Romantic Viola Sonatas Hiyoli Togawa & Lilit Grigoryan

• George Onslow (1784 - 1853): Cello Sonata in F Major, Op. 16 No. 1 (Version for Viola & Piano):
• 1 I. Allegro08:49
• 2II. Andante09:00
• 3III. Allegretto05:47
• Felix Mendelssohn Bartholdy (1809 - 1847): Viola Sonata in C Minor, MWV Q14:
• 4I. Adagio - Allegro07:03
• 5II. Menuetto. Allegro molto06:17
• 6III. Andante con variazioni14:41
• Johann Wenzel Kalliwoda (1801 - 1866): 6 Nocturnes, Op. 186:
• 7No. 1, Larghetto04:16
• 8No. 2, Allegretto, ma un poco vivo03:06
• 9No. 3, Poco adagio03:59
• 10No. 4, Allegretto, ma un poco vivo03:30
• 11No. 5, Adagio con molta espressione05:06
• 12No. 6, Allegro moderato04:00
• Total Runtime01:15:34

Info for Romantic Viola Sonatas

The viola established itself as a prominent solo voice in the 20th century, but the three works here illustrate the instruments wide spectrum in chamber music of the 19th century. Concluding with a striking series of free variations, Mendelssohns Viola Sonata in C minor is notable for its combination of dignified melancholy, exuberance and lightness of texture, culminating in a striking series of free variations. Prague-born Johann Wenzel Kalliwodas Six Nocturnes, Op. 186 exemplify the beautifully crafted poetry and lyric features for which he was so admired, while Georges Onslows Viola Sonata, arranged from the cello original, is exceptionally elegant and virtuosic.

Hiyoli Togawa, viola
Lilit Grigoryan, piano

Hiyoli Togawa
the Japanese-Australian violist, was born and raised in Düsseldorf. Having been attracted to the beautiful timbre of the viola at an early age, she started studying at the Conservatory of Music in Cologne with Rainer Moog before graduating from the class of Antoine Tamestit in the same conservatory.

Not only did she receive several prizes in her youth (e.g. 1st prize "Jugend musiziert" competition), but she proceeded to win the 48th International Viola Competition in Markneukirchen in 2013 and was awarded the 2nd prize of the International Johannes Brahms Competition in 2014. She received numerous special prizes, e.g. from Deutsche Stiftung Musikleben. After her studies in the string quartet class of the Artemis Quartet at the Chapel Queen Elisabeth in Waterloo/Belgium, Hiyoli Togawa moved to Munich in order to continue her studies at the Conservatory of Music of Munich with Hariolf Schlichtig.

Hiyoli Togawa has performed in Europe and in Japan. She presented herself as a soloist with orchestras such as Vogtland Philharmonie, Chursächsische Philharmonie and Klassische Philharmonie Bonn. As a chamber musician she has performed in ensembles with Hariolf Schlichtig, Igor Levit, Veronika Eberle, Jörg Widmann and the Delian Quartet, among others.

Hiyoli Togawa has been welcomed in festivals including Fürstensaal Classix in Kempten, „Bernd Glemser and friends“ in Maulbronn, Heidelberger Frühling, Chopin Festival Marienbad (Czech Republic), Schwäbischer Frühling, Festspiele Mecklenburg-Vorpommern and Schleswig-Holstein Musik Festival.

As a prize winner of the competition "Deutscher Musikinstrumentenfonds" she is playing on a Paolo Antonio Testore (1749) from Milan, a loan from the Foundation Deutsche Stiftung Musikleben.

Booklet for Romantic Viola Sonatas