Sarah Westwick, violin & Stephen Smith, piano

Violinist Sarah Westwick and pianist Stephen Smith present a thoughtfully programme that brings together a rarely heard work and a familiar Romantic cornerstone. Central to the recital is a sonata by Dora Pejačević, the nineteenth-century Croatian composer, pianist, and violinist whose music is still seldom encountered in concert halls. Richly crafted and emotionally direct, the sonata reveals a distinctive voice from the late Romantic era and offers listeners a chance to encounter a composer beyond the standard repertoire.

The programme also includes Johannes Brahms’s Violin Sonata No 1 in G major, commonly known as the “Rain Sonata.” Drawing on themes from Brahms’s song Regenlied, the work is known for its lyricism, warmth, and inward character. Sarah and Stephen approach the sonata with clarity and balance, allowing its long melodic lines and subtle interplay between violin and piano to speak naturally.

Together, these works create a recital that invites close listening and reflection. By placing Pejačević alongside Brahms, the programme offers both familiarity and discovery, presented through the collaborative musicianship of two performers deeply engaged with the repertoire.