Bach

How could you lve without Bach?

wonderful.

She makes great Bach recording.

Fantastic.

Very good

Brilliant performance

A gift

I hadn't heard Lisa Batiashvili before, but I liked the fact that this CD consisted of a program of Bach works (including a trio sonata by CPE Bach), rather than the ubiquitous concertos disc or sonatas/partitas disc. And very nice it sounds -- in fact, it sounds almost lush at times, though that's a matter of texture as caught by the recording and not a matter of ahistorical stylistic practice. I have a few quibbles that don't really detract from the overall attractiveness of the program: first, the oboe seems just a bit too prominent in the Double Concerto (the instrument is well-played by Francois Leleux, with gorgeous tone), leaving the solo violin a bit in the shade. The balance is better in the final track, an arrangement of an aria from the St. Matthew Passion for violin and oboe d'amore (again, beautifully played by Leleux). Batiashvili's tone is lovely in the middle and lower ranges of the violin (the upper reaches aren't much exploited), and the BWV 1042 Violin Concerto comes across well. In the solo Sonata No.2, I found that for all the richness of Batiashvili's sound, Julia Fischer's intonation and grasp of longer lines (on Pentatone) drew the ear along a bit more enchantingly. I very much liked the CPE Bach Trio Sonata -- Emmanuel Pahud (flute), Sebastian Klinger (cello), and Peter Kofler (harpsichord) join Batiashvili to fine effect. The recording does justice to all the instruments without artificially over-separating them in the aural picture, and the players play as if they are enjoying themselves. The brief final presto is a delight!