Nadine Henrichs - Nadine Henrichs - Import CD

Credits:

Nadine Henrichs

Description:

An exquisite selection of pieces that brings out every nuance of the “baroque viola”—an instrument that rarely draws attention on its own Although the viola was not widely recognized as a solo instrument until quite late in the modern era, it was actually considered an indispensable presence in late Baroque Germany—as evidenced by the fact that the great Bach is said to have conducted ensembles while playing it. While there are many masterful early music performers, it is certainly true that opportunities to hear the Baroque viola on its own are extremely limited. Through the performances of Nadine Henriks—who continues to shine with some of Europe’s leading early music ensembles, such as the Bremen Weser-Renaissance, Concerto Köln, Vox Luminis, Holland Baroque—and who continues to perform with some of Europe’s leading early music ensembles—this new recording allows listeners to fully appreciate the instrument through works by Bach and his contemporaries. Its release is sure to be welcomed not only by early music fans but by all music lovers. Based on the performance practice of the Baroque era, where it was common to use a different instrument if it was common practice during the Baroque period to use alternative instruments if they were playable; based on this understanding, the carefully selected masterpieces—each chosen with precise judgment—resound with profound depth through Henriks’s performance, which maximizes the charm of the muted timbre in the mid-range drawn from an original 18th-century viola. While the program centers on unaccompanied works, some pieces feature additional performers; notably, in the Sonata BWV 1029 performed in a trio format, the viola takes on the part originally written for the viola da gamba, resulting in an interpretation where the contrast with the other instruments—such as Hille Pearl’s viola da gamba, which is strictly confined to the basso continuo, and Peter Brats’s violin, which plays the right-hand part of the harpsichord—stands out vividly. Naxos Japan

Tracklisting:

1.Fantasia 6. TWV 40:7~I. Dolce
2.Fantasia 6. TWV 40:7~II. Allegro
3.Fantasia 6. TWV 40:7~III. Spirituoso
4.Opus XI~Minuetto
5.Sonata VI~I. Andante
6.Sonata VI~II. Allegro
7.Sonata VI~III. Minuetto
8.Fantasia 1. TWV 40:14~I. Largo
9.Fantasia 1. TWV 40:14~II. Allegro
10.Fantasia 1. TWV 40:14~III. Grave
11.Fantasia 1. TWV 40:14~IV. Allegro
12.Opus XI~Allemanda
13.Cello Suite No. 1 in G major, BWV 1007~I. Prelude
14.Cello Suite No. 1 in G major, BWV 1007~II. Allemande
15.Cello Suite No. 1 in G major, BWV 1007~III. Courante
16.Cello Suite No. 1 in G major, BWV 1007~IV. Sarabande
17.Cello Suite No. 1 in G major, BWV 1007~V. Menuet
18.Cello Suite No. 1 in G major, BWV 1007~VI. Gigue
19.Opus XI~Largo
20.Opus XI~Double