With Dominik Greger as an energetic and persuasive advocate, it is hard to believe that the double bass is not more firmly established as a solo instrument. Partnered by pianist Thomas Steinhöfel, Greger creates a sonorous and expressive tone that belies the apparently cumbersome image of this low and massive instrument. The obvious choice for a title: bassbox.
Dominik Greger, double bass
Thomas Steinhöfel, piano
FRANZ SCHUBERT
Sonate a-Moll für Arpeggione (Kontrabass) und Klavier, D 821
Allegro moderato
Adagio
Allegretto
ERNEST BLOCH
Méditation Hébraïque (1924)
GIOVANNI BOTTESINI
Introduzione e Variazioni »Il Carnevale di Venezia«
Arr.: Fredo Jung
Deutscher Text (16 Seiten) / Texts in english (16 pages)
Gesamtspielzeit / Total Recording Time: 42:14 | Format: 2 Audio-CDs
Booklettext: Matthias Frieling
Recording / Aufnahme: 2011 – Festsaal Fürstenhaus der Hochschule für Musik »Franz Liszt« | Producer: Andreas Meixner
(p) & (c) 2012 SPEKTRAL | Reihe SPEKTRAL CLASSICS
Order number: SRL4-11103 | GTIN (EAN): 4260130381035
Dominik Greger was born in Altenburg. While still a cellist, he was a member of Wolfgang Weber’s class for younger students at the Felix Mendelssohn Bartholdy Hochschule für Musik in Leipzig. Following this period of cello studies, Greger then took up the double bass with Horst-Dieter Wenkel at the Franz Liszt Hochschule für Musik in Weimar, where he obtained his »Konzertexamen« degree. While pursuing his musical studies, he also received instruction from Wolfgang Güttler, Klaus Stoll and Norbert Brainin. In addition, he was a recipient of Mannheim’s »PE-Förde«, a scholarship for music students. Greger has also been successful in many competitions. He was a prizewinner in the second Johann Matthias Sperger International Competition (2002), and was a semi-finalist in the 52nd International ARD Competition (2003). He was also a prize winner at the Carl Flesch Akademie in Baden-Baden and obtained second prize at the International Music Competition in Markneukirchen (2005).
Greger has appeared as soloist with various well-known orchestras including the Staatskapelle Weimer, the Philharmonic Orchestra of Altenburg-Gera, the Munich Chamber Orchestra, the Budweis Philharmonic, and the Baden-Baden Philharmonic. He has also worked as a chamber musician with the Gaede Trio and the Petersen Quartet. From 2005 to 2007, he was principle bass of the Dresden Staatskapelle Orchestra. From 2008 to 2011, he occupied the same possition with the Berlin Radio Symphony Orchestra. Since 2009, he has been Professor of Double Bass at the Franz Liszt Hochschule für Musik in Weimar. There have also been guest appearances with the MDR Symphony Orchestra, the Berlin Staatskapelle, the Bavarian State Opera Orchestra in Munich and the West German Radio Orchestra.
Thomas Steinhöfel was born in Königsee, Thüringen, and took his first piano lessons at the age of five. He soon was off to Weimar where he obtained his high school diploma (Abitur) at Weimar’s Special School for Music. From 1982 to 1988, Thomas Steinhöfel attended the Franz Liszt Hochschule für Musik in Weimar, where he studied piano with Volkmar Lehmann, lieder accompanying with Ludwig Bätzel, and chamber music with Martin Högner. Steinhöfel then won a scholarship to study at the Franz Liszt Academy in Budapest. While there, he worked with the renowned Attila Nemethy, Ferenc Rados and Emilia Varasdy. Steinhöfel has also played in masterclasses led by Victor Merzhanov, Bernard Ringeissen, Peter Feuchtwanger, Jürgen Uhde and Peter Schreier.
Since 1990, Thomas Steinhöfel has taught at the Franz Liszt Hochschule für Musik in Weimar, where, in 1993, he was appointed professor of piano, lieder accompanying, and repertoire studies. In addition to his teaching activities, he gives concerts in Germany and internationally. He is a sought-after chamber music partner, rehearsal pianist and lieder accompanist. As a guest professor, he also gives regular masterclasses in the Czech Republic, Hungary, Italy, Austria, Finland and Brazil. Steinhöfel also has a special interest in researching and performing the works of Johann Nepomuk Hummel. As part of the Rothstein Duo, together with pianist Sebastian Roth, Steinhöfel has participated in re-introducing various neglected works of Hummel, enabling audiences to hear them once again.
