Sonatas For Viola & Piano CD

The Katz-Shteinberg DuoPraised as "world-class musicians" by the leading German newspaper Frankfurter Rundschau, and heralded by the Ottawa Citizen for their "uncommonly rich and introspective" playing, violist Shmuel Katz and pianist Dmitri Shteinberg have continued to garner critical acclaim since they founded The Katz Shteinberg Duo in 1999 in New York City. The two Israeli musicians have been coached by Michael Tree, Richard Goode, Isidore Cohen and Ken Cooper. In March 2001, the duo was invited by the Canada-Israel Cultural Foundation to perform at the National Library of Ottawa. After this highly praised performance, the musicians became the first recipients of the newly established Pinchas Zukerman Music Education Fund. They returned to Ottawa to study with Maestro Zukerman in the National Arts Centre Young Artists Program in July 2001. In September of that same year, the duo opened the concert season at the Israeli Embassy in Washington D.C. In 2002, they went on a recital tour of Israel! and Germany that included a performance at the Jerusalem Music Centre which was broadcast live on the "Voice of Music", Israel’s classical music station. Recently, they made their Carnegie Hall recital debut and were the featured performers on WQXR’s Young Artists Showcase.Shmuel Katz- ViolaA native of Israel, Shmuel Katz maintains a performing career on both the viola and violin as a chamber musician, soloist and orchestral player. Mr. Katz received his Bachelor and Master Degrees from the Manhattan School of Music, where he studied with Pinchas Zukerman and Michael Tree. Among his numerous competition awards are the second prize in the HAMS Viola Competition in Chicago and first prize in the CIMS Chamber Music Competition in Palermo, Italy. Mr. Katz is a frequent guest violist and violinist with the New York Philharmonic, Orpheus Chamber Orchestra and Orchestra of St. Luke’s.Dmitri Shteinberg- PianoMr. Shteinberg has appeared as soloist with the Jerusalem Symphony, the Italian Philarmonica Marchetiana, Israel Chamber Orchestra, Israel Camerata Orchestra and Porto National Symphony. He is an annual recipient of the America-Israel Cultural Foundation Scholarship and a major prizewinner in numerous competitions worldwide including first prize in "Citta de Senigallia" in Italy and Porto International Competition.Mr. Shteinberg studied at the Gnessin Special School of Music in his native Moscow under Anna Kantor. He recently received his Doctoral degree from the Manhattan School of Music where he studied with Nina Svetlanova "Two very fine New York based musicians. Shmuel Katz is a refreshingly facile violist. I compared his performance of Hindemith's Viola Sonata 3 with the composer's own. Katz's intonation is far more secure, his tone production much smoother and his vibrato much more consistent. Katz and Shteinberg are able to play with a far greater dynamic range. Dmitri Shteinberg is able to accompany a viola without drowning it out or losing his own personality, which is better than Jesus Maria Sanroma was able to do in his recording with the composer. It has the requisite breadth and power, it has fine contrasts of legato with the more staccato outbursts, the slow Phantasie is darkly moody. The theme and variations finale is sensitively played so that the low dynamics don't cause the listener to lose interest...." American Record Guide March/April 2006