Anton Rubinstein and Alexander
Adolfovich Winkler represent two
generations of Russian Romanticism,
and their sonatas for viola and piano
reveal contrasting yet complementary
approaches to chamber music and to
the expressive potential of the viola.
Anton Rubinstein (1829–1894),
one of the founders of the Russian
conservatory system and a towering
figure as pianist, conductor, and
composer, approached chamber
music with a distinctly European
Romantic sensibility. His Sonata for
Viola and Piano is notable for its
lyrical breadth and dramatic
contrasts. Rubinstein treats the viola
not merely as an accompanying voice
but as a fully expressive partner to
the piano, exploiting its warm, dark
timbre and vocal qualities.
The sonata’s sweeping melodies, rich
harmonic language, and expansive
formal design reflect Rubinstein’s
admiration for composers such as
Mendelssohn, Schumann, and
Brahms. At the same time,
moments of intense lyricism and
emotional weight highlight his
belief in music as a direct vehicle for
personal expression.
Alexander Adolfovich Winkler
(1865–1935), a student of Sergei
Taneyev and a representative of a
later Russian school, brings a more
refined and introspective character
to his Sonata for Viola and Piano.
Winkler’s writing is marked by
structural clarity, contrapuntal
skill, and subtle harmonic color. His
sonata emphasizes the viola’s
expressive nuance, often favoring
intimate dialogue between the
instruments rather than virtuosic
display. The work blends Romantic
warmth with Classical balance, revealing
Winkler’s interest in formal
discipline and textural transparency.

Luca Sanzò is a pupil of Bruno
Giuranna. His concert career has
taken him to the world’s major
concert halls, both as a soloist
and in collaboration with leading
musicians.
He has collaborated as principal
viola soloist with various orchestras,
including those of the Teatro
dell’Opera di Roma, the Teatro
Lirico di Cagliari and Early Music
orchestra Concerto Italiano. He
teaches viola at the Conservatorio di
S. Cecilia in Rome. He has recorded
for Nuova Era, Bottega Discantica,
BMG Ricordi, Opus 111, Tactus, Edi
Pan, Stradivarius, Naïve, Chandos
and Naxos.
Italian pianist Maurizio Paciariello,
schooled by Aldo Ciccolini and Paul
Badura-Skoda and Prize winner of
the ARD Competition, is a champion
of rare repertoire and specialist on
period instruments.