Ysaÿe’s six Sonatas for solo violin are, together with JS Bach’s Sonatas and Partitas, the most important extended works for the solo violin. Ysaÿe composed each one of them with a particular violinist in mind, capturing their personality and characteristics of their playing. These sonatas represent the stylistic bridge between the old and the new, between tradition and improvisation, offering a glimpse into a 'golden' era of fast-evolving tradition in playing, of which Ysaÿe was one of the leading voices.

"To record these marvellous works for the violin represented the realisation of a much longed-for dream. I still remember the first time I encountered a recording of these pieces when I was only 14 years old; I felt immediately enchanted not only by their technical complexity, but also by the honesty of the music behind every single note," says Giovanni Guzzo, in his note to this recording.

Giovanni Guzzo is Principal Guest leader of the Budapest Festival Orchestra under Iván Fischer, and is in demand as a soloist and chamber musician internationally. A pupil of Maurice Hasson and Zakhar Bron, Giovanni is Professor of Violin at the Royal Academy of Music in London.