These are beautifully played, deeply considered performances of
Brahms' beloved violin sonatas. Violinist
Curtis Macomber plays with restrained power, a narrow vibrato, and a keen tone, and his interpretations lean more toward the intimate and the lyrical than the showy and dramatic, particularly in the sonata's slow movements. Pianist
Derek Han, a period instrument player who has rediscovered the joys of modern concert grands, provides
Macomber with a full-bodied but subtle and responsive accompaniment. Fans of the works may wish for more drive in the D minor Sonata's closing Presto agitato and more overt emotion in the G major Sonata's central Adagio, but few would say that
Macomber and
Han's readings are not faithful to the letter and the spirit of the scores. Recorded in warm, detailed digital sound by
Judith Sherman, these performances may not replace the classic recordings of the past, but fans of the music will surely enjoy them for their considerable merits.