LECLAIR; SENAILLE Sonatas for Violin and Harpsichord
View record and artist detailsRecord and Artist Details
Composer or Director: Théotime Langlois de Swarte
Genre:
Chamber
Label: Harmonia Mundi
Magazine Review Date: 10/2021
Media Format: CD or Download
Media Runtime: 68
Mastering:
DDD
Catalogue Number: HAF890 5292
Tracks:
Composition | Artist Credit |
---|---|
(6) Sonatas for Two Violins, Movement: No. 5 in E minor |
Jean-Marie Leclair, Composer
Théotime Langlois de Swarte, Composer William Christie, Harpsichord |
Sonata for Violin and Harpsichord |
Jean Baptiste Senaillié, Composer
Théotime Langlois de Swarte, Composer William Christie, Harpsichord |
(12) Sonatas for Violin and Continuo, Premier livr, Movement: No. 5 in A |
Jean-Marie Leclair, Composer
Théotime Langlois de Swarte, Composer William Christie, Harpsichord |
(12) Sonatas for Violin and Continuo, Second livre, Movement: F |
Jean-Marie Leclair, Composer
Théotime Langlois de Swarte, Composer William Christie, Harpsichord |
Author: Lindsay Kemp
Although only one of the four sonatas for violin and continuo by Jean-Baptiste Senaillé offered here is claimed as a world premiere, I have not yet been able to find much evidence of recordings of the others. Having heard them now, I am amazed that they have attracted so little interest, even if French Baroque violin sonatas are generally not all that popular. Théotime Langlois de Swarte and William Christie have chosen to mix them in with two sonatas by the more familiar Leclair, and while it is nice to be able to compare the two – both were acclaimed virtuosos who studied in Italy and brought the Corellian influence home, there to combine it satisfyingly with French melodic grace – I would happily have heard more Senaillé, who published a total of 50 sonatas in five books between 1710 and 1727.
They certainly have some memorable moments: an aching, yearning chaconne over a rising bass to open Op 1 No 6; sweet little French tunes like the two Gavottas of Op 3 No 10; another Gavotta in Op 1 No 5 of Couperin-like delicacy; Correntes of infectious energy; and passages where the music hitches a white-knuckle ride of virtuoso string-crossings and double-stoppings before calmly alighting as if nothing had happened (even after the Vivaldian ‘cuckoo’ music in Op 3 No 10). Next to these sonatas, Leclair’s, though in many ways similar in form, character and difficulty, are bigger-boned, with more Handelian assurance and projection, and perhaps just a little less expressive interest.
Langlois de Swarte, who has greatly impressed Gramophone reviewers twice in the past year – not least with his recreation of a musical evening with Proust (5/21) – takes the music magnificently in his stride, avoiding over-fussy articulation and digging into the strings of his strong-voiced Stainer violin to make it sing. Christie’s continuo-playing is similarly free of needless elaboration, yet always quick, responsive and attentive to sonority – a wise head indeed. But if that makes it all sound rather serious, there is playful fooling, too, as well as the occasional naughty-but-nice texture rewrite. The recording was made in Christie’s home in the Vendée, and has a wonderfully friendly feel to it. A delight.
Explore the world’s largest classical music catalogue on Apple Music Classical.
Included with an Apple Music subscription. Download now.
Gramophone Digital Club
- Digital Edition
- Digital Archive
- Reviews Database
- Events & Offers
From £9.20 / month
SubscribeGramophone Club
- Print Edition
- Digital Edition
- Digital Archive
- Reviews Database
- Events & Offers
From £11.45 / month
Subscribe
If you are a library, university or other organisation that would be interested in an institutional subscription to Gramophone please click here for further information.