Joseph Haas - Complete Violin Works (Ludmila Pavlová; Alissa Firsova)

Information

Composer: Joseph Haas

• Sonatina in G Minor, Op. 4, No. 1
• Sonatina in D Major, Op. 4, No. 2
• Sonata in B Minor, Op. 21
• Grillen, Suites, Op. 40

Ludmila Pavlová, violin

Alissa Firsova, piano

Date: 2026

Label: Ars Produktion

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Joseph Haas (1879–1960) was a German composer whose music remained rooted in the late-Romantic tradition despite his important role in contemporary music culture as co-founder of the Donaueschingen International Chamber Music Festival for New Music alongside Paul Hindemith and Heinrich Burkard. A highly respected teacher, Haas mentored figures such as Karl Amadeus Hartmann, Karl Höller, Eugen Jochum, and Wolfgang Sawallisch. This recording by Ars Produktion focuses on Haas’s complete works for violin and piano, including lyrical sonatinas, a dramatic sonata, and the imaginative suite Grillen. Violinist Ludmila Pavlova and pianist Alissa Firsova deliver expressive and sensitive interpretations that highlight the melodic warmth, emotional depth, and playful character of these chamber works.

Ludmila Pavlová is a distinguished Czech violinist known for her solo and chamber music performances across Europe, Asia, and the Middle East. A multiple international competition winner, she has performed at renowned festivals including Prague Spring and collaborated with leading orchestras and musicians worldwide. She made her debut at Prague’s Rudolfinum at age 13 and has since earned recognition for both artistic excellence and academic research. Alongside performing, she specializes in violin relaxation techniques and teaches at the Academy of Performing Arts in Prague. Since 2023, she has served as concertmaster of the Prague Chamber Orchestra while continuing her work as festival founder, artistic director, and educator.

Alissa Firsova is a British-Russian pianist, composer, and conductor recognized for her versatile international career. Following her victory in the BBC Proms Young Composer Competition in 2001, she received multiple commissions for the BBC Proms, composing works for leading ensembles including the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra and Bergen Philharmonic. As a performer, she made acclaimed debuts at Wigmore Hall and the Proms in 2009 and has collaborated with distinguished artists and orchestras across Europe. Her recordings, including Russian Émigrés and Fantasy, have received critical praise, while her Stabat Mater was featured in Gramophone’s Top 10 Compositions by Women. She currently serves as Artistic Director of the Lincolnshire International Chamber Music Festival.