Schumann, Maier, Franck: Violin Sonatas

Schumann Violin Sonata No. 1 in A minor, Op. 105; Maier Violin Sonata in B minor, Op. 6; Franck Violin Sonata in A major.

Duo Concertante (Nancy Dahn, violin; Timothy Steeves, piano)
Delphian DCD34316
https://www.delphianrecords.com/

The art of chamber music lies in creating intimacy without exclusion—drawing listeners into a private musical conversation while never making them feel like intruders. On this engaging disc, Duo Concertante achieve precisely that delicate balance, delivering performances of such natural warmth and musical understanding that one feels genuinely privileged to eavesdrop.

Their programme spans half a century of Romantic violin writing, beginning with Schumann's turbulent First Sonata in 1851. Written in a mere four days during one of the composer's most productive periods, this work pushes relentlessly against Classical restraint with a restless intensity that would prove profoundly influential. Timothy Steeves captures Schumann's distinctive pianistic figuration with particular insight, especially in the Allegretto, where those magical moments of expressive interaction between the instruments emerge with palpable chemistry.

The disc's revelation is Amanda Maier's Sonata in B minor, composed two decades later (1874) and awarded a prize by the Swedish Art Music Society. Here is music that blends Schumannesque inheritance with a distinctive personal voice, combining lyrical poise with impressive structural clarity. The opening Allegro immediately establishes Maier's gift for textural writing—the piano's rippling accompaniment provides an elegant cushion for Nancy Dahn's soaring violin lines. The dynamics throughout are sublime, and the beautifully lilting second movement showcases the duo's remarkable empathy. When the technically demanding Allegro molto vivace arrives, both players rise magnificently to its challenges, delivering an exciting finale that confirms Maier's status as a composer deserving wider recognition.

César Franck's beloved A major sonata rounds off this fine recital with characteristic refinement and clarity. One of the finest pinnacles of the violin-and-piano repertoire, it receives here a reading that balances formal ingenuity with sweeping expressivity.

The duo's elegant playing captures every nuance, from moments of wistful reflection to passages of dramatic intensity. The rhythmic energy never flags, while the emotional elements shine through with affecting directness.

Throughout, the chemistry between Steeves's sensitive piano accompaniments and Dahn's eloquent melodic lines remains captivating. Their rhythmic energy and emotional insight illuminate music that might elsewhere seem merely dutiful.

Instead, we encounter three sonatas that speak with renewed freshness; their individual characters are clearly delineated while forming a coherent artistic statement.

Delphian's recording captures this intimate music-making with their customary sophistication, presenting the instruments in perfect balance within an appropriately scaled acoustic. The result is chamber music-making of rare quality—performances that remind us why the violin sonata became such a cherished form during the Romantic era.

This is an all-round fine disc that deserves the attention of anyone seeking intelligently programmed and beautifully executed chamber music.