Duo Natalia – Magical Russia (2020) [Official Digital Download 24bit/48kHz]

The violinist Natalia van der Mersch, née Steurer, comes from Essen/Germany. Her extraordinary musical talent was recognized and encouraged early on by important violin teachers. The Russian violin pedagogue Zakhar Bron, who is sought after worldwide, accepted her into his master class in Lübeck. She was then invited by the famous Russian violin virtuoso Igor Oistrakh to his newly founded master class at the Royal Conservatory in Brussels, where she completed her soloist training with the concert exam with great distinction.

The pianist Natalia Kovalzon was born in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan. After first lessons in Omsk with Natalia Korolkova and at the State Academy of Music with Alla Ouritzkaya, she continued her studies at the National Conservatory of Kyrgyzstan with Elena Gavrilova. There she received her diplomas as pianist, chamber musician, piano teacher and piano accompanist. Master classes with Daniel Blumenthal and Tatevick Mokatshian completed her pianistic education.

As a passionate chamber musician, the mother of two children regularly gives concerts with musicians in Luxembourg, Belgium and France; in this context she participated in the Rencontres musicales internationales d’Enghien in 2019, among others.

Tracklist:
1. Duo Natalia – Albumblatt (03:08)
2. Duo Natalia – Suite italienne (Version for Violin & Piano): Va. Minuetto e finale. Moderato (01:17)
3. Duo Natalia – Introduction & Theme with Variations (Arr. for Violin & Piano) (09:37)
4. Duo Natalia – Suite italienne (Version for Violin & Piano): I. Introduction. Allegro moderato (02:34)
5. Duo Natalia – Suite italienne (Version for Violin & Piano): Vb. Minuetto e finale. Finale (04:57)
6. Duo Natalia – 2 Salon Pieces, Op. 6: No. 1, Romance (05:48)
7. Duo Natalia – 9 Salon Pieces, Vol. 1, Op. 11: No. 1, Allegro apassionato (05:11)
8. Duo Natalia – Suite italienne (Version for Violin & Piano): II. Serenata. Larghetto (03:13)
9. Duo Natalia – Souvenir de Peterhof, Op. 29 (05:00)
10. Duo Natalia – 2 Salon Pieces, Op. 6: No. 2, Hungarian Dance (05:19)
11. Duo Natalia – 9 Salon Pieces, Vol. 1, Op. 11: No. 2, Andante (08:39)
12. Duo Natalia – Suite italienne (Version for Violin & Piano): III. Tarantella. Vivace (02:33)
13. Duo Natalia – Concert Phantasy on “Le coq d’or” (After Rimsky-Korsakov) (08:36)
14. Duo Natalia – 9 Salon Pieces, Vol. 1, Op. 11: No. 3, Allegro (05:39)
15. Duo Natalia – Suite italienne (Version for Violin & Piano): IV. Gavotta con due variazioni (03:19)
16. Duo Natalia – 6 Pieces, Op. 51, TH 143: No. 6, Valse sentimentale (Arr. for Violin & Piano) (01:57)