On their fourth Challenge Classics recording, the highly successful Dutch duo of Isabelle van Keulen and Ronald Brautigam perform the complete works for violin and piano by Sergei Prokofiev.

Prokofiev only produced three works for the combination of violin and piano, two of which are transcriptions by the composer himself. The Second Sonata was originally written for flute and piano while the Five Melodies are song arrangements. The opus numbers and titles of both sonatas are misleading since the D major Sonata op.94 had its premiere before the op.80 Sonata in F minor.

Isabelle van Keulen has an established reputation as a violinist and violist of world class stature. She is closely involved in the performance of contemporary music, and works by living composers are part of her repertoire. Though she has performed with many famous orchestras and conductors as a soloist, chamber music is central to her music-making. She is particularly well-known for her formidable duo with pianist Ronald Brautigam and they appear together regularly at the Wigmore Hall in London.

Ronald Brautigam is one of Holland’s leading musicians. Over the last few years he has released several recordings with Isabelle van Keulen on Challenge Classics including CDs featuring Shostakovich’s Violin and Viola Sonatas (CC72071), Violin Sonatas by Richard Strauss, Respighi and Rota (CC72307), and music for violin and piano by Grieg, Elgar and Sibelius (CC72171).