To the young Schubert, Beethoven was the great role model, with his strong expression and his sweeping ethos-filled drama. In the programme’s first piece, however, we hear a Mozartian gentleness and refined intimacy. Even in the liveliness of the minuet there is a soft and fine elegance. In Beethoven’s sonata from 1801 the fist is shaken a bit more, ultra short, ultra condensed.Webern composes with an extreme condensation bringing the various elements of his music into close contact. Melody against sound, slow against fast, repetition against diversity and hard against soft in one cohesive movement.Richard Strauss bragged that he could compose so you could hear the difference between “a knife and a fork”.It is certainly true that he orchestrates his fantastic musical ideas in a masterly way and has the instruments create images with great contrasts between soft and hard.Nikolaj Znaider37 year old Danish-Israeli Nikolaj Znaider is considered one of the worlds finest violinists. His wide-ranging resume is a testimony to one of those rare stars that encompasse a solo career, conducting, chamber music and a commitment to the training of young music talents. The Times noted his “brilliant technique” and the New York Times enthusiastically observes that Znaider makes technically difficult music sound easy and musical.He is the recipient of the DR P2 artist’s award 2013.Programme:Franz Schubert (1797–1828): Sonata for violin and piano no. 2 in A minorLudwig van Beethoven (1770–1827): Sonata for violin and piano no. 7 in C minor, op. 30/2Anton Webern (1883–1945): 4 pieces for violin and piano, op. 7Richard Strauss (1864–1949): Sonata for violin and piano in E major, op. 18