Catalogue | Chamber Music

H. Vieuxtemps: Complete Works for Viola & Piano

• Sonata in B flat major for Viola & Piano, Op. 36
• Maestoso-Allegro-Maestoso-Allegro (11:52)  
• Barcarollo. Andante con moto-Allegretto tranquillo-Animato (06:52)  
• Finale scherzando. Allegretto (04:35)  

• Capriccio for Viola, Op. posth.
• Lento, con molta espressione (03:39)  

• Unfinished Sonata for Viola & Piano, Op. posth.
• Allegro con fuoco (12:22)  
• Scherzo. Grazioso - Trio I - Trio II (13:42)  

• Elegie for Viola & Piano, Op. 30
• Andante con moto (07:03)  

Henri Vieuxtemps belongs to the few composers who were very familiar with the special sound character of the viola and were able to bring this out optimally in their works. Nor does the pianist have reason to complain of any lack of technical demands and soloistic brilliance. Both instruments complement each other, forming a multi-layered, magical sound. Despite its harmonic and formal complexity, Vieuxtemps's music has an elegant, melodic and relaxed effect. This often caused the composer to be reproached in the past for composing "salon music" without depth.
Thomas Selditz - cofounder of the Gaede Trio, internationally sought-after chamber music part-ner and Professor in Hannover - and Vladimir Stoupel - renowned piano soloist and prize winner at the Concours International d'Exécution in Geneva - contribute towards a correction of this erroneous judgment with their new recording of Vieuxtemps's complete works for viola and piano, helping the composer to achieve the recognition in musical life which has long been his due.