Whilst the composers come from the same cultural fabric, the sonatas stand apart from each other in striking ways, each contributing to a redefinition and revolution of the sonata genre. Fauré’s Violin Sonata No. 1 in A major is a lesson in lyricism, boasting unending melodic lines that soar above the piano’s rich harmonic texture. The G minor sonata by Debussy, composed forty years later, is a concise and evocative illustration of impressionism at its finest, featuring both the ecstatic and intimate ends of the spectrum. Ravel’s Sonata No. 2 in G major takes the listener on a journey from a sparse landscape, to a smoky Blues bar, finishing with a brilliantly breathless Perpetuum mobile. Together with pianist Jean-Sélim Abdelmoula, Nebel explores these renowned works and highlights the ways in which they are unique.

The Royal Academy of Music Bicentenary Series also includes debut recordings by Anna Geniushene (piano), Claudia Lucia Lamanna (harp) and Yoanna Prodanova (cello).