A New Chamber Music Recording Highlights the Important (But Neglected) Transition From Baroque to Classical

Early Music Master Rachel Podger Records Four Violin Sonatas by C.P.E. Bach

First, full disclosure: I am a Johann Sebastian Bach (1685-1750) superfan. I am a longtime member of the American Bach Society and I place his work at the top of the pantheon of human achievement along with Van Gogh, Homer, and Beethoven (perhaps the first J.S. Bach superfan). I am, perhaps, a tad biased in favor of his son, C.P.E. Bach (1714-1788).

Rachel Podger is one of the premier Baroque and Bach specialists. In her new recording she and South African keyboardist Kristian Bezuidenhout perform four C.P.E. Bach Keyboard and Violin Sonatas; they include two early (1730s, accompanied by harpsichord) and two late (1780s, fortepiano) compositions.