I must have misread the press release for the last installment of this series; I could have sworn that prior to the release of Vol. 4, that it completed the series. Imagine my surprise when Vol. 5 recently showed up! This fifth volume continues Rachel Podger and Gary Cooper’s survey of the Mozart Sonatas for Keyboard and Violin, and of course, employs Podger’s trademark baroque violin with Cooper providing accompaniment on a modern reconstruction of a period fortepiano. As with the past installments, the chronology of the sonatas has been jumbled about, so you get a really good mix of youthful and mature works. Regardless, Mozart’s genius is apparent in all works presented here.
As with the other offerings in this excellent series from Channel Classics, the recording is beyond superb. Any fan of the earlier releases won’t be able to resist this excellent disc. I can only offer one small suggestion to Channel Classics – could they possibly help Rachel Podger get in touch with a hair stylist? Oh, well, talent is all that should concern a man of taste, anyway – right? Very highly recommended!
— Tom Gibbs
