Rachel. The Music I Love – Rachel Podger, violin/ var. assisting artists – Channel Classics (2 CDs)

by | Dec 31, 2012 | Classical Reissue Reviews

Rachel. The music I love – Rachel Podger, violin/ various assisting artists – Channel Classics CCS SEL 6212 (2 CDs), 156:00 [Distr. by Harmonia mundi] ****:
This is one of those throw-off albums that record companies use to make easy profits on. This is not criticism but the truth. Perhaps the pops world would call them “greatest hits”; the work done, the artists already paid, and all that needs to be done is a little collecting and repackaging of pieces sitting in the vaults. In this case at least Channel is charging two-for-one, so that is somewhat of a bargain. The down side, if there is one, is that the program is somewhat of a mishmash—a concerto from a series here, some variations there, you know how it goes. But then again, at least we are not subjected to the travesty of getting only excerpted movements from different pieces. We do get the entire work, and that makes a huge difference.
Rachel Podger is one of Britain’s most respected period violinists, and her Channel Classics catalog is extensive, well-regarded, and quite competitive. [Though most of it on SACD…Ed.] If you like this sort of compendium there is no doubt that you will find much to enjoy here. I certainly did.
TrackList:

CD 1
1 A. VIVALDI
Concerto in B flat Major, opus 4 no. 1
Allegro – Largo e cantabile – Allegro
from: CCS 19598, La Stravaganza
2 W.A. MOZART
6 Variations in G Minor, KV 374b
‘Hélas, j’ai perdu mon amant
from: CCS 28109
3 J.S. BACH
Sonata no. 3 in C Major, BWV 1005
Adagio – Fuga – Largo – Allegro assai
from: CCS 14498
4 J.PH. RAMEAU
Cinquième Concert
La Forqueray – La Cupis – La Marais
from: CCS 19098
5 W.A. MOZART
Sonata in B flat Major, KV 454
Largo – Allegro – Andante – Allegretto
from: CCS SA 23606
 
CD 2
1 A. VIVALDI
Concerto in D Major, opus 4 no. 11
Allegro – Largo – Allegro assai
from: CCS 19598 La Stravaganza
2 W.A. MOZART
Duo for Violin and Viola in B flat Major, KV 424
Adagio – Allegro
from: CCS SA 32411
3 J.S. BACH
Concerto in E Major, BWV 1042
Allegro – Adagio – Allegro assai
from: CCS SA 30910
4 J.S. BACH
Sonata no. 6 in G Major, BWV 1019
Allegro – Largo – Allegro – Adagio – Allegro
from: CC 14798
5 A. VIVALDI
Concerto no.1 in C Major RV 181a
Allegro – Largo – Allegro
from: CCS SA 33412, La Cetra
6 W.A. MOZART
Andante & Allegretto in C major, KV 404
Andante – Allegretto
from: 23606
7 J.S. BACH
Cantabile from Sonata no.6 version 2 BWV 1019a
Cantabile ma un poco adagio
from: CCS 14798
8 J. HAYDN
Violin Concerto in in C Major, HobVII:1
Adagio – Presto
from: CCS SA 29309

—Steven Ritter

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