Brahms Sonatas for Violin and Piano,
No 1 in G, Op 78 ; No 2 in A, Op 100; No 3 in D minor, Op 108

Lorin Maazel, the famous conductor showed the BBCM that it was not only conducting he excelled at: he was also a splendid violinist. To mark his 70th birthday he played all three of Brahms' violin-piano sonatas from memory, partnered by the Russian-Israeli pianist Yefim Bronfman. The three Brahms sonatas were all written within the same decade from 1878 to 1888 but the third one is markedly different from the first two. Brahms started to write it at the same time as the second sonata but he finished it two years later. The contrast in the mood of these sonatas allowed Maazel to demonstrate a wide range of skills as a violinist. He played the first two sonatas softly, so as to put the spotlight on the most famous and most demanding D minor sonata. Even at 70 Maazel is in the prime of his career. After the concert we went backstage to meet the man himself: he was extremely interested in the work we did at the BBCM.

Matthew Gold (Peanut)
Age 11, intermediate class