Trevisani: Bach Trio Sonatas Review

FALAUT MAGAZINE

J.S.Bach – Trio sonatas for flute, violin and piano

Raffaele Trevisani, flute
Piet Koornhof, violin
Paola Girardi, pianoforte

Delos DDD

Trevisani, Koornhof and Girardi bring the structural and expressive elements of these works to a new level in this recording, creating a rare balance between a modern and traditional aesthetic.

The trio sonata, which is characterized by three contrapuntal lines, each one allocated to a single performer, is one of the finest expressions of baroque art.  Pioneered by Arcangelo Corelli, a master of Baroque composition - indeed the era’s most influential composer - Corelli’s collection of trio sonatas has become the standard against which works in the same genre are measured.

J.S.Bach’s trio sonatas were written according to the Italian model. For this recording, the members of the ensemble chose a transcription for flute, violin and pianoforte which accentuates the instruments’ diverse timbres and in turn the three melodic parts. In line with an established performance practice in which the pianoforte is favored over the harpsichord for its expressive power, Trevisani, Koornhof and Girardi chose the more modern instrument.

The result is a tribute to the Eisenbach composer, a tribute which is a measure of the music’s enchanting power. It is this quality which can elicit the kind of fine phrasing and articulation recorded here and enables these performers to showcase musical sensibilities which, at least in this repertory, have next to no rivals.

Filippo Staiano

Falaut Magazine

10 October 2009 | Reviews | Comments