Trevor

For those uninitiated into the world of Baroque or harpsichord music, be forewarned: this budget-priced trio of CDs from Archiv is a hefty amount of Bach on the harpsichord. These are reissues of recordings of Bach's greatest keyboard works made in the early '80s by Trevor Pinnock. While you may be able to listen to nearly four straight hours of Bach, some may find it hard to listen to the harpsichord for that long.

La stravanganza is a set of concertos, op. 4, written by Antonio Vivaldi in 1712-1713. All of the concertos were scored for solo violin, strings, and basso continuo; however, some of the movements in the concertos require extra soloists (like a second violin solo and/or a cello solo). What is perhaps most extraordinary about "La stravaganza" is Vivaldi's remarkable inventiveness within a defined framework of instrumental and harmonic forces.

Rachel Podger's growing reputation among early-music enthusiasts is buttressed by this set of Bach's sonatas for violin and continuo. Her intonation is always on target, her tone sweet but not cloying…

Johann Sebastian Bach - Goldberg Variations - Trevor Pinnock (Harpsichord)
Baroque | APE, Cue | No Log | 1 CD, no covers | 358 MB | RS
ARCHIV 415 130-2 | 1985

"The Goldberg Variations is one of those works that should be in everyone's Bach music collection. Their level of complexity is balanced by a musical intimacy that makes them universally enjoyable.
Everyone has recorded this work, it seems to be a measuring stick of every performer's abilities. Some are excellent; some fail. Trevor Pinnock, known mostly as conductor of the exquisite English Concert, performs here with fantastic energy, precision and charm.
Trevor Pinnock's special understanding of Bach's music is evident here and his performance is remarkable. Speed, clarity, sensitivity; all the components necessary in a great performance with no strange interpretive nuances getting in the way.
The recording itself is crystal clear ADD with the microphone appropriately close to the harpsichord. There is no ambient echo which is often distracting and, sometimes, annoying in harpsichord recordings. This recording is so perfect it sounds like Trevor Pinnock is in your living room performing for you."