Classical Reissue Reviews

Rachel. The Music I Love – Rachel Podger, violin/ var. assisting artists – Channel Classics (2 CDs)

Published on December 31, 2012

Rachel. The music I love – Rachel Podger, violin/ various assisting artists – Channel Classics CCS SEL 6212 (2 CDs), 156:00 [Distr. by Harmonia mundi] ****:

This is one of those throw-off albums that record companies use to make easy profits on. This is not criticism but the truth. Perhaps the pops world would call them “greatest hits”; the work done, the artists already paid, and all that needs to be done is a little collecting and repackaging of pieces sitting in the vaults. In this case at least Channel is charging two-for-one, so that is somewhat of a bargain. The down side, if there is one, is that the program is somewhat of a mishmash—a concerto from a series here, some variations there, you know how it goes. But then again, at least we are not subjected to the travesty of getting only excerpted movements from different pieces. We do get the entire work, and that makes a huge difference.

Rachel Podger is one of Britain’s most respected period violinists, and her Channel Classics catalog is extensive, well-regarded, and quite competitive. [Though most of it on SACD...Ed.] If you like this sort of compendium there is no doubt that you will find much to enjoy here. I certainly did.

TrackList:

CD 1

1 A. VIVALDI

Concerto in B flat Major, opus 4 no. 1

Allegro – Largo e cantabile – Allegro

from: CCS 19598, La Stravaganza

2 W.A. MOZART

6 Variations in G Minor, KV 374b

‘Hélas, j’ai perdu mon amant

from: CCS 28109

3 J.S. BACH

Sonata no. 3 in C Major, BWV 1005

Adagio – Fuga – Largo – Allegro assai

from: CCS 14498

4 J.PH. RAMEAU

Cinquième Concert

La Forqueray – La Cupis – La Marais

from: CCS 19098

5 W.A. MOZART

Sonata in B flat Major, KV 454

Largo – Allegro – Andante – Allegretto

from: CCS SA 23606

 

CD 2

1 A. VIVALDI

Concerto in D Major, opus 4 no. 11

Allegro – Largo – Allegro assai

from: CCS 19598 La Stravaganza

2 W.A. MOZART

Duo for Violin and Viola in B flat Major, KV 424

Adagio – Allegro

from: CCS SA 32411

3 J.S. BACH

Concerto in E Major, BWV 1042

Allegro – Adagio – Allegro assai

from: CCS SA 30910

4 J.S. BACH

Sonata no. 6 in G Major, BWV 1019

Allegro – Largo – Allegro – Adagio – Allegro

from: CC 14798

5 A. VIVALDI

Concerto no.1 in C Major RV 181a

Allegro – Largo – Allegro

from: CCS SA 33412, La Cetra

6 W.A. MOZART

Andante & Allegretto in C major, KV 404

Andante – Allegretto

from: 23606

7 J.S. BACH

Cantabile from Sonata no.6 version 2 BWV 1019a

Cantabile ma un poco adagio

from: CCS 14798

8 J. HAYDN

Violin Concerto in in C Major, HobVII:1

Adagio – Presto

from: CCS SA 29309

—Steven Ritter