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This opening volume in our Joseph Marx Chamber Music series includes the first modern recording of the Austrian composer's Suite in F major for cello and piano in a new scholarly edition. The other major work on the programme is the Violin Sonata No. 2, one of his final compositions. Marx (1882–1964) was a key presence on Vienna’s music scene; his songs went on to achieve worldwide fame. Renowned as a music teacher, author and critic, he was dubbed in 1952 ‘the leading force in Austrian music’ by the great German conductor Wilhelm Furtwängler.
Joseph MARX (1882–1964)
Chamber Music, Vol. 1
Suite and Pastorale for Cello and Piano *
Violin Sonata No. 2 ‘Frühlingssonate’ **
Minna Pensola, Violin **Vida Vujić, Cello *
Simone Sgarbanti, Piano
This first volume of Joseph Marx’s chamber music charts a period of 30 years from the cello works of 1913–14 to the Violin Sonata No. 2, written in 1944, shortly before he ceased all composition. The Pastorale is characteristically subtle with impressionistic devices harnessed to ever-changing variations. The Suite in F major, for which the Pastorale was originally intended, balances a rural idyll with more sombre elements, informed by a noble Classical design. Violin Sonata No. 2, subtitled Frühlingssonate (‘Spring Sonata’), consciously re-uses material from earlier works to form a lyrical dance-like work irradiated by ingenious harmonic twists.
I. Allegro espressivo
Finnish violinist Minna Pensola is both a regular guest at international chamber music festivals, a member of the award-winning string quartet Meta4, and one of the tutors and artistic directors of the European Chamber Music Academy. She is artistic director of the Kuhmo Chamber Music and the PuKamaChamber concert series. From 2019 to 2024, she served as the artistic partner of the Joensuu City Orchestra, and was the artistic director of the Sysmän Suvisoitto from 2006 to 2012.
Austrian cellist Vida Vujić enjoys an international career as a soloist and chamber musician, having performed in the latter role throughout Europe and South America, and has featured on radio broadcasts and recordings. She is the recipient of the Appreciation Prize from the Austrian Ministry of Education, the Stanojlo Rajcić prize for the best concert of the 2006/07 season, and the Thomastik-Infeld prize. A senior lecturer at the Universität für Musik und darstellende Kunst in Vienna, she also gives masterclasses worldwide.
Italian pianist Simone Sgarbanti, a specialist in the music of Paul Hindemith, is currently engaged in the study and performance of the composer’s complete works for solo piano, also delivering lectures and workshops on his music and harmonic language. He has appeared at major festivals and venues, performing across Europe, Morocco and Japan. The first prize winner of several national and international competitions, he has been a piano professor at the Conservatorio di Reggio Emilia since 2024.
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