Karni Classics is proud to present a forthcoming CD 'Tribute' release featuring three masterworks of chamber music for strings and piano, each illuminating the poetic possibilities of intimate ensemble playing across eras and styles. Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart’s celebrated “Kegelstatt” Trio in E-flat major, K. 498, born from the composer’s circle of close Viennese friends, embodies the spirit of convivial music-making with its unusual instrumentation, warm conversational tone, and gentle sequence of movements. Its imaginative interplay among clarinet, viola, and piano—sparked by Mozart’s own affinity for the instrument—has inspired generations of composers. The program journeys forward to Joseph Jongen’s exquisite Trio for Violin, Viola, and Piano, Op. 30 (1907), a work long admired for its melodic ingenuity, radiant color, and structural sophistication. Spun almost entirely from a single folk-like theme, its expansive Prélude, central variations, and luminous finale reveal a remarkable command of texture and fantasy—making it one of the most distinguished contributions to the repertoire. Completing the recording is Johannes Brahms’s deeply personal Trio in E-flat major, Op. 40, a singular fusion of lyricism and elemental power that draws upon the noble timbres of the natural horn. Its poignant Adagio mesto stands among the composer’s most heartfelt pages, balanced by an exuberant, hunt-inflected finale. Together, these three works explore friendship, memory, innovation, and the expressive breadth of chamber music—offering listeners an intimate encounter with invention, color, and human presence at the highest artistic level.

The Karni - Kogima Duo announces its upcoming Brahms recording on Karni Classics, a release that highlights the expressive intimacy and emotional breadth that lie at the heart of great chamber music. The new album showcases two artists whose curiosity, commitment, and shared musical voice illuminate Brahms’s world with exceptional warmth and depth. The duo brings together two distinguished musicians whose international careers, artistic refinement, and stylistic versatility make them a compelling partnership on the concert stage and in the recording studio. Violist Gilad Karni has been praised worldwide for the beauty of his tone and the integrity of his interpretations. A laureate of major international competitions—including First Prize at the Lionel Tertis International Viola Competition—he has enjoyed a multifaceted career as soloist, chamber musician, teacher, and orchestral leader. Karni has appeared at renowned festivals such as Aspen, Santa Fe, Kuhmo, Davos, and Dubrovnik, and has collaborated with artists including Isaac Stern, Joshua Bell, and Yo-Yo Ma. His concerto appearances span Europe, Asia, and the Americas, and he has given several important premieres, including arrangements from Prokofiev’s Romeo & Juliet and Gideon Lewensohn’s ViolAlive. His recordings for Naxos and Sony have received international acclaim, including a GRAMMY nomination. Formerly Principal Viola of the Deutsche Oper Berlin and the Bamberg Symphony, Karni has served since 2004 as Principal Violist of the Tonhalle Orchestra Zürich. An esteemed pedagogue, he has taught at leading institutions in Switzerland, Korea, China, and the United States, and has mentored young violists at premier summer academies. After more than 25 years performing on the ex-Emmanuel Vardi viola by Hiroshi Iizuka, he now plays a 2025 instrument crafted for him by Gianmaria Stelzer. Brazilian pianist, composer, and conductor Richard Octaviano Kogima has been described as a musician of “multifaceted nuance and transparent sound,” whose interpretations combine lyrical depth with compelling rhythmic vitality. A prize-winner at competitions in Paris, Zürich, the United States, and Brazil—including the Nelson Freire Award at the 2022 Géza Anda Piano Competition—he has performed at venues such as Salle Cortot (Paris), Tonhalle Maag (Zürich), the University Aula (Oslo), and the Howard Performing Arts Center (USA). His festival engagements include Bergen, Usedom, Campos do Jordão, Chautauqua, and the Emil Gilels Festival. Kogima has received profound artistic influence from Maria João Pires, Leif Ove Andsnes, Christian Zacharias, and Herbert Blomstedt, whom he considers a formative mentor. An active educator, he teaches piano and chamber music at the Zürich University of Arts Pre-College Division and the Zürich Conservatory, and gives regular masterclasses in Europe and South America. He holds master’s degrees in performance and pedagogy from the Zurich University of Arts, as well as the Diplôme Supérieur d’Exécution from the École Normale de Musique de Paris. Together, Karni and Kogima embody a duo of radiant musical compatibility, bringing decades of experience, craftsmanship, and poetic imagination to the repertoire for viola and piano. Their forthcoming Brahms release offers a vivid portrait of two artists united in the pursuit of expressive truth and musical eloquence.