Intent on developing the reputation he had won in Vienna, Beethoven undertook an extensive tour ending in Berlin, home to the celloplaying Frederick William II. There he unveiled his Sonatas for Piano and Cello, op.5, with one of the famed Duport brothers playing cello. These are revolutionary works, with neither instrument subservient and the piano fully independent, for which in the 1790s there was no precedent. Beethoven also wrote vivacious variations on operatic music by Mozart where light-hearted playfulness and dramatic rivalry are energising features.

Gabriel Schwabe and Nicholas Rimmer have recorded the Brahms Cello Sonatas adding some transcriptions of their own on 8573489: ‘Schwabe plays with a beautifully smooth and sweet tone. In addition, his intonation and finger-to-bow coordination are spot-on. Rimmer is technically solid and secure and makes a strong partner for Schwabe’ (Fanfare). They’ve also collaborated on an all-Schumann disc on 8573786: ‘in any event, this is a lovely album headlined by an unusual approach to the Schumann Cello Concerto. Very good sound from the Naxos engineers’ (Fanfare).

‘[Gabriel Schwabe] plays a Guarnieri cello with sensitivity and polish, and these two fine comrades blend their thoughts and sounds into an outstanding performance of an important programme’ (American Record Guide on 8574377). His Elgar and Bridge Cello Concertos can be heard on 8574320: ‘Schwabe’s incendiary performance demands to be heard, and in his impassioned rhetoric he makes a compelling case for the importance of Bridge’s title in coming to an understanding of this deeply moving score’ (Gramophone).

Pianist Nicholas Rimmer’s collaborative partnerships with Gabriel Schwabe and Tianwa Yang have resulted in acclaimed recordings of Brahms and Wolfgang Rihm; the latter (8572730) received a Diapason d’Or, a Pizzicato Supersonic Award and an International Record Review ‘Outstanding’ Award.

Gabriel Schwabe is a laureate of three of the world’s most prestigious cello competitions: the Grand Prix Emanuel Feuermann in Berlin, the Concours Rostropovich in Paris and the Pierre Fournier Award in London. As a soloist he has worked with orchestras such as the Philharmonia, ORF Vienna Radio Symphony Orchestra, Rundfunk-Sinfonieorchester Berlin, Ulster Orchestra, NDR Radiophilharmonie, Royal Northern Sinfonia, Danish Chamber Orchestra, the Malmö and Norrköping Symphony Orchestras and the China NCPA Orchestra, Beijing with conductors such as Marek Janowski, Eivind Gullberg-Jensen, Dennis Russell Davies, Adam Fischer, Joana Mallwitz, Cornelius Meister, Giancarlo Guerrero, Michael Sanderling and Marc Soustrot.

Nicholas Rimmer was born in England and studied in Cambridge, Hanover, Berlin and Cologne. A pianist with a keen interest in chamber music, Lied, as well as in historical keyboard instruments, he has appeared in many major concert venues such as Wigmore Hall, Tonhalle Zürich and the Philharmonie Berlin. He has appeared as soloist with the Auckland Philharmonia Orchestra, NDR Radiophilharmonie and the Swiss Chamber Orchestra CHAARTS. His varied discography numbers over 20 albums, and this release marks his seventh for Naxos.