The intelligence, sensitivity, and innate musicality distinguishing violinist James Ehnes’ terrific unaccompanied Bach carries over to his first volume of the composer’s sonatas with harpsichord. What immediately strikes you is the ideal balance between Ehnes and harpsichordist Luc Beauséjour–not just sonically speaking, but in how they effortlessly proportion their phrases and perfectly synchronize trills, turns, and other ornaments. Beauséjour’s discreet and effective registrations complement the subtle variations in Ehnes’ tone, especially in slower, sustained writing (the quicker-than-usual A major sonata’s Andante is a good example). Also notice how Ehnes manages to project a full, rounded, and beautiful tone even when he employs vibrato sparingly. In other words, Ehnes achieves an organic synthesis of period-instrument practice with the virtues of modern violin technique, all to the music’s expressive, dance-oriented good. Among numerous world-class Bach violin sonata recordings of disparate stylistic stripes, Ehnes and Beauséjour deserve room at the top. May their second volume prove equally nourishing. [2/14/2005]
