Violinist Yulia Berinskaya's New Album, “Johannes Brahms: Complete Violin Sonatas”

Released on Da Vinci Classics, Yulia Berinskaya performs with pianist Alessandra Ammara on the album

An internationally acclaimed violinist and educator, Yulia Berinskaya studied violin from an early age and was encouraged by her father — renowned 20th-century composer in Moscow, Sergey Berinsky.

Her new album, featuring all three sonatas for violin and piano by Johannes Brahms, was recorded with pianist Alessandra Ammara through a Da Vinci Classics production.

To celebrate the album’s release, the duo recently performed at the 2023 Cremona Mondomusica International Exhibitions, in Cremona, Italy.

Written in 1879, Brahms’s G major Violin Sonata, Op. 78, is the first of the collection. His Violin Sonata No. 2 in A major, Op. 100 was written in 1886, while his Violin Sonata No.3 in D minor, Op. 108 was completed in 1888 — the only one of the three comprising four movements instead of three.

“Their collaborative synergy is nothing short of captivating,” writes Da Vinci Classics in a press release. “Berinskaya’s approach to the violin is both delicate and powerful, showcasing a deep understanding of Brahms’ intent. Ammara, with her impeccable piano prowess, complements and elevates the musical narrative, making the intricate dialogues between the instruments seem effortless. 

“Their combined mastery ensures that this recording isn’t just about the notes and melodies; it's about capturing the essence and emotion behind them. [They offer] a fresh and insightful perspective you're invited not just to hear but to experience the depths and nuances Brahms embedded in these masterpieces.”

To purchase and listen to the album, click here.

A graduate of the Moscow Tchaikovsky Conservatory and Hochschule für Musik in Vienna, Berinskaya’s mentors included Tchugaeva, Tretiakov, Schwarzberg, the Borodin Quartet, and Moskov Trio. She has since performed and taught all over the world.

Berinskaya has also collaborated with orchestras including the Verdi Orchestra, Milan Conservatory Orchestra, Moskow Amadeus Orchestra, Sverdlovsk Philharmonic Orchestra, and I Musici di Parma ensemble, among others. 

An award-winning pianist, Ammara has performed with the Wiener Symphoniker, Berliner Symphoniker, Orchestra Sinfonica della Rai, Calgary Philharmonic, Cape Town Philharmonic, and with conductors such as Fabio Luisi, Georg Pehlivanian, Roberto Minczuk, Bernard Labadie, En Shao, and Lior Shambadal. 

Ammara attended the International Piano Foundation at Lake Como and the Scuola di Musica di Fiesole, and was mentored by Maria Tipo, Paul Badura-Skoda, Dmitri Bashkirov, Franco Scala, Boris Petrushansky, Leon Fleischer, William Naboré, and Fou Ts’ong. Currently, she is a piano professor at Conservatorio “Cherubini” in Florence, and gives masterclasses for institutions across the U.S. and Europe.