Customer Reviews

Bach: Complete Sonatas for Violin and Obbligato Harpsichord / Pinnock, Podger

5 star:		(9)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Rachel Podger, concertmaster of Trevor Pinnock's The English Concert, is a fresh and winning violinist. Her sound is warm and accurate, and this recording can be recommended. She is more straightforward and natural in these marvelous sonatas than Andrew Manze, who was not at his best in his recent HM version. But my numero uno choice still is Fabio Biondi and Rinaldo Alessandrini in OPUS111. The Italian dream team play like gods, and the superior OPUS111 sound make their version the most desirable of all.

Within the first minute of listening to this CD, one is immediately captivated by Rachel Podger's gorgeous tone and intonation - a truly mellifluous sonority that ranks with the finest. Her subtle phrasings, gentle-but-sparing vibrato and deft bowing technique combine to produce a sound that is effortlessly cantabile, highly refreshing and never tiring to hear. She shapes her melody lines with great artistry and elegance - producing a sonorities of pure delight. Plus, her intonation sounds superbly "in tune" - which sometimes cannot be said about some violin music (especially that with a period violin). You hear all of these fine artistic qualities too in her Bach solo violin partitas/sonatas recordings (Channel) - complex pieces of music that are not only very difficult to play but even more difficult to make sound beautiful. Rachel Podger makes all this music of Bach sound not only easy but unusually beautiful - where you can listen to the entire CD without feeling it is too much.

Equally adept at this music is the ever-competent Baroque master, Mr. Trevor Pinnock, who not only provides interesting accompanyment to Podger but especially shines in the spotlit keyboard runs and solos. In these he maintains a spirited progression and crisp articulations throughout that keeps one in rapt attention. His cembalo solo in the #6 allegro (track 3) is downright sexy and can make one want to jump up and dance. His harpsichord sound is exceptionally warm and inviting (as harpsichords go) and not "clancky" as some can be. I surprisingly loved it. This is important for listening to an entire CD featuring that instrument! If you normally do not warm to the sound of the harpsichord, you may be pleasantly surprized that you like Pinnock's harpsichord here. Both musicians maintain an ideal balance between them with a delightfull interaction throughout the music that never seems labored or monotonous. Not an easy task for such music featuring only two instuments over two CD's.

Sometimes it is hard to define what exactly makes a fine performance but you know it when you hear it - and this is one of those. This duo's playing is completely in synch and makes the music come alive in a very natural and enjoyable way. Together, they bring out more of a carefree exuberance and lyrical depth in this music that others might not plumb. Also, the sound quality is sparkling and realistic - really superb. This CD was highly rated by Gramophone and Penguin Guide who give high marks for this duo's marvelous performance. The other performance that gets high marks from many guides is the lively version by Biondi & Allessandrini on Op. 111 done with Biondi's characteristic Italian expressivity and panache ... but it is a hard CD to find. In short, this beautiful recording - one of Podger's finest - is a gem not to be missed by the Baroque lover.

Two CD collection of Bach's Sonatas for violin and harpsichord. I have always been a great fan of the harpsichord, and here Pinnock is outstanding in is chamber music capability.

The resonance of Podger's instrument is wonderful, so full and throaty and lyrical. I especially like the spirited Allegro to Sonata No. 6, and Pinnock's harpsichord solo on the Allegro of that opening Sonata.

The complexities of Bach's composition are here richly interpretated with good tempo and balance. The Cantabile is wonderfully charming.

A great Bach collection.

but here they are. I bought my first copy of Bach's Violin and Harpsichord Sonatas after seeing the movie Tom Jones in about 1964. The sound track of the film features some lively harpsichord playing and I wanted to hear more. Unfortunately (I thought) the only lp of harpsichord music available had violin in addition, as well as viola da gamba. The version of the Bach sonatas by Menuhim, Malcolm and Gauntlett has been out of print for years, but it was a hum-dinger. It seduced me. I have bought other versions since then and always been disappointed until now. Podger, Pinnock and Jonathan Manson have done an amazing job.

Caution: if you buy this, close the curtains before playing. Otherwise your neighbors might get to see you dancing around in ecstacy. This stuff is refined rock and roll.

These are wonderful discs. Bach's sonatas for violin and cembalo are delightful, rewarding works, but can be hard to get into, in my experience. Previously I have had recordings by Elizabeth Wallfisch and Richard Tunnicliffe and by Fabio Biondi and Rinaldo Alessandrini - both world class duos, and fine performances in their way. However, I always had a sense with both of somehow working ones way rather ploddingly through the sonatas (most certainly not what I'd expect from Biondi!) and they had a slightly turgid, uninvolving feel to them.

Podger and Pinnock dispel this instantly. Rachel Podger's wonderful lightness of touch doesn't trivialise the music in any way but, as with her solo Bach, brings a sparkle and verve which light up the whole disc. And Trevor Pinnock plays with the enthusiasm and energy of a young tyro while bringing the depth of his decades of experience to bear. The combination is irresistible. Any Bach enthusiast will want these sonatas in their collection, and this is the finest recording I've come across by some distance. It is also very reasonably priced. In my view, you can't go wrong with these discs - very warmly recommended indeed.

Among the best performances of the Bach violin sonatas. Wonderfully stylish, virtuosic and alive. Absolutely no intonation problems from Ms. Podger's baroque violin.

I place this set at the very top along with Fabio Biondi and Rinaldo Alessandrini.

Enthusiastically recommended!

It is early in the summer and you are walking through the countryside in 1700s Germany, and you hear some music playing somewhere ...

And yet Trevor Pinnock and Rachel Podger manage to play this music as fresh as any music being played today. In fact, the music in this 2 CD set sounds as fresh as if it is improvised. I've played this music for friends who aren't necessarily JS Bach or even classical music listeners, and they love it! One doesn't have to be a music scholar or know anything about period instruments, baroque or otherwise. Even if one isn't "building" a classical music collection, this music would be a welcome addition in anyone's home, and a very unique one, at that.

I have listened to other performances of these Sonatas and I prefer this set.

As an aside, I have been disappointed in many harpsichord performances. I hardly ever get the feeling that harpsichordists love their music as much as pianists for instance. Trevor Pinnock does! Rachel Podger is the perfect complement. Together they play with authenticity, life, and beauty.

Wonderful, wonderful! I once had this collection on vinyl and had been looking for a CD. So pleased when I saw it on Amazon!

These Bach "duo sonatas" have been recorded by numerous "period" violinists in recent years. Rachel Podger's playing has an unparalleled sense of grace, lyrical gesture and vocal nuance; even the slow movements dance. She can pull a long note into a finely gauged messa di voce enhanced by a gently flickering vibrato, her tone wonderfully insinuating without the least hint of acidity. Tempos are well-judged, which helps the lively interplay with Trevor Pinnock's harpsichord not to become muddled. The tracks in which Jonathan Manson joins on viola da gamba provide a refreshing change of texture, and the alternate movements and non-canonical sonatas included (especially the striking E minor sonata, with its toccata-like opening movement) are a special treat.

Pinnock and Podger play wonderfully together. I never tire of this CD. Many joyful moments and many lovely, expressive moments. How does Podger do it? I could listen to her playing all day.