Sterkel / Biesemans / Luthi - Sonatas for Fortepiano & Violin - COMPACT DISCS [CD]

A once-celebrated contemporary of Haydn, Mozart and Beethoven, and a precursor of Schubert in the domain of the lied, Johann Franz Xaver Sterkel (1750-1817) is today almost unknown to the general public. Given the great success of his symphonies at the Concert Spirituel, he was probably the composer most frequently performed in Paris between 1777 and 1779. This famous and highly influental pianist and composer spent most of his working life at the court of Mainz, where his reputation attracted rising young talents like Beethoven and Weber, and wrote more than 700 works, including 400 German and Italian songs. On this new , Els Biesemans and Meret Luthi present a world premiere recording of some of his sonatas for fortepiano and violin, utterly disarming in their charm, inventiveness and refinement. Album Tracks 1. Sonata in F Major Op. 33 No. 1 (From Trois Sonates Pour Le Clavecin Ou Piano-Forté Avec Accompagnement D'un Violon Obligé Op. 33) 2. Fantasia in a Minor Op. 45 (Fantaisie Pour Le Piano-Forte Oeuvre 45) 3. Sonata in B Flat Major Op. 25 (Grande Sonate Pour Clavecin Ou Piano Forte Avec Un Violon Obligé Op. 25) 4. Romance in F Major Op. 24 No. 3 (From Les Petites Beautés de J.F. Sterkel. Six Pieces for the Harpsichord or Piano Forte Op. 24) 5. Sonata in a Major Op. 33 No. 3 (From Trois Sonates Pour Le Clavecin Ou Piano-Forté Avec Accompagnement D'un Violon Obligé Op. 33)