Brahms: Violin Sonatas

On this debut release from the Seattle Chamber Music Society's new label, SCMS Records, artistic director James Ehnes and his long-time musical partner Andrew Armstrong bring a fresh perspective to the complete works for violin and piano by Johannes Brahms. Recorded at Koerner Hall in Toronto, the album spans more than three decades of Brahms' creative life—from the youthful verve of the early Scherzo in C minor to the emotional depth and maturity of the three violin sonatas.

Although Brahms famously questioned his own affinity for the violin, these works reveal a composer of extraordinary sensitivity to the instrument's sound. The first sonata unfolds with melancholic nostalgia, marked by echoes of his own songs; the second radiates warmth and lightness, filled with graceful melodies and an intimate dialogue between the partners; and the third surges with restless intensity, driving both instruments to symphonic heights of expression.

Together, these performances capture the full expressive range of Brahms' compositions for violin and piano (and beyond): music that is by turns thoughtful, tender, and passionate. It is brought to life by two artists whose musical partnership balances virtuosity with profound musical understanding.