Wen-Lei Gu, Catherine Kautsky - Brahms: The 3 Sonatas for Violin & Piano (2018) [Hi-Res]

Tracklist
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01. Violin Sonata No. 1 in G Major, Op. 78 "Regen": I. Vivace ma non troppo
02. Violin Sonata No. 1 in G Major, Op. 78 "Regen": II. Adagio
03. Violin Sonata No. 1 in G Major, Op. 78 "Regen": III. Allegro molto moderato
04. Violin Sonata No. 2 in A Major, Op. 100: I. Allegro amabile
05. Violin Sonata No. 2 in A Major, Op. 100: II. Andante tranquillo-Vivace-Andante-Vivace di più-Andante-Vivace
06. Violin Sonata No. 2 in A Major, Op. 100: III. Allegretto grazioso (Quasi andante)
07. Violin Sonata No. 3 in D Minor, Op. 108: I. Allegro
08. Violin Sonata No. 3 in D Minor, Op. 108: II. Adagio
09. Violin Sonata No. 3 in D Minor, Op. 108: III. Un poco presto e con sentimento
10. Violin Sonata No. 3 in D Minor, Op. 108: IV. Presto agitato


On this new release, the three Brahms Sonatas for Violin and Piano are brilliantly performed by Len-Lie Gu and Katherine Kautsky. Wen-Lei Gu, Associate Professor of Music at Lawrence University Conservatory of Music in Appleton, Wisconsin, has won international acclaim as soloist, recitalist, and chamber musician. Born into a musical family, she won first prizes in both violin and piano state competitions at age seven, and was the gold medalist in Chinas Fourth National Violin Competition at age twelve. At age thirteen, she was the silver medalist in the prestigious Yehudi Menuhin International Violin Competition in England. Subsequently, she made her international debut the same year, performing the SaintSaëns Violin Concerto in B minor in England with Yehudi Menuhin at the baton. Menuhin said of her playing: sounds like a poem, looks like a painting. Catherine Kautsky, Chair of Keyboard at Lawrence University, has been lauded by the New York Times as a pianist who can play Mozart and Schubert as though their sentiments and habits of speech coincided exactly with hers The music spoke directly to the listener, with neither obfuscation nor pretense. She was the 2016 winner of the Lawrence Excellence in Teaching Award, the 2013 winner of the universitys Faculty Convocation Award, and in 2017 she was honored with the George and Marjorie Olsen Chandler Chair in Music.

“There’s a really lovely set of the Brahms Three Sonatas for Violin and Piano featuring the duo of violinist Wen-Lei Gu and pianist Catherine Kautsky. Both performers are on the music faculty at Lawrence University in Appleton, Wisconsin. The opening bars of the Sonata No.1 in G Major Op.78 always seem to set the tone for all three works, and it’s clear from the outset here that we are in excellent hands. From the autumnal feel of the first sonata through the warmth of the Sonata No.2 in A Major Op.100 to the passion and restlessness of the Sonata No.3 in D Minor Op.108 the playing here is all you could ask for, with warmth, sensitivity, passion when needed and an ever-present sense of innate musicality. If you collect different performances of these lovely sonatas then this will make a strong and welcome addition to your CDs; if you’re just looking for one set then this one has a great deal to offer and will certainly not disappoint you.” — The Whole Note

Wen-Lei Gu, violin
Catherine Kautsky, piano

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