Ysaÿe: Six Sonatas for Solo Violin Kerson Leong

• Eugène Ysaÿe (1858 - 1931): Sonata for Solo Violin No. 1 in G Minor, Op. 27:
• 1Ysaÿe: Sonata for Solo Violin No. 1 in G Minor, Op. 27 'A Joseph Szigeti': I. Grave (Lento assai)05:16
• 2Ysaÿe: Sonata for Solo Violin No. 1 in G Minor, Op. 27 'A Joseph Szigeti': II. Fugato (Molto moderato)04:49
• 3Ysaÿe: Sonata for Solo Violin No. 1 in G Minor, Op. 27 'A Joseph Szigeti': III. Allegretto poco scherzoso (Amabile)05:23
• 4Ysaÿe: Sonata for Solo Violin No. 1 in G Minor, Op. 27 'A Joseph Szigeti': IV. Finale con brio (Allegro fermo)02:44
• Sonata for Solo Violin No. 2 in A Minor, Op. 27:
• 5Ysaÿe: Sonata for Solo Violin No. 2 in A Minor, Op. 27 'A Jacques Thibaud': I. Obsession (Prélude. Poco vivace)02:42
• 6Ysaÿe: Sonata for Solo Violin No. 2 in A Minor, Op. 27 'A Jacques Thibaud': II. Malinconia (Poco lento)03:02
• 7Ysaÿe: Sonata for Solo Violin No. 2 in A Minor, Op. 27 'A Jacques Thibaud': III. Danse des ombres (Sarabande. Lento)04:35
• 8Ysaÿe: Sonata for Solo Violin No. 2 in A Minor, Op. 27 'A Jacques Thibaud': IV. Les furies (Allegro furioso)03:24
• Sonata for Solo Violin No. 3 in D Minor, Op. 27:
• 9Ysaÿe: Sonata for Solo Violin No. 3 in D Minor, Op. 27 'A Georges Enesco': Ballade (Lento molto sostenuto, molto moderato quasi lento, allegro in tempo giusto e con bravura)07:27
• Sonata for Solo Violin No. 4 in E Minor, Op. 27:
• 10Ysaÿe: Sonata for Solo Violin No. 4 in E Minor, Op. 27 'A Fritz Kreisler': I. Allemande (Lento maestoso)05:59
• 11Ysaÿe: Sonata for Solo Violin No. 4 in E Minor, Op. 27 'A Fritz Kreisler': II. Sarabanda (Quasi lento)03:42
• 12Ysaÿe: Sonata for Solo Violin No. 4 in E Minor, Op. 27 'A Fritz Kreisler': III. Finale (Presto ma non troppo)03:11
• Sonata for Solo Violin No. 5 in G Major, Op. 27:
• 13Ysaÿe: Sonata for Solo Violin No. 5 in G Major, Op. 27 'A Mathieu Crikboom': I. L'aurore (Lento assai – Mesure très libre)04:59
• 14Ysaÿe: Sonata for Solo Violin No. 5 in G Major, Op. 27 'A Mathieu Crikboom': II. Danse rustique (Allegro giocoso molto moderato)05:28
• Sonata for Solo Violin No. 6 in E Major, Op. 27:
• 15Ysaÿe: Sonata for Solo Violin No. 6 in E Major, Op. 27 'A Manuel Quiroga': Allegro giusto non troppo vivo, allegretto poco scherzando07:38
• Total Runtime01:10:19

Info for Ysaÿe: Six Sonatas for Solo Violin

Kerson Leong recently participated in the award-winning Tribute to Ysaÿe (FUG758). Here is his first solo recital for Alpha. The young Canadian violinist s career began at the age of thirteen when he won the New Talent Award at the 2010 Menuhin Competition in Oslo. In 2018 he was named artist-in-residence with the Orchestre Métropolitain de Montréal, conducted by Yannick Nézet-Séguin. An associate musician at the Queen Elisabeth Music Chapel, under the mentorship of Augustin Dumay, he has already performed at such venues as Carnegie Hall, the Verbier Festival and Wigmore Hall. The Quebec newspaper Le Devoir, which has followed him since the start of his career, speaks of the purity of intonation, the brilliance of the high notes, the power of the sound... Kerson Leong has remained as brilliant as ever, but he has added a new patina and, deep down inside himself, a new class. He plays a superb Guarneri del Gesù of 1741, on loan from a Canadian patron. Here he tackles a monument of the violin repertory, the Sonatas for solo violin of Eugène Ysaÿe: These sonatas are of course a big test . . . The music is highly emotional, pervasive and in some ways also very sombre, which makes it extremely powerful , says Leong of these six sonatas, which he frequently plays in their entirety in a single concert.

Kerson Leong, violin

Kerson Leong
Canadian violinist Kerson Leong is quickly emerging as one of the finest musicians and instrumentalists of his generation. He continues to win over both colleagues and audiences alike not only with his “supreme mastery” (Le Devoir) of his instrument or his unmistakable tone, but also his unique ability to combine an honest, intellectual approach with raw intensity and spontaneity, resulting in a truly compelling musicality.

Kerson first gained international attention by winning Junior First Prize at the Menuhin Competition 2010 in Oslo. After subsequent debuts at major international festivals as well as four return performances with the Oslo Philharmonic, he has since distinguished himself as a powerful and individual musical voice, having played in such venues as Carnegie Hall’s Stern Auditorium, Wigmore Hall, the Auditorium du Louvre and the National Center for the Performing Arts in Beijing.

A sought-after soloist, Kerson was hand-picked by Yannick Nézet-Séguin to be his artist-in-residence with the Orchestre Métropolitain de Montréal during the 18/19 season and has performed with such ensembles as the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, Vienna Chamber Orchestra, Kansai Philharmonic Orchestra, and Stavanger Symphony Orchestra among others. Other recent highlights include recording John Rutter’s Visions, a piece written especially for him, with the composer himself and the Aurora Chamber Orchestra, after giving its world premiere in London, UK.

Music outreach and pedagogy are growing passions for Kerson. Renowned schools such as Indiana University’s Jacobs School of Music and the Sibelius Academy have recognized his unique approach as well as his ability to inspire the new generation by inviting him to teach and lecture. A natural communicator on and off the stage, he is cementing his significant role in reaching young people and potential music lovers with his art.

Kerson is an associated artist of the Queen Elisabeth Music Chapel in Belgium, where he was mentored by Augustin Dumay.

Kerson performs on the ‘ex Bohrer’ Guarneri del Gesu violin courtesy of Canimex Inc, Drummondville (Quebec), Canada.

Booklet for Ysaÿe: Six Sonatas for Solo Violin