On this new release from Seattle Chamber Music Society’s SCMS Records, violinist James Ehnes is joined by an all-star ensemble of chamber musicians to explore the rich, expansive sound world of Antonín Dvořák’s string quintets. Recorded in Nordstrom Recital Hall in Seattle, the album brings together two of Dvořák’s most distinctive chamber works – each shaped by the composer’s evolving voice and deep connection to place.

The String Quintet in G major, with its addition of double bass, unfolds with warmth and buoyancy, its textures enriched by a resonant low register and melodies that move effortlessly between lyricism and dance. The companion Quintet in E flat major, written during Dvořák’s time in America, channels a different energy – its dark sonorities, driving rhythms, and echoes of the sounds he encountered abroad creating music of striking vitality and character. A rarely heard Intermezzo, later reimagined as the Notturno, offers a reflective counterpoint, revealing another facet of Dvořák’s expressive range.

Together, these performances capture Dvořák at his most inventive and evocative – music rooted in his Bohemian heritage yet alive with new influences – brought to life by artists whose clarity, depth, and collaborative spirit illuminate every detail of these vibrant scores.