adagio con molta espressione 07:08
• 13 Violin Sonata No. 3 in E-Flat Major, Op. 12 No. 3: III. Rondo. Allegro molto 04:38
• Total Runtime 01:00:16

Info for Beethoven: Complete Violin Sonatas, Vol. 2 – Op. 12

Dedicated to Antonio Salieri, the Three Sonatas for Piano and Violin, Op. 12 were published in 1798, and part of an extremely prolific period in which Beethoven wrote and published feverishly. It was a matter of establishing himself as a prolific composer of genius, and he somehow managed to maintain the quality of everything he wrote to great standards. It may seem as if the three new sonatas were modeled after Mozart’s mature works in the genre, but they already show distinct original traits. The partnership between the two instruments is appropriately balanced: the violin is no longer relegated to an obbligato role, and the dialogue between instruments integrates active melodic and contrapuntal exchanges. Unlike many of their 18th-century antecedents, a certain degree of technical virtuosity is essential in these works.

Beethoven preserves the traditional scheme in three movements, with sonata-form first movements, slow middle movements, and rondo-form finales. The first sonata offers a glimpse into innovative ideas, as its slow movement is a theme and variations. The third sonata, instrumentally the most ambitious, aspires to technical solutions that echo the richness of the orchestral textures found in the contemporaneous first symphony.

The duo formed by violinist Alberto Bologni and pianist Giuseppe Bruno is one of the most long-standing ensemble on the Italian scene. During thirty five years of activity together, in which they have performed hundreds of concerts, we are happy to announce two important recordings made for our label, OnClassical: and, yes, the first is dedicated to Ludwig van Beethoven. This four-volume cycle, containing all Beethoven's ten Violin Sonatas, the duo gives an analytical and refined reading, highlighting the compositional complexity of each work.

The recordings was made by sound engineer Alessandro Simonetto using a historical pair of Brüel & Kjær microphones matched with Prism Sound pres and converters equipments. The outcome is a clean and natural sound.

Alberto Bologni, violin
Giuseppe Bruno, piano

Alberto Bologni
(b. Prato, 9th december 1963), studied under the guidance of Sandro Materassi and graduated with full honour at Conservatorio Luigi Cherubini di Firenze. Later he studied with Stefan Gheorghiu and Ilja Grubert, taking the soloist degree at Rotterdams Conservatorium. He also studied quartet with Piero Farulli at Accademia Chigiana di Siena. He was prize winner at Viotti and Spohr Competitions.

Mr. Bologni began his career in 1979, after being awarded the Leonardo da Vinci prize in Florence. He played in duo with the pianist Giuseppe Bruno or as leader of Sandro Materassi string quartet and piano quintet in the most important concert halls and theatres in Italy, Germany, Switzerland, England and Venezuela (Carlo Felice di Genova, Pergola di Firenze, St. John Smith Square Hall in London, Gasteig and Herkulessaal in München, Manzoni di Milano, Caio Melisso di Spoleto Università di Roma, Bellini di Catania etc. etc.). As a soloist he played with such conductors as Bellugi, Bruggen, Dumbraveanu, Harrap, Maschat, Mihaescu, Pinzauti etc. He has been the leading concertmaster since its foundation of Camerata Strumentale Città di Prato, considered one of the best Italian chamber orchestras now operating.

Alberto Bologni recorded CD's for the labels such as Diapason, Arts, Tactus, Cristophorus and through the Materassi ensemble with Radio Svizzera Italiana and Radio Suisse Romande.

Giuseppe Bruno
graduated with honours in Piano, Composition and Conductorship with Professors Specchi, Zangelmi and Taverna. Maestro Bruno specialized in piano with Paolo Bordoni and in conductorship with Leopold Hager. He has attended a seminar in composition at the IRCAM in Paris. Performing for several years as a pianist in many different chamber ensembles as well as a brilliant soloist. He has played with many important orchestras in Italy, USA, Greece, Romania and Germany in a repertory that goes from Mozart to Dallapiccola. From 1987 to 1992 he participated in the “Due Mondi” festival in Spoleto Italy and in 1988 in the Charleston festival in the USA.

In 1991 Maestro Bruno received an award at the International Piano Contest in Rome and in 1992 he received a second award in a duo with violin player Alberto Bologni at the “Viotti” in Vercelli, Italy. He recorded for Nuova Fonit Cetra, Diapason, SAM, Bongiovanni, Ars publica, Ars Musici, as well as for RAI, Swiss French and Italian radio and for WDR in Koeln. He collaborated with directors including Alkis Baltas, Spiros Argiris, Franz Lamprecht, Corneliu Dumbraveanu, violin player Sashko Gawriloff, singers Gail Gilmore and Victor von Halem, and with the Octet of Berlin Philharmonic. He is currently a member of the “Trio Petrarca”. In the past few years he has been acknowledged as a highly regarded conductor in Italy and abroad. Maestro Bruno is at present the Director of the "Giacomo Puccini" Conservatory, in La Spezia, Italy.

This album contains no booklet.