Maksim Jemeljanytsjev

Mrvica was born in Šibenik, Croatia. He took piano lessons at the age of nine. Three years later he gave his first concert performance of Haydn's Piano Concerto in C major. When war broke out in 1991, both Mrvica and his professor were determined that this would not disrupt his music studies…

The sonatas on the first two discs were emblematic of Beethoven’s early and middle periods, showcasing the composer’s command of the Classical idiom. The last two sonatas push the boundaries of the genre even further, resulting in artistic efforts of increased emotional intensity, cyclical scope, and lyrical intimacy. They are also considered among the most dramatic and challenging works in the duo repertoire.

‘Music expresses that which cannot be put into words and yet cannot remain silent’, wrote Victor Hugo in 1864. Half a century later, his words had never felt more pertinent. Every composer writing during World War I found a unique way, through their music, to describe and protest against the horrors that were tearing civilization apart.

The compositions from this album are different from those on Maksim's previous albums because they have been recorded with the Symphony Orchestra in Budapest, and fans of pop music will also be delighted with world-class hits such as Coldplay's "Clocks", "All of Me" by John Legend and hit hit instrumental theme of "Game of Thrones".