Weber: Violin Sonatas Op.10 Nos.1-6, Piano Quartet Op.8

Was Carl Maria von Weber born only to compose Der Freischutz? So, at least, many people have thought, forgetting the existence of a catalogue of more than 300 compositions in every genre. The Piano Quartet, written when Weber was only 22, already displays the first signs of the fantastic Romanticism that E.T.A. Hoffmann was exploring at the same time. As for the delightful Violin Sonatas of 1810, refused by the publisher for their blatant originality (!), they airily mix different styles in an exotic multinational rendezvous. On this delightful recording, violinist Isabelle Faust partners once again with Alexander Melnikov (this time on fortepiano). For the Piano Quartet, this extraordinary duo is joined by Isabelle's brother Boris Faust on viola and cellist Wolfgang Emanuel Schmidt.