Search - Rachel Podger, Trevor Pinnock :: Bach: Complete Sonatas for Violin and Obbligato Harpsichord / Pinnock, Podger

Podger gets better and better

J. Luis Juarez Echenique | Mexico City | 01/12/2001

(4 out of 5 stars)

"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."

Exceptional Sonata Recording

rodboomboom | Dearborn, Michigan United States | 05/08/2001

(5 out of 5 stars)

"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."

An unexpected delight

Alan Lekan | Boulder, CO | 08/10/2005

(5 out of 5 stars)

"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."