Sol Gabetta and Rudolf Buchbinder play a Schubert Sonatina

A sonatina by Schubert

Sol Gabetta, Violoncello
Rudolf Buchbinder, Klavier

Franz Schubert (1797-1828)
Sonatina D-major op. posth. D 137/384 (version for cello)

Allegro molto

Andante

Allegro vivace

Recorded 27th July 2018.

Schubert, Sol Gabetta and Rudolf Buchbinder

After hearing a Schubert interpretation by Sol Gabetta, one can never get enough of it. Following her performance of the second sonata with Christian Zacharias in 2014, and the third and fifth sonatas with Nelson Goerner in 2016, the Argentinian artist takes up a dialogue this year with another brilliant pianist, Rudolf Buchbinder, a representative of the great Viennese tradition as passed on to him by his teacher Bruno Seidlhofer.

Schubert as Mozart and Beethoven’s successor

The three Sonatas for violin and piano are unjustly viewed as the lesser works by Schubert. Even if they may lack the intensity of the later pieces for violin and piano, a clear sense for a melody line is evident and can thus be seen as pieces that follow Mozart and Beethoven.

Unknown composition history

The circumstances under which the sonatas were written are unknown, although the timeline is clear. Schubert wrote the sonata between March and April 1816. At this point in time Schubert had not yet reached his 20^thbirthday. The sonatas were most likely meant for a collection publication, but they were only published by Diabelli in 1836 after Schubert’s untimely death. Schubert played the violin and viola from an early age on, but did not accord these instruments their rightful place in his oeuvre. Sol Gabetta and Rudolf Buchbinder play the Sonatina in D-Major in a version for cello and piano.

In recognition of her outstanding artistic activities, Sol Gabetta received the Herbert von Karajan Prize at the Osterfestpiele Salzburg 2018, where she gave concerts with Staatskapelle Dresden and Christian Thielemann, as well as several chamber music concerts. A few recent milestones in Sol Gabetta’s career include celebrated debuts with the Berlin Philharmonic and Sir Simon Rattle at the Osterfestspiele in Baden Baden and a debut at the Mostly MozartFestival in New York and the Opening Night of the BBC Proms in the Royal Albert Hall London.

Sol Gabetta

Artist Description

You couldn’t have come up with a better name for Sol “The sun” Gabetta. She’s as radiant whenever she takes the stage, as when you meet her backstage. She’s kind and generous with her time. For nearly two decades Sol Gabetta has been a leading presence at Gstaad, having become something like the festival’s ambassador. Every year we are blessed with her new projects, often in form of world premieres.

The Gabetta family’s bear paws

We all heard about her great career, but little is known about how it started. Once at Saanen Sol Gabetta shared with us the following story: «I was three years old and my brother Andrés was eight. My parents gave both of us a violin. But – of course – Andrés played much better, because he was much older. However, one day I was offered cello lessons.» Thanks to the Suzuki-method Sol made very soon great progress. «I immediately sensed that the cello was right for me. It feels more natural than the violin. I’m small and have huge hands. We all have bear paws in our family. I can’t fathom how Andrés manages with his violin.»

Cappella Gabetta – For the Love of Old Music

So the years passed and the each of the siblings found their own way. «After Andrés got his diploma, he met Christophe Coin (the great cellist who specializes in the so-called period performance. He immersed himself in the Baroque Music. And even though I followed his journey with keen interest, I focused on the grand concert repertoire… up until I discovered the old music myself. That was whilst I was working on the first «Progetto Vivaldi» for Sony.»

Sol’s interpretation of Vivaldi, the so-called «Red Priest», was a huge success, so that Sony immediately wanted her to do another record. And Sol Gabetta realized that this would allow her to collaborate with her brother: Thus, the Cappella Gabetta was born! And from then on, the Cappella Gabetta became a regular at the Gstaad Menuhin Festival.

Show more Show less