Sonatas for Viola &Piano by Katz- Shteinberg Duo

In 2002, they went on a recital tour of Israel! and Germany that included a performance at the Jerusalem Music Centre which was broadcast live on the "Voice of Music", Israel’s classical music station. Recently, they made their Carnegie Hall recital debut and were the featured performers on WQXR’s Young Artists Showcase.

Shmuel Katz- Viola

A native of Israel, Shmuel Katz maintains a performing career on both the viola and violin as a chamber musician, soloist and orchestral player. Mr. Katz received his Bachelor and Master Degrees from the Manhattan School of Music, where he studied with Pinchas Zukerman and Michael Tree. Among his numerous competition awards are the second prize in the HAMS Viola Competition in Chicago and first prize in the CIMS Chamber Music Competition in Palermo, Italy. Mr. Katz is a frequent guest violist and violinist with the New York Philharmonic, Orpheus Chamber Orchestra and Orchestra of St. Luke’s.

Dmitri Shteinberg- Piano

Mr. Shteinberg has appeared as soloist with the Jerusalem Symphony, the Italian Philarmonica Marchetiana, Israel Chamber Orchestra, Israel Camerata Orchestra and Porto National Symphony. He is an annual recipient of the America-Israel Cultural Foundation Scholarship and a major prizewinner in numerous competitions worldwide including first prize in "Citta de Senigallia" in Italy and Porto International Competition.

Mr. Shteinberg studied at the Gnessin Special School of Music in his native Moscow under Anna Kantor. He recently received his Doctoral degree from the Manhattan School of Music where he studied with Nina Svetlanova

"Two very fine New York based musicians. Shmuel Katz is a refreshingly facile violist. I compared his performance of Hindemith's Viola Sonata 3 with the composer's own. Katz's intonation is far more secure, his tone production much smoother and his vibrato much more consistent. Katz and Shteinberg are able to play with a far greater dynamic range. Dmitri Shteinberg is able to accompany a viola without drowning it out or losing his own personality, which is better than Jesus Maria Sanroma was able to do in his recording with the composer. It has the requisite breadth and power, it has fine contrasts of legato with the more staccato outbursts, the slow Phantasie is darkly moody. The theme and variations finale is sensitively played so that the low dynamics don't cause the listener to lose interest...." American Record Guide March/April 2006

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