Kreeta-Maria Kentala; Joonas Ahonen - Ludwig van Beethoven: Sonatas for Piano & Violin Nos. 8, 4 & 9

Kreeta-Maria Kentala, who has recorded several great albums for Alba, is this time accompanied by pianist Joonas Ahonen. There have been a lot of recordings of these Beethoven sonatas, but in this recording something has been achieved that is not present in previous recordings. Joonas and Kreeta-Maria's playing is refreshingly fresh and in good spirits.

The recording was made in the Schauman hall in Pietarsaari. Joonas Ahonen's instrument is a Conrad Graf from around 1827, a fortepiano and a baroque violin made by Kreeta-Maria Kentala at the beginning of the 20th century

In the booklet, the texts contain a fascinating text written by Minna Lindgren about Beethoven and the birth of the sonatas on the disc.

The novelty of Ahonen and Kentala clearly goes to the top of this art music recording spring and will probably still be there when you look at this year's entire domestic record crop. - Pia Antikainen, Yle New records