Brisk tempi, free-flowing but tasteful embellishments, and stylistic assurance characterize Lucy van Dael’s striking interpretations. She strips years of accumulated varnish off the D Minor Partita’s famous Chaconne, restoring its proximation to the dance. Elsewhere van Dael brings out the harmonic tension by emphasizing dissonant components in Bach’s multi-voiced textures. Broken chords, however, are sometimes effortful, and land on notes that are not quite in tune. This doesn’t distract, though, from the overall effect of van Dael’s absorbing artistry. Here is a violinist who is truly inside this music, and will certainly hold your attention. A fine release, all around.
