Rachel Podger’s small-scale, dynamically constricted, enervated, and emotionally withdrawn playing gives little clue to the harmonic tension, lofty architecture, and cumulative power of these works, let alone the dynamism and authority with which dozens of other violinists enliven the music of Bach. That said, you can’t easily discount Podger’s impeccable intonation and keen ear for delineating Bach’s sometimes elusive contrapuntal strands. Podger has potential, but pass this disc up, and keep your fingers crossed for Volume Two.
