Zoltán Kodály’s later years were dominated by a series of choral works but his early reputation centred upon chamber music, notably two string quartets, a Cello Sonata (8553160) and the two masterpieces heard on this recording. The Duo for Violin and Cello, op.7, combines classical form with folk influence, while the Sonata for Solo Cello, op.8, with its expanded harmonies and tone colours, is one of the greatest solo cello works since Bach’s Cello Suites. György Ligeti continued the Hungarian lineage with his Sonata for Solo Cello, a succinct but pivotal work in his compositional development.

Gabriel Schwabe made his recording debut in 2015 performing Brahms’s Cello Sonatas, and six songs arranged for cello and piano, with pianist Nicholas Rimmer (8573489). Fanfare wrote that ‘Schwabe plays with a beautifully smooth and sweet tone. In addition, his intonation and finger-to-bow coordination are spot-on’, which led to Nordwestradio exclaiming that ‘Even Brahms himself would like this [album].’

Schwabe has also recorded the concertos of Saint-Saëns and Schumann for Naxos. His Saint-Saëns Works for Cello and Orchestra disc (8573737) was a Gramophone Choice, with critic Jeremy Nicholas commenting, ‘I was very taken by Gabriel Schwabe. [He] plays with a light heart and produces a light, airy tone to match, combined with a nonchalance and poise that I found most attractive.’ His recording of Schumann’s Cello Concerto (8573786) was also praised by The Strad: ‘Schwabe belongs to an emerging group of young musicians who play with a defter touch and beguiling tonal transparency that allows the late Cello Concerto to take full flight.’