With From the Heart, composer and pianist Sharon Ruchman steps into a new chapter of her musical storytelling—one that feels both deeply personal and intentionally intimate. Known for compositions that blend classical lyricism with emotional nuance, Ruchman’s sixth album focuses entirely on the voice of the violin in conversation with the piano. This is not accompaniment — it’s a dialogue. A relationship. A shared breath between two instruments that are equally capable of tenderness, longing, mischief, and fire.

The collaboration with violinist Artemis Simerson is central to this project’s identity. Simerson, a respected member of the New Haven Symphony Orchestra and a seasoned chamber musician, brings a warmth and fluency to the violin lines that elevates Ruchman’s compositions beyond notation. There is a subtle sophistication to her playing — refined, yet never clinical — emotional in a way that feels lived-in rather than performed. Together, the two create a sound that feels conversational, almost like overhearing two old friends speak without words.

Across nine pieces, including a three-movement sonata, From the Heart explores a striking range of tone and temperament. A slow tango leans dark and sultry, rippling with an almost smoky sensuality; a Hungarian-inspired dance crackles with percussive insistence and kinetic flair. Yet even in its fiery moments, the album never loses its core quality — lyricism. Ruchman composes like someone who values the singing line above all, allowing melodies to unfold, sigh, linger, and return like memory.

There is also an unmistakable emotional lineage here. Ruchman’s artistic renaissance — sparked by the reappearance of her great uncle Rudy’s viola and the rediscovery of her musical roots — has quietly shaped her recent career. The influence isn’t literal; it’s spiritual. These pieces feel connected to legacy — the kind of music written not just to be performed, but to preserve something ephemeral: feeling, memory, love, inheritance, time passing.

What makes From the Heart especially compelling is its sense of narrative without words. The pieces feel like scenes — windows into emotional landscapes rather than intellectual exercises. It’s classical music that invites feeling first, analysis second.

At a time when classical music often leans either hyper-modern or overly familiar, From the Heart occupies a rare and welcome space: music that is unabashedly emotional, beautifully formed, and deeply human.

“From the Heart” is available now on all major streaming platforms

Listen to Sharon Ruchman and other similar artists on our Spotify Playlist ‘New Music Spotlight - Classical & Ambient’

“From the Heart” - Sharon Ruchman

“Slowly” - Kaleb Hikele