Violin Sonatas 1-3

James Ehnes (violin), Andrew Armstrong (piano)

The second volume of the Beethoven Violin Sonata cycle, from James Ehnes and Andrew Armstrong,follows the critically acclaimed release of sonatas nos. 6 &9 ‘Kreutzer’.

“Ehnes and Armstrong are stunningly responsive in the finale,” (op.47) and “ravishing in the slow movement” (op.30/1), said Gramophone of the earlier album, concluding the review by describing it as “a compelling addition to Ehnes and Armstrong’s remarkable discography.”

This new album contains the three early op.12 sonatas (which Beethoven dedicated to his teacher Antonio Salieri) and ends with the early variations from a theme from Mozart’s Marriage of Figaro.

Beethoven:
 Violin Sonata No. 1 in D major, Op. 12 No. 1
 Violin Sonata No. 2 in A major, Op. 12 No. 2
 Violin Sonata No. 3 in E flat major, Op. 12 No. 3
 12 Variations for piano & violin in F major on Mozart's 'Se vuol'ballare', WoO 40

"With some discs, you can just tell that everything’s going to go like a dream… The freshness and spontaneity of these interpretations is unfaltering, as is the instantaneous rapport and subtle, crystal-clear tonal beauty of the pair’s playing… These are, after all, ‘Sonatas for Pianoforte and Violin’ – a paradox that I’ve rarely heard so masterfully resolved on modern instruments. These players are simply on the same page as each other."
Gramophone Magazine - December 2019