A new version of Sonatas for viola da gamba by J S Bach here performed by two experienced scholars and musicians of Baroque period practice.
Sergei Istomin and Viviana Sofronitsky made an accurate and unconventional choice of instruments for this recording of Bach's Sonatas for Viola da gamba: a brilliant and resonant viol built by Jacob Stainer in 1655 and a Paul McNulty copy of a 1749 Silbermann fortepiano. The result is a unique, invigorating and captivating blend of tonal colours that conjure up a unique sound which emphasizes the melodic qualities of these famous works.
Sergei Istomin is a cellist and a viola da gamba player. He began his violoncello studies at the age of six at the Gnessin State Musical College in Moscow, where he obtained his bachelor's degree. He completed his master's degree at the Moscow Tchaikovsky Conservatory. Later he undertook post- graduate studies with Catharina Meints Caldwell at the Oberlin Conservatory of Music (Oberlin, Ohio, USA) and August Wenzinger at the Oberlin Baroque Performance Institute. In 2018 he received his 'Doctor of Arts: Music' degree at the University of Ghent, Belgium. The title of his doctoral thesis is "Variations on a Rococo theme, Op. 33: Pyotr Tchaikovsky and Karl Friedrich Wilhelm Fitzenhagen: a creative collaboration. Moscow and Saint Petersburg violoncello schools in the light of European traditions: a historical and textological clarification." Sergei Istomin has performed solo and chamber music recitals in many European and North American Festivals. His repertoire includes baroque, classical, romantic, and contemporary music on both period and modern instruments. He has recorded for Sony Classical; Analekta, CBC (Canada); Centaur Records, Music and Arts Programs of America (USA); Passacaille Records (Belgium); and Zig-Zag Territoires (France). Today Sergei Istomin lives in Belgium from where he continues his international career.
Viviana Sofronitsky has followed in the footsteps of her father Vladimir Sofronitsky, a distinguished Russian pianist. She earned a DMA from the Moscow Conservatory and received historical fortepiano and harpsichord performance degrees from the Royal Conservatory in Den Haag. She won prizes at the "Bach Tage Berlin" and "Musica Antiqua" competitions. Viviana Sofronitsky has recorded with "AVI", "ETCetera", "Centaur", "Suoni e colori", "Globe", "Pro Musica Camerata" (11 CD of complete Mozart concertos) and "Passacaille" lebels. Her current projects include recording Chopin and Liszt on romantic fortepiano. Russian-Canadian citizen Viviana Sofronitsky is based in Prague from which she travels with her fortepianos.
