The Vienna-born Hans Gál (1890–1987) settled in Edinburgh after fleeing from the Nazis in 1938 and became a much-loved figure in his adoptive town. But he never lost his Viennese fondness for melody, as these three works demonstrate – the Sonata with piano composed in 1953 and the two works for solo cello in 1982, when he was 92, almost the last music he wrote.
"... Nakipbekova and Fichert are a most accomplished duo and their playing is recorded in clear and present sound."
Maria Nockin - Fanfare - November/December 2012
"...These valuable performances include world premieres in the case of the Op.109 solo sonatas. The Cello Sonata has been recorded before. The nimble and authoritative performers in Toccata’s disc are Alfia Nakipbekova, the second half of whose surname will alert one to the fact that she was cellist in The Bekova Trio. She plays with warm tone, controlled vibrato and eloquent musicianship. Jakob Fichert is the admirable pianist, responding to the Sonata’s twists and turns with a keen ear for balance and texture. The recording (two locations) and documentation, as so often with this label, are admirable." Jonathan Woolf - MusicWeb-International.com - 10 October 2012
"...In this totally convincing perforance Hans Gál’s Cello sonata lives again."
Colin Anderson - International Record Review - 11 June 2012
"Intricate contrapuntal dialogue in the Cello Sonata pays obvious homage to Brahms and Reger. Dedicated playing from Alfi Nakipbekova and Jakob Fichert." ****
Erik Levi - BBC Music Magazine - June 2012
