Mozart: The Palatine Sonatas for Piano with Violin K.301-306

At the age of 22, Mozart was bemoaning lost love and decided to ‘apply myself conscientiously to the clavier duets’, He finished the full set of six Sonatas for Piano – with Violin – in the summer of 1778 and dedicated to the Countess Elizabeth Auguste, Electress of Palatine and Bavaria. They have become known as the ‘Palatine Sonatas’ and are the earliest (relatively) mature works in this instrumental combination, his first essays in the form being at the age of ten.

As piano sonatas with violin (as opposed to the Violin Sonatas of later musical eras) these pieces have exquisite balance and are in fact wonderful in every sense; a pure joy. They are dazzlingly colourful, full of drama and emotion. The artists were particularly keen to present these works in an authentic ambience, as in an 18th century salon, and the result is a beautiful balance and intimacy.

Peter Sheppard Skærved is a world renowned violinist, author, musicologist, artist and researcher. Over 400 works have been written for him, he has created major exhibits and events at major museums around the world and his recorded legacy is already immense with over 27 albums to date for Divine Art group and numerous for Toccata, Naxos, NMC and more.

Daniel-Ben Pienaar also has a fine international reputation. He is primarily interested in early music, Bach, Viennese school and early Romantics. He also has an extensive discography, for Victor Japan, Avie and Linn. This is his first recording for Divine Art. Daniel-Ben is a faculty member at the Royal Academy of Music and runs a wide range of specialist classes. ‘One of the most exciting pianists of his generation’ — Rondo Magazin (Germany)

The two performers have collaborated on many projects but this is their first recording together, intended to be the first of many.