John Smyth writes:

>I'm looking for a good set of Bach's Violin Sonatas.  Don Satz enjoys
>Holloway on Virgin, but the Penguin Guide calls some of his sounds
>downright "ugly."  I hope this is an exaggerations, as the price is hard
>to beat.  I am leaning toward the Opus 111, with Biondi/Alessandrini.  Of
>course, there is always Manze, who has provided me endless delight w/his
>Biber Sonatas and Geminiani's Concerti Grossi;.....

This is mostly a matter of the preference for or against the sounds of a
baroque violin.  The Penguins might hear some ugly sounds from Holloway,
but the Satz clan only hears an absolutely beautiful and sharp performance.
And if sharp is what is wanted, look no further than the set on Winter &
Winter performed by Marianne Ronez and Ernst Kubitschek; it makes Holloway
sound like a pussycat.  Both sets are great.

The Biondi set is very good and might represent the best period instrument
set for those who don't currently have any recordings of the works.  I
would tread carefully with Manze.  Although his reputation is for creative
and sharply detailed readings, I currently find him rather subdued and
demure much of the time in Bach.  There's also a period instrument set on
Harmonia Mundi performed by Elizabeth Blumenstock and John Butt; another
is on Chandos/Chaconne performed by Catherine Mackintosh and Maggie Cole.
Want more? How about Kuijken on DHM or Ryo Terkado on Denon? All of these
sets are very good or better.

There are many recordings to choose from in the period instrument field,
and I still favor Holloway which was the first one I heard.  I'll be
reviewing all these period instrument sets in the coming months.  I don't
have any modern instrument sets; the modern violin doesn't sit well with
me for baroque repertoire.

Don Satz
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