reviews

“Sonatas from Bach’s set of six for violin and harpsichord provide the backbone of the programme, and they are played with inflective grace and linear clarity. There is a directness about their playing which reaches the heart of the music with less effort and baggage than rival versions. This pays off especially well in the three great sonatas…played with allure.”

Nicholas Anderson, BBC Music Magazine

“In some of the most straightforward and delightfully unmannered period instrument performances to cross my desk in some time, Jacqueline Ross and company have served up more than an hour of Bach family gems. These are certain to please. Although a full disc of music by the master from Leipzig would have satisfied any appetite, we are also given a fine bonus of two sonatas by the second eldest and most gifted of the Bach children, Carl Philipp Emanuel.

These are elegant and thoughtful performances, which are thankfully devoid of the often-pretentious affectations and mannerisms of much period instrument playing. Ms. Ross plays her rare Amati violin with a rich and warm tone, and she has an excellent sense of rhythm and line. Messrs. Ponsford and Boothby provide fine accompaniment, and their ensemble is tight and appropriately balanced. Most delightful is the consistently “right” choice of tempi. One never feels that the music is being pushed outside its natural bounds, and there is verve and excitement without a hint of the breathless quality of many baroque performances. Highly recommended”

Kevin Sutton, Musicweb International

“Jacqueline Ross and David Ponsford not only deliver performances matching or eclipsing all competitors, but also includes works by J.S.’s most talented son, Carl Philip Emanuel, whose sonatas fell much further from the tree than one might expect, yet still share a root system, making for fascinating listening.”

Eclectic Parrot