The violin and piano repertoire has been one of my main focuses for a long time. Through a shared passion, devotion and commitment to collaborative music-making, I formed the TnT Duo with pianist Tao Lin in Miami in 2010. Since then, the Duo has received the highest praise from some of the best known publications such as Fanfare, American Record Guide, Downbeat, and MusicWeb International. Our debut album, a first volume of the complete works of Franz Schubert for violin and piano, was released in 2012 on Centaur Records and received numerous rave reviews in the international press, including one in Fanfare Magazine that compared their CD favorably with the classic recording by Rachmaninoff and Kreisler. This recording was also nominated as “Recording of the Year” 2013 by MusicWeb International and was broadcast all over the country by American Public Media. In 2013, NAXOS released the Duo’s album "Tango Nuevo" with music by Astor Piazzolla for violin and piano described by different critics as "among the very best" Piazzolla albums, “by some distance, Naxos's best Piazzolla recordings,” as well as “exceptional... Piazzolla can be played differently than this, but probably not better” (Downbeat Magazine). On June 2015, the we released the second installment of their Schubert recording project to critical acclaim. On the strength of the success of these recordings, we went on to record all 16 Sonatas for violin and piano by Mozart.
“Hace muy poco descubrí esta maravilla...dos extraordinarios instrumentalistas que uniendo su talento logran...algo genial.”
“intelligent and sensitive...glories in...colorations and shared emphasis”
“It is the result of many years of experience, full attention, research and decision-making....it is a recording of incontestable beauty...an adventure that displays a journey of absolute love for the music of J.S. Bach”
“Supersonic Award winner. Tomas Cotik’s Piazzolla is carnal, passionate and nowhere easy-going. Together with his group he has produced a riveting CD.”
“true treasure...one of the latest gems to emerge from the season”
“Un disco revelador de la maestría de los jóvenes intérpretes que lo firman: Tomas Cotik y Tao Lin.”
“Un disco ideal”
“excellent style, which is not frequently found”
“This album...immediately stands out as a recording of excellent quality. Equipped with a refined technique, Cotik interprets these masterpieces of Bach's genius with a deep sense of style thanks to an attention to phrasing ”
“bemerkenswert, kunstvolle und expressive Interpretationen...auf hohem Niveau und den jeweiligen Stilen perfekt angepasst”
“I marvel at the technical skill which effortlessly encompasses these deeply contrasting styles....a technical as well as expressive master stroke”
““Legacy” es, sin dudas, un álbum para emocionarse y escuchar continuamente. Excelencia pura. Imprescindible!”
“their lofty musicianship dwarfs their profound scholarship”
“there is no question but that this is the most exciting rendition of these works I’ve ever hear... this is now my benchmark performance of these works”
“His amazing technical skill and artistic know-how...create an indelible interpretation of Bach’s music...Cotik’s combines impeccable technique and an intuitive artistry to fashion a mesmerizing interpretation of these pieces.”
“Cotik and the orchestra provided impressive advocacy for a multifaceted work that deserves to be heard more often. Cotik seamlessly handled the frequent changes in mood and adroitly traversed the work’s myriad technical challenges while always keeping the focus on the music.”
“Cotik phrases this music with such feeling, making you wonder if it could possibly sound better in any other performance.”
“a musician who prepares thoroughly and has great respect for the music he performs”
“Cotik vanta un violinismo costantemente brillante e un colore di suono caldo e avvolgente”
“should leave listeners almost breathless…a vibrancy and attention to detail...strong individuality and… vitality”
“un disco la cui qualità riesce a proporre la freschezza affascinante della cultura musicale germanica come nuova, come se non si fossero mai ascoltate prima”
“The joyful virtuosity and stylish musicianship that Tomas Cotik and Tao Lin brought to their superb cycle of Schubert’s violin-and-piano works for the Centaur label happily permeate their cycle of Mozart’s sonatas”
“an extraordinary performance that can stand up against any other”
“a treat from start to finish”
“an excellent violinist”
“one comes away from the recording dazzled by Cotik's musicianship and technique; one is also struck by the agility of his execution, his expert command of tempo and intonation, and his ability to consistently maintain the highest level of performance ”
“If you love the solo violin, you won't find a better recording to suit your tastes”
“wonderful album…impressive for the elegance and sensitivity of the interpretations”
“clarity and tonal opulence rare in recordings of violin music”
“un violinista excelente... que recoge una forma rigurosa, natural y fuera de lo común de entender e interpretar la música”
“This is an excellent recital. I enjoy the Piazzolla Tango Etudes more as played by Cotik than by anyone else. ”
“this is clearly a team to watch. I am sure we will be hearing good things from them in the future”
“this superbly produced Schubert disc…comes warmly commended”
“The Piazzolla album is not just Cotik as brilliant interpreter, but also as creative mind.”
“His pure sound, perfect intonation and fast tempos mean that Bach’s fiendishly difficult challenges become more exposed, yet he never misses a beat. The recording….captures the golden glow of his violin… in sound that is honest and clean”
“this is one of the great Piazzolla discs, and in perfect sound quality, I urge you to buy it.”
“a first-rate set of these of Mozart sonatas”
“an exemplary presentation of some marvelous music”
“I was immediately impressed by their virtuosity and also their understanding of Piazzolla’s music. I was anxious to see them perform in person”
“If anyone's up to the task, it's Cotik”
“recreating the visceral charge of Piazzolla’s legendary quintet concerts and recordings”
“unusual depth and broad compass...absolutely brilliant... unmistakable vitality...optimally recorded”
“exceptional...Piazzolla can be played differently than this, but provably not better.”
“The BBC Music team’s current favourites”
“among the very best Piazzolla albums”
“un trabajo de mucha calidad, por la originalidad de los arreglos y especialmente porque se trata de un excelente instrumentista”
“conviction, commitment, diplomacy, and character”
“uplifting quality”
“Cotik and Tao Lin have…honored not only their professions as musicians, but the memory and work of Franz Schubert”
“His interpretation of Bach’s sonatas and partitas his newest album in should add a notch to his reputation as a stellar violinist”
“I highly commend Mr. Cotik for his innovative interpretations and I hope many future audiences will experience his musical excellence”
“NOMINATED FOR THE INTERNATIONAL CLASSICAL MUSIC AWARDS 2018”
“absolutely impeccable, with intonation in the centre of every note, and his left hand flying around the fingerboard with remarkable agility”
“I find the Cotik and Lin performances most interesting and the sound on their disc is excellent”
“None of these pieces has ever sounded quite like this before.”
“My first chamber choice for the year. ”
“Cotik Kicks Butt in Piazzolla! A wild and wonderful CD.”
“A neglected stash of unrecorded Schubert”
“One imagines the Nuevo tango master would be as captivated as any listener by such exquisite performances.”
“there is no question that this disc is, by some distance, Naxos's best Piazzolla recording ”
“urgently recommended”
“Everyone who plays these works should hear these exemplary performances...you will never hear these Telemann Fantasias played so well ”
“violinist Tomas Cotik is always up for a new challenge”
“Overall, these two discs featuring Cotik must be regarded as among the finest performances for their consistent artistry and idiomatic grasp”
“Editor's Picks”
“Anche nell’interpretazione delle sonate di Mozart si evidenziano l’ottima cavata e la perfetta tecnica di Cotik negli staccati particolarmente brillanti.”
“Cotik makes Kreisler seem almost smarmy, Isabelle Faust almost mannered, and Julia Fischer as though she's filed down the detail”
“Las versiones son óptimas por la compenetración estilística del dúo y la prestancia instrumental del admirable violinista”
“ There are so many delightful details to savour that one hardly knows where to begin...a most rewarding Mozart cycle”
“I’ve had a listen to a few alternatives…including Isaac Stern with Daniel Baremboim and Lydia Mordkovitch, but this duo pretty much ticks all the boxes”
“We encounter here an extraordinary violinist, with an overwhelming technique and a musicality; the results are excellent, with little or nothing to envy the greatest interpretations that could have ever been recorded.”
“una nueva forma de mirar, entender y percibir la música de diferentes épocas”
“Evocative concert of Jewish classical music”
“laudable level of technical accuracy…tenderness and warmth”
“short this is a great recording if you value warmth and sweetness in Mendelssohn. Here, though, nothing is forced, and, as I say, the world seems a better place.”
“perfectly conceived”
“The technical qualities of the recording - which is on the NAXOS label, by the way - are excellent.”
“excellent violin playing...extremely enjoyable interpretations of music that I love”
“Argentinean violinist Tomás Cotik... is not just another violinist. He is a passionate musician who always seems to get under the skin of the music he performs”
“outstanding from the very beginning”
“brilliant Argentinean violinist”
“Cotik transcends even the profoundly meditative”
“Some of the music is sultry while other works are fast, rhythmic, and ornamented to show the exquisite virtuosity of Cotik”
“Cotik scales Bach’s solo mountain with skill. His intricate yet soulful take is assured without ever being showy.”
“phenomenal technique”
“the secret here...always let curiosity be a constant inspiration. If Tomas Cotik ever revisits these works on record it will be fascinating to hear the results, but it's hard to see how they could be better that this”
“Tomás Cotik’s deeply analytical playing adds to an exhilarating display of the musical wonders the composer saw in the violin”
We are presenting the complete cycle of Sonatas for violin and piano by Mozart in three concerts:
Kurfürstin Sonatas
Sonata in G major, op. I, KV 301 (293a)
Sonata in E flat major, op. I, KV 302 (293b)
Sonata in C major, op. I, KV 303 (293c)
Sonata in e minor, op. I, KV 304 (300c)
Sonata in A major, op. I, KV 305 (293d)
Sonata in D major, op. I, KV 306 (300l)
Aurnhammer Sonatas
Sonata in C major, op. II, KV 296
Sonata in F major, op. II, KV 376 (374d)
Sonata in F major, op. II, KV 377 (374e)
Sonata in B flat major, op. II, KV 378 (317d)
Sonata in G major, op. II, KV 379 (373a)
Sonata in E flat major, op. II, KV 380 (374f)
Later Viennese Sonatas
Sonata in B flat major, KV 454
Sonata in E flat major, KV 481
Sonata in A major, KV 526
Sonata in F major, KV 547
J. S. Bach: Sonata in E minor, BWV 1023
F. Schubert: Rondo Brilliant in B minor, D. 895
C. Saint-Saens: Intr. & Rondo Capr., Op. 28
F. Poulenc: Sonata for Vln. and Pno., Op. 119
A. Piazzolla: Histoire du Tango
L.V. Beethoven: Sonata N.9, Op. 47, "Kreutzer"
F. Schubert: Rondo Brilliant in B minor, D. 895
A. Piazzolla: Histoire du Tango
La muerte del ángel (arr. Cotik)
Histoire du Tango (arr. Varelas)
I. Bordel 1900
II. Café 1930
III. Night-club 1960
IV. Concert d'aujourd'hui
Melodía en La menor (arr. Cotik)
Tango en La menor (Tanguano)
Milonga sin palabras
Fuga y misterio (arr. Cotik)
Ave María (Tanti anni prima)
Yo soy María (arr. Cotik)
Oblivion (arr. Cotik)
Aire de la zamba niña (arr. Cotik)
Le Grand Tango (arr. Gubaidulina)
The Four Seasons of Buenos Aires
I. Verano Porteño
II. Otoño Porteño
III. Primavera Porteña
VI. Invierno Porteño
Escualo
Revirado
Fracanapa
Milonga del Angel
Adios Nonino
Libertango (arr. Cotik)
We are presenting the complete cycle of music for violin and piano by Schubert in two concerts:
Sonata in D major, D.384 (Op. posth. 137/1)
Sonata in A minor, D.385 (Op. posth. 137/2)
Sonata in G minor, D. 408 (Op. posth. 137/3)
Duo Sonata in A, D 574
Rondo Brilliant in B minor, D. 895
Fantasy in C, D 934
FURTHER REPERTOIRE INCLUDES A WIDE VARIETY OF SONATAS AND OTHER WORKS BY BACH, BEETHOVEN, SCHUMANN, MENDELSSOHN, BRAHMS, DVORÁK, BRUCH, SAINT-SAËNS, DEBUSSY, RAVEL, POULENC, MESSIAEN, AND PROKOFIEV AS WELL AS WORKS BY LIVING COMPOSERS.
CONCERTS CAN INCLUDE AN INTRODUCTION THAT PROVIDES THE AUDIENCE WITH A VIVID CONTEXT FOR THE MUSICAL PIECES OF THE PROGRAM.
Tartini: Variations on a Theme by Corelli
Dvořák: Romance, Op.11
Dvorak: Humoreske, arr. Gustav Saenger
Smetana: From The Native Country
Brahms: Hungarian Dances N.1 and N.3
Saens: Intr. & Rondo Capriccioso
Chopin Nocturne Op.27 N. 1
Chopin: Nocturne Op. 55 N 2, arr. Heifetz
Chopin: Nocturne, Op. 72, arr. Auer
Chopin: Nocturne C sharp minor, arr. Milstein
Williams: Schindlers’s List
Williams: Fiddler on The Roof
Kreisler: Liebesleid & Schoen Roesmarin
Vecsey: Valse Triste
Dinicu: Hora Staccato.
Ravel:Tzigane
De Falla: Danse Espagnole
Sarasate: Romanza andaluza Op.22, No.1
Sarasate: Zapateado, Op. 23, No. 2
Chatschaturjan: Sabre Dance
Gershwin: Three Preludes, arr. J. Heifetz
Gershwin: It ain't Necessarily, arr. Heifetz
Schubert: Impromptu Op. 90 N. 3, arr. Heifetz
Paganini: Cantabile
Bartok: Romanian Folk Dances
Gardel: Por una Cabeza, arr. Williams