The sonatas were written between November 1924 and March 1925. They show the composer at the height of his art. His friendly respect for the great North German and Viennese masters has quite obviously found its way into his creative thinking, and he makes use of the most diverse procedures with a sure hand. Nowhere is there a dubious proportion, no piece seems too long, no subject unduly strained. It should also be noted that Röntgen has a profound knowledge of the instruments - himself an excellent pianist, the piano part makes great demands, the viola part skillfully exploits the advantages of the instrument without ever overtaxing it.

Herbert Kefer was born in Eisenerz, Austria, in 1960. At the age of five he received his first musical education on the violin. He continued his studies with Prof. Karl Frischenschlager in Leoben and with Prof. Karl Stierhof at the University of Music in Vienna. In 1986 he graduated with distinction. In 1980 he founded, together with three colleagues, the Artis-Quartett. The quartet has made more than thirty recordings, some of which have been honoured with the Grand Prix du Disque and the Diapason d’Or. In 1991 Herbert Kefer was appointed to head of Viola at the University of Music in Graz / Institution Oberschuetzen. From 2005-2010 he was director of the Weinklang-Festival. He is in demand as a soloist as well as a sought after partner for chamber music groups.

Energy, expression and emotion characterise top Austrian pianist Markus Schirmer’s music-making. After intense studies with Rudolf Kehrer, Karl-Heinz Kämmerling and Paul Badura-Skoda, Markus Schirmer, the Graz-born artist went on to win numerous prizes and honours and to take a number of major concert halls and festivals by storm. He has worked with many renowned orchestras and chamber music plays an important role in his work. No matter where he tours he receives audience acclaim for his charismatic musicianship and his ability to tell vivid stories with the instrument. One of his reviews sums him up precisely: “A pied piper on the piano…music that comes straight from the heart, the brain and the fingertips.”