HEINZ TIESSEN (1887-1971): Duo-Sonata for Violin and Piano, Op. 35*, KAROL RATHAUS (1895-1954): Violin Sonata, Op. 14, PAUL ARMA (1905-1987): Violin Sonata*. * - First Recordings.

Description: The use of free tonality, linear polyphony, expressively exaggerated melodies and asymmetrical rhythms in Tiessen’s 1925 sonata provide a musical snapshot of the abandon and exuberance of 1920s Berlin. Arma was a Hungarian Jew who left his career as a pianist in the U.S.A., went to Germany to work as a conductor and choral director for Bertold Brecht and lived to tell about it, escaping to France in 1933 after he was subjected to a mock execution by the Gestapo. His 1949 sonata resembles a ballad-like narrative with the impression of improvisational elements throughout. Musically and technically challenging, is was often performed during the 1950s but never published. Judith Ingolfsson (violin), Vladimir Stoupel (piano).