Zoltán Kodály; Maurice Ravel - Works for Violin & Cello (Virginie Robilliard; Péter Szabó)

Information

Composer: Zoltán Kodály; Maurice Ravel

• Kodály - Duo for Violin & Cello in D Minor, Op. 7
• Ravel - Sonata for Violin & Cello, M. 73

Virginie Robilliard, violin

Péter Szabó, cello

Date: 2026

Label: Hunnia Records

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Zoltán Kodály’s 1914 Duo for Violin and Cello stands as a definitive 20th-century masterpiece, seamlessly blending formal innovation with Central European folk traditions. The piece treats both instruments as equals, utilizing dense counterpoint, virtuosic double stops, and distinctive rhythms to evoke the sonic weight of a much larger ensemble. This seminal work directly influenced Maurice Ravel’s subsequent Sonata for Violin and Cello (1921–1922). Ravel’s piece adopted Kodály's structural model and Hungarian folk inflections, utilizing pungent dissonances and a stripped-back harmonic palette. This stylistic shift marked a pivotal turning point for Ravel, emphasizing melodic clarity over complex harmonic color.

Virginie Robilliard is a celebrated French violinist who launched an international solo career after winning the Long-Thibaud and Indianapolis international competitions at age 17. A graduate of the Lyon Conservatory and the Juilliard School, where she studied under Dorothy DeLay, she has performed with prestigious orchestras worldwide under conductors like Yuri Temirkanov and François-Xavier Roth. Known for her diverse musical interests, Robilliard has premiered contemporary works dedicated to her, explored intercultural improvisation with African percussion, and recorded extensive chamber and concerto repertoire. Also a dedicated educator, she founded a violin school in Caracas and currently teaches at the Lausanne University of Music.

Péter Szabó is a highly acclaimed Hungarian cellist who has achieved international prominence as a soloist, chamber musician, and orchestra leader. Educated at the Klausenburg Music Academy and the Ferenc Liszt Academy, he has performed globally in prestigious venues like Wigmore Hall under conductors such as Yehudi Menuhin and Iván Fischer. A dedicated advocate for rare Hungarian masterpieces, Szabó has premiered numerous contemporary works, recorded extensively for labels like Naxos, and newly edited historical concertos. His outstanding contributions have earned him the Franz Liszt Prize and the Knight's Cross Order of Merit of Hungary. He currently serves as Principal Cellist for the Budapest Festival Orchestra.

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