A young violinist paired with one of the most famous Lisztians of our time form an enlightening and harmonious partnership for the duo in an exquisite corpus of modern classics.

Very few pieces of the 20th century have entered the canon of literature for violin and piano as universally as the Myths by Karol Szymanowski. Alongside the sonatas by Janácek and Prokofiev, for example, the cycle embodies the style of its composer in its most characteristic form.

In Szymanowski's case, the myths draw on a sensual language of impressionism, but also on a Russian school of violin playing and a fragrance in the melodies that is peculiar to him.

Italian critics have praised Francesca Bonaita effusively. Her repertoire already includes modern classics such as the concertos by Barber, Zimmermann and Schnittke, which points to the kind of affinity with modernist idioms that makes this Szymanowski CD so impressive as a demonstration of her musicality.

After graduating from the Milan Conservatory as a student of Sergei Krylov, she continued her studies in Lugano, while at the same time attracting attention with her performances at many international violin competitions.

The pianist Saskia Giorgini is known as a Lisztian who has several outstanding albums to her name, and as a sympathetic recital partner to outstanding musicians of our time such as Ian Bostridge and Vilde Frang.

The duo have written a note for this new album of Szymanowski that both explains the background to each of the major works - the Myths, the early sonata and the composer's late transcriptions of three Paganini caprices - and underlines their intellectual understanding of this music as it falls under their fingers.

As they note, Szymanowski was initially inspired by the examples of Franck and Brahms when he wrote his own opulent violin sonata in 1909. He gradually found his voice, helped in particular by his friendship with the violinist Pavel Kochanski. It was Kochanski who gave Szymanowski both technical advice and inspiration when he composed the two violin concertos and the Myth Trio, which represent his crowning work in the field of chamber music: "a mystical synthesis of the sensual and the divine", as they summarize the elusive succession of moods.

Karol Szymanowski (1882-1937) was one of Poland's most important and original composers. Szymanowski's style is eclectic and stands in the long Romantic tradition. He imbued his works with exoticism, impressionistic flourishes and a general sense of freedom and fantasy.

The works for violin and piano were composed for the famous Polish violinist Paul Kochanski. The most important works are the extensive second violin sonata and the cycle Myths, both of which appear regularly on concert programs today.

Performed by rising star Francesca Bonaita with pianist Saskia Giorgini, whose Piano Classics and Pentatone recordings have won many awards (Critic's Choice) and 5-star ratings.