InnerChamber

As with most of Leoš Janáček’s work, his Sonata is constructed with layer upon layer of meaning: sonically, philosophically and politically. This is a fiercely original and intensely engaging piece. Another prickly individualist, Claude Debussy stubbornly resisted labels. A musical visionary all his life, inventing sonic worlds and embracing deep layers of symbolism, his final pieces which take the form of Sonatas are relatively pure in musical form, taking for their inspiration the baroque works of Rameau and Couperin. Beethoven’s Sonata No. 8 for Violin and Piano shows the master taking a break from the heft and grandeur of the sonatas that came before and after. Here we enjoy a deft lightness of touch from both instruments, showing a carefree spirit full of humour. In Alice Ping Yee Ho’s Four Seasons Ballade, the seasonal musical episodes are based on poems by Li Bai of the Tang Dynasty, evoking feelings of longing and hope for the safe return of a loved one.