Sonata
for violin and piano (1933)

Allegretto quasi andante, Scherzo: Vivace, Largo con espressione - Allegro poco sostenuto, ma con fuoco
Duration: 26'
unpublished; available privately

First performance: David Frühwirth/Henri Sigfridsson, Wigmore Hall, London, 5.11.2001

Programme notes:

1933 was a turning point in Hans Gál's life. The advent of the Nazis in Mainz in March of that year put an end to Gál's high-profile position, and indeed devastated his career. Being Jewish, he was instantly dismissed from his post, and both performance and publication of his works were prohibited.
In February, just one month earlier, his Violin Concerto had been given its highly successful premiere in Dresden by Kulenkampf, conducted by Fritz Busch. A planned double-premiere of his fourth opera 'Die Beiden Klaas', which would have taken place in Hamburg and Dresden (also conducted by Fritz Busch), was cancelled.
The Gál's returned to Vienna, and the violin sonata was one of the first works to be composed there. It was his second violin sonata, the first having been published in 1925. The work was completed on July 17th 1933.

First performance: Nov. 5th 2001, Wigmore Hall, London (David Frühwirth/Henri Sigfridsson)

Other performances (selection):

David Frühwirth/Henri Sigfridsson, New York, May 2002
David Frühwirth/Henri Sigfridsson, Vienna, Apr. 2004
David Frühwirth/Henri Sigfridsson, Salzburg, Aug. 2004