The Bulgarian public already knows the violinist Sergiu Schwartz and a number of young violinists have received priceless advice during his master classes. Mr. Schwartz was born in Romania but now lives in Florida, USA. He is a pupil of the Bucharest School of Music, of Rubin Academy in Tel Aviv, of Guildhall School of Music in London and Juilliard School in New York, and is one of the most successful violinists, invited to perform with the most famous orchestras and at prestigious festivals. In this recording he plays on the ex Wilhelmi Lorenzo Storioni violin, made in Cremona in 1780. The idea to bring together some of the most loved both by the public and the performers compositions for violin from the 19th century is accomplished masterly by Sergiu Schwartz and Ruzhka Charakchieva who form a magnificent ensemble. Especially strong is their interpretation of the big sonatas by Brahms - No. 3 in D minor, and by Cesar Franck - in A major, which are basic for every well-known violinist. Dominating in them are the style and the mastered emotion, typical for these composers. At the same time there is a feeling of stability and getting deep to the heart of the message of these works. Sergiu Schwartz has a very beautiful, warm, expressive tone, whose vibrations are in harmony with the emotional content of the performed music. In each virtuoso piece, Schwartz and Charaktchieva emphasize the diversity of ideas and the strength of their personalities as musicians, perfectly synchronized in this programme.
 
Recorded in Bulgaria Concert Hall, June 1999