Sonata in C Major, Op. 92 - Cello and Piano

Sonata in C major, Op. 92

Joseph Gabriel Rheinberger (1839-19010 was born in Vaduz, the capital of Liechtenstein. At the age of 5, young Joseph was given piano and organ lessons from a local teacher. His talent was immediately discovered and was of such a substantial nature that with the help of a scholarship he was sent to the Royal Conservatory in Munich where he studied with Franz Lachner, one of Schubert's close friends and an important composer in his own right. Rheinberger himself eventually taught at the Royal Conservatory where he held the position of Professor of Composition for nearly 40 years.

Remembered today only for his organ compositions which are considered the most important ever written after those of Bach, during his life time Rheinberger was a much respected composer, generally ranked after Brahms and Wagner as the most important living German composer.

The cello sonata was composed in 1875 for David Popper, perhaps the greatest cellist before Pablo Casals.