Maria Milstein, Nathalia Milstein

The sonatas by Bartók and Janáček are indisputably some of the 20th century’s best violin music. 

Both compositions are absolutely stunning: often vigorous to the point of being aggressive, while at other moments there is a prevailing sense of softness and stillness. There is always excitement, though, from the first note to the last. 

And the same applies to the far less-well-known violin works by Erwin Schulhoff – a Czech genius still waiting for his big breakthrough. Festival 20·21 is doing its best to help: his music is on the programme in no fewer than three concerts, so you can get to know his brilliant and exceptionally multifaceted oeuvre.

Ten years ago the Dutch-Russian violinist Maria Milstein won critical acclaim for her recording of Janáček’s violin sonata, and ever since then she has been continually on our festival’s radar. Milstein is an exceptionally versatile player, but especially well suited to the intense interweaving of rawness, melancholy and folklore in 20th-century Slavic violin music. Her sister Nathalia makes a dream partner; the two have been a duo since 2005.