Nikolay Myaskovsky (1881‐1950) was educated (after a failed schooling for Military Engineer, prompted by his father) at the famous St Petersburg Conservatoire under the tutelage of Rimsky‐Korsakov, Lyadov and Glazunov. His musical style has absorbed the nationalistic Russian tradition of these masters, but Myaskovsky widened his horizon by his acquaintance with Richard Strauss and his compatriots Prokofiev and Stravinsky, the former becoming one of his closest friends.

The two Cello Sonatas, presented on this new recording, fully exploit the expressive potential of the instruments, creating a warm, passionate atmosphere in which the flowing melodic lines of the cello are supported by the rich harmonies of the piano.

Italian cellist Luca Magariello won First Prize in the prestigious Khatchaturian Cello Competition, which started his international career.