Mio Takahashi &
Daniel King Smith

Eugène Ysaÿe (1858 – 1931)

Violin Sonata in G Major, Op.27 No.5 (Ysaÿe)

i L’Aurore
ii Danse rustique

Eugène Ysaÿe’s set of Six Sonatas for solo violin, Op. 27, was written in July 1923. Each sonata was dedicated to one of Ysaÿe’s contemporary violinists: Joseph Szigeti (No. 1), Jacques Thibaud (No. 2), George Enescu (No. 3), Fritz Kreisler (No. 4), Mathieu Crickboom (No. 5), and Manuel Quiroga (No. 6).

Ludwig van Beethoven (1770-1827)

Sonata No.9 in A Major, Op.47 ‘Kreutzer’ (Beethoven)

i Adagio sostenuto – Presto
ii Andante con variazioni
iii Presto

The Violin Sonata No. 9 in A major, Op. 47, by Ludwig van Beethoven, is an 1803 sonata for piano and violin notable for its technical difficulty, unusual length (around 40 minutes), and emotional scope. It is commonly known as the Kreutzer Sonata after the violinist Rodolphe Kreutzer, to whom it was ultimately dedicated, but who thoroughly disliked the piece and refused to play it.

Performers

Mio Takahashi - Violin

Born in 2001, Japanese violinist Mio Takahashi moved to London at the age of three. She is currently pursuing her master’s degree at the Royal Academy of Music (RAM) under Professor Philippe Honoré, after completing her Bachelor of Music there, graduating with first-class honours. She is a recipient of The Clarence Myerscough Trust Award 23-24. Mio was a strings category finalist of the BBC Young Musician of the Year 2020, where her playing was described as ‘gorgeous and effortless’. In February 2022, she gave the world premiere of Shinuh Lee’s Caprice No.4 for violin, ‘Totentanz’, as part of RAM’s 200 PIECES series, launched to celebrate the Academy’s bicentenary.

Daniel King Smith - Piano

Daniel King Smith has given concerts all over the world as both soloist and accompanist. He has been broadcast on both BBC TV/Radio in the UK (In Tune, Proms, Young Musician of the Year) and NHK TV/Radio in Japan, most recently in recital with Yuki Ito as part of NHK’s “Best of Classic” and “Classic Club” series. Daniel has recorded a number of CDs, including releases with Yuki Ito for Sony and with Anna Hashimoto on the Meridian label. As a soloist, Daniel’s extensive concerto repertoire has lead to many concerts in the UK and around Europe. He has frequently been a featured Solo Classical Artist on many Cruise lines around the world.