Music for Viola (2 CD set)

"Strong-handedness and humour win over understatement, but nostalgia remains. Maxim Rysanov is one of those artists who can do no wrong at present. It's always exciting when one watches, or rather hears, a major talent burst upon the scene and Rysanov's rapid ascent was marked last year by his being named Gramophone's Young Artist of the Year. The viola-player is persuasive and eloquent in this Brahms programme, moving between the music's flickering moods with fluidity."
Editor's Choice - Gramophone Magazine (January 2009)

"This recording is on my list of CDs of the year. I'd be surprised if there were anything classier in the chamber music section. I dearly hope Onyx will engage Rysanov to record Schumann's chamber music including solo viola as soon as possible."
(MusicWeb Recording of the Month Feb 2009)

This exciting release gathers together in one neat package the two late sonatas for which Brahms' viola versions have become standard repertoire together with two trios for Clarinet and Horn that are more rarely heard for viola but work equally well. For this recording Max also plays the Klengel arrangement of the G Major Violin Sonata (with a few revisions of his own)

Played by one of the world's most charismatic violists Maxim Rysanov, of whom Yuri Bashmet declared "my rival has arrived!" Remarkably, Max has been awarded Editor's Choice from Gramophone Magazine for both his recital discs to date, including Kancheli's Styx and Tavener's The Myrrh-Bearer on ONYX (ONYX4023) of which the reviewer said "it was a privilege to review"

Maxim is accompanied by several of Russia's most exciting younger generation of players. Katya Apekisheva for example recently won an Editor's Choice for her debut CD of Grieg Lyric Pieces, while Kristine Blaumane has recently been appointed principal cellist of the London Philharmonic Orchestra

Max embarks on a major Brahms tour with Katya Apekisheva and others to coincide with this release with many dates in UK and France in November (please see ONYX website Concert Schedule for exact details). His other regular recital partners are Janine Jansen, Julian Rachlin and Mischa Maisky.