Nikolai Medtner - Violin Sonatas Nos. 1-3; Notturni (Fabrizio Falasca; Antonio Pompa-Baldi)

Information

Composer: Nikolai Medtner

• Sonata for Violin and Piano No. 1 in B Minor, Op. 21
• Sonata for Violin and Piano No. 2 in G Major, Op. 44
• Sonata for Violin and Piano No. 3 in E Minor, Op. 57 "Epica"
• 3 Nocturnes for Violin and Piano, Op. 16

Fabrizio Falasca, violin

Antonio Pompa-Baldi, piano

Date: 2026

Label: Brilliant Classics

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Nikolai Medtner (1880–1951), though celebrated primarily for his 20th-century piano sonatas, composed a rich body of violin-and-piano works now showcased in a new recording by Brilliant Classics. Written with his violinist wife Anna in mind, Medtner’s three sonatas span his journey from pre-revolutionary Russia to his London exile. The 1911 First Sonata draws inspiration from Dionysian myth, culminating in a rhythmic tango-infused movement. The 1925 Second Sonata ("Spring") captures a folky Russian spirit reminiscent of balalaikas, while the expansive 1938 Third Sonata ("Sonata Epica") reflects his poignant nostalgia and distance from a troubled homeland.

Fabrizio Falasca is recognized as one of the leading Italian violinists of his generation, performing as a soloist in premier international venues such as London’s Royal Festival Hall and Vienna’s Musikverein. An accomplished orchestral leader, he holds concertmaster positions with the Teatro Lirico di Cagliari and the Teatro San Carlo in Naples, while also serving as Assistant Leader of London’s Philharmonia Orchestra. Mentored by legends like Salvatore Accardo and Maxim Vengerov, Falasca actively records for major labels, streams on networks like the BBC and RAI, and teaches at the London Performing Academy of Music, performing on historic Guarneri and Rugeri instruments.

Internationally acclaimed Italian pianist Antonio Pompa-Baldi achieved global recognition through top prizes at the Cleveland, Marguerite Long, and Van Cliburn competitions. Renowned for an extensive repertoire featuring over sixty concertos, he regularly performs with major orchestras across five continents in venues like Carnegie Hall and Shanghai Grand Theatre. His prolific recording career spans 35 CDs for labels like Steinway & Sons and Harmonia Mundi, encompassing complete piano works of Grieg alongside albums dedicated to Rachmaninoff, Liszt, and Chopin. A Steinway Artist, Pompa-Baldi serves as Head of the Keyboard and Guitar Department at the Cleveland Institute of Music and Artistic Director of the Todi International Music Masters festival in Italy.