BRAHMS: SONATAS FOR VIOLA & PIANO

JOHANNES BRAHMS (1833 – 1897)

Sonata I in F Minor, op. 120
I. Allegro appassionato
II. Andante un poco Adagio
III. Allegretto grazioso
IV. Vivace

Sonata II in E-Flat Major, op. 120
I. Allegro amabile
II. Allegro appassionato
III. Andante con moto – Allegro

Scherzo from Frei aber einsam in C minor
for viola and piano WoO 2 (Arrang. by Karl Stierhof and Luca Ranieri from the original for violin)

Luca Ranieri, viola
Andrea Trovato, piano

1 CD, 2025 SKU: LDV 14133

Among the few Brahmsian chamber pieces that also include wind instruments are the two Sonatas for clarinet and piano op. 120. In these works, however, the composer allows for an optionality between clarinet and viola, so much so that in today's concert scene it is almost more common to hear them in the viola version than in the clarinet version.
The Scherzo from the F.A.E. Sonata was part of a Sonata for violin and piano composed as a collective homage to Joachim by Albert Dietrich (author of the first movement), Robert Schumann (Intermezzo and Finale) and Brahms (Scherzo). The acronym F. A. E. refers to the motto frei, aber einsam (free, but alone), but also corresponds, in German notation, to three musical notes (F, A, E) and the motif thus obtained is naturally used as a theme in various parts of the Sonata.

Among the few Brahmsian chamber pieces that also include wind instruments are the two Sonatas for clarinet and piano op. 120. In these works, however, there is an optionality between clarinet and viola, and in today’s concert scene, it is almost more common to hear them in the viola than in the clarinet version. The ‘Scherzo’ from the F.A.E. Sonata was part of a Sonata for violin and piano composed as a collective homage to Joachim by Albert Dietrich (author of the first movement), Robert Schumann (Intermezzo and Finale) and Brahms (Scherzo). The abbreviation F. A. E. refers to Joachim’s personal motto frei, aber einsam (free, but alone), but also corresponds to three musical notes and the motif thus derived is naturally used as a theme in various parts of the Sonata.

RANIERI LUCA, VIOLA

Graduated in violin, viola and singing with top marks, he continued his studies with F. Ayo, G. de Peyer, U. Koch, E. Rizzieri. He has played as a soloist in prestigious concert halls as Auditorium Nacional de Musica in Madrid, Ermitage Theatre in St. Petersburg, Clementinum Theatre in Praha, Auditorium del Foro Italico and Auditorium Parco della Musica in Rome, Hamarikyu Asahi Hall in Tokyo. He has recorded for Tactus, BMG, Bongiovanni, Quadrivium, Dynamic and he made live recordings for RAIuno, RAIdue, RAItre and Radiodue. He recorded Concertos for viola and orchestra by A. Rolla, F..A. Hoffmeister, M. Haydn (viola and organ), G.P. Telemann, A.Vivaldi for the label Camerata Tokyo. With the same label he also recorded the Six Bach’s Sonatas BWV 1007-1012 for viola He also recorded a CD with the Intermezzos by F. Casavola, awarded as the best CD of the year “IMAIE2006”. His cd of M. Haydn for viola, organ and orchestra was included in the “America Best List 2006”. His discographic project with Brilliant Classic, devoted to the Viola Sonatas by P. Hindemith received a five-star rating by international magazines (“Ranieri plays his music magnificently, naturally and with melodic beauty… In this recording Ranieri defines a standard” F.P. Messmer – Das Orchester) First viola in important Italian orchestras, he has cooperated for long time in the same role with the RAI Symphonic Orchestra in Rome as well as in San Carlo theatre in Naples. He has been first viola of “I Solisti di Perugia”. He is president and founder of UmbriAEnsemble as well as violist and founder of “Quartetto Viotti”. He has been a teacher at the Kusatsu International Summer Academy and Festival, in Japain. He is teacher of violin at the Perugia (Italy) Conservatory and he holds mastersclass of viola, violin and chamber music in Europe, Asia and America.

ENGLISH VERSION

Graduated in violin, viola and singing with top marks, he continued his studies with F. Ayo, G. de Peyer, U. Koch, E. Rizzieri. He has played as a soloist in prestigious concert halls as Auditorium Nacional de Musica in Madrid, Ermitage Theatre in St. Petersburg, Clementinum Theatre in Praha, Auditorium del Foro Italico and Auditorium Parco della Musica in Rome, Hamarikyu Asahi Hall in Tokyo. He has recorded for Tactus, BMG, Bongiovanni, Quadrivium, Dynamic and he made live recordings for RAIuno, RAIdue, RAItre and Radiodue. He recorded Concertos for viola and orchestra by A. Rolla, F..A. Hoffmeister, M. Haydn (viola and organ), G.P. Telemann, A.Vivaldi for the label Camerata Tokyo. With the same label he also recorded the Six Bach’s Sonatas BWV 1007-1012 for viola He also recorded a CD with the Intermezzos by F. Casavola, awarded as the best CD of the year “IMAIE2006”. His cd of M. Haydn for viola, organ and orchestra was included in the “America Best List 2006”. His discographic project with Brilliant Classic, devoted to the Viola Sonatas by P. Hindemith received a five-star rating by international magazines (“Ranieri plays his music magnificently, naturally and with melodic beauty… In this recording Ranieri defines a standard” F.P. Messmer – Das Orchester) First viola in important Italian orchestras, he has cooperated for long time in the same role with the RAI Symphonic Orchestra in Rome as well as in San Carlo theatre in Naples. He has been first viola of “I Solisti di Perugia”. He is president and founder of UmbriAEnsemble as well as violist and founder of “Quartetto Viotti”. He has been a teacher at the Kusatsu International Summer Academy and Festival, in Japain. He is teacher of violin at the Perugia (Italy) Conservatory and he holds mastersclass of viola, violin and chamber music in Europe, Asia and America.

TROVATO ANDREA, PIANO

He has a brilliant concert career, playing the piano, organ, and harpsichord. His repertoire ranges from early music to contemporary, collaborating with important institutions such as the Teatro del Maggio Musicale Fiorentino, the Teatro Lirico “G. Verdi” in Trieste, and the Accademia Chigiana in Siena. In 2014, he was named a Steinway Artist by the prestigious piano manufacturer Steinway & Sons.
He graduated in piano in 1994 at the Conservatorio “L. Cherubini” in Florence with top marks, honors, and a special mention, and then he continued his studies at the Ac-cademia Nazionale di Santa Cecilia in Rome, in Sergio Perticaroli’s class, graduating with top marks and honors. In 2000, he graduated in Organ and Organ Composition. From a very young age, he has won numerous first prizes in prestigious national and international competitions, including the T.I.M. in Rome, the “Città di Albenga” National Competition, the “G. Benassi” International Competition in Pavia, the “Debussy Prize” at the International Competitions in Stresa, etc. He has performed in Italy and abroad for important institutions, including Bocconi University, Società dei Concerti and Società Umanitaria in Milan, Columbia University, Roosevelt University, South Florida University, and Notre Dame University (USA), Heidelberger Klavierwoche (Germany), Temps Fort Musique and Accueil Musical (France), Polyphonia Atheneaum (Greece), OpusArtis and Associació Pau Casals (Spain), and many others. He his piano teacher at the Conservatory of Music “L. Cherubini” in Florence. He has recorded for Dynamic, Tactus, Concerto Classics, Fluente Records, and Da Vinci Classics. Among his numerous recordings, noteworthy are George Gershwin’s “The Complete Piano Works” for KNS Classical, and “Reflets de l’ame,” dedicated to Frédéric Chopin, for Da Vinci Classics. His latest CD, featuring Baldassare Galuppi’s Organ Sonatas, for Fluente Records, received 5 stars and was named “album of the month” on Musicvoice.it.

ENGLISH VERSION

He has a brilliant concert career, playing the piano, organ, and harpsichord. His repertoire ranges from early music to contemporary, collaborating with important institutions such as the Teatro del Maggio Musicale Fiorentino, the Teatro Lirico “G. Verdi” in Trieste, and the Accademia Chigiana in Siena. In 2014, he was named a Steinway Artist by the prestigious piano manufacturer Steinway & Sons.
He graduated in piano in 1994 at the Conservatorio “L. Cherubini” in Florence with top marks, honors, and a special mention, and then he continued his studies at the Ac-cademia Nazionale di Santa Cecilia in Rome, in Sergio Perticaroli’s class, graduating with top marks and honors. In 2000, he graduated in Organ and Organ Composition. From a very young age, he has won numerous first prizes in prestigious national and international competitions, including the T.I.M. in Rome, the “Città di Albenga” National Competition, the “G. Benassi” International Competition in Pavia, the “Debussy Prize” at the International Competitions in Stresa, etc. He has performed in Italy and abroad for important institutions, including Bocconi University, Società dei Concerti and Società Umanitaria in Milan, Columbia University, Roosevelt University, South Florida University, and Notre Dame University (USA), Heidelberger Klavierwoche (Germany), Temps Fort Musique and Accueil Musical (France), Polyphonia Athenaeum (Greece), OpusArtis and Associació Pau Casals (Spain), and many others. He his piano teacher at the Conservatory of Music “L. Cherubini” in Florence. He has recorded for Dynamic, Tactus, Concerto Classics, Fluente Records, and Da Vinci Classics. Among his numerous recordings, noteworthy are George Gershwin’s “The Complete Piano Works” for KNS Classical, and “Reflets de l’ame,” dedicated to Frédéric Chopin, for Da Vinci Classics. His latest CD, featuring Baldassare Galuppi’s Organ Sonatas, for Fluente Records, received 5 stars and was named “album of the month” on Musicvoice.it.