Nature is often a source of inspiration for composers. This applies not only to works that explicitly refer to extra-musical things, but even to structured and abstract works such as Johannes Brahms' "Three Sonatas for Violin and Piano". Brahms composed these sonatas in the summer months when he stayed in peace by a lake, in 1878 at the Worther See (southern Austria) and in 1886 and 1888 at the
… Thuner See (Switzerland). The countryside inspired Brahms to create his most lyrical and melodic chamber music. Especially the "Sonatas op.78 and op.100" are rich in melodic themes, which can mainly be heard in the violin part. In Brahms' third and final "Violin Sonata, Op.108", the violin and piano parts are equal to each other. The famous violinist Joseph Joachim advised his friend Brahms during the creation of these sonatas and also performed them during the premiere, with Brahms behind the piano. Two top performers also play together on this CD: the Czech violinist Josef Suk and the Viennese pianist Paul Badura-Skoda perform a sublime and authentic interpretation of these sonatas. (SvdP) _more
