Bach: Sonatas for Violin and Harpsichord

Bach's Sonatas for Violin and Harpsichord hardly lack for excellent recorded versions in the period instrument department, including these sensitive and musicianly collaborations between Giuliano Carmignola and Andrea Marcon. Tempos rarely move faster than the music can sing, and cultivated vocalism characterizes Carmignola's sweet, silvery timbre, which differs from Andrew Manze's grittier approach. Indeed, you hardly notice Carmignola's bow arm at all in the way his long, sustained notes seem to materialize from within the harpsichord. A genuine give and take prevails as the musicians effortlessly adjust to each other's foreground and background roles. Carmignola eschews the whimsical embellishments Fabio Biondi brings to these scores, yet he varies repeats through subtle changes in accent, color, and phrasing. Sony's spacious engineering contrasts to the Podger-Pinnock edition's close-up, analytical sonics, yet the instruments resonate with full-bodied clarity. This release, in sum, is more than just a worthwhile contender in a crowded catalog. --Jed Distler