Oliveira gives Bach concertos fresh treatment

ELMAR OLIVEIRA, VIOLIN AND CONDUCTOR, EVA GRUESSER, VIOLIN, ARCO ENSEMBLE; Bach Violin Concerti (Artek) ★★★★

IMANI WINDS; "Terra Incognita" (E1 Entertainment) ★★★★

JENNIFER KOH, VIOLIN, ROBERT SPANO, CONDUCTOR, ATLANTA SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA AND CHORUS; "The Singing Rooms: Music of Higdon, Singleton, Scriabin" (Telarc) ★★★★

Johann Sebastian Bach wrote quite a few violin concertos, many of which have been lost. Those that have survived the centuries since his death in 1750 have been recorded countless times over the years, but there still is room for more recordings especially when played with the musicality of someone like Elmar Oliveira.

Recently, Oliveira released a CD on his Artek label of four concertos, including the Double Concerto in D minor, BWV 1043.

The three solo concertos — in A minor, BWV 1041; in E major, BWV 1042; and in G minor, BWV 1056b, a reworking of Bach's Harpsichord Concerto in F minor, BWV 1056 — are played with infinite musicality. Oliveira brings subtlety to his flowing phrasings that capture the elegance of the slow movements. And in the faster outer movements, Oliveira's keen sense of rhythm brings vibrancy to the music and underscores its soft dance- like charm.

Eva Gruesser joins Oliveira in the Double Concerto, and the interplay between the two soloists is wonderful. Their duets sound like one instrument and they bring finely shaded nuances to their interpretation.

The Arco Ensemble, conducted by Oliveira, brings a nicely hewn balance to the equation. Both the ensemble and the soloists give an understated performance that is nevertheless dynamic and effusive.

Imani Winds is a quintet of incredible woodwind players who through their remarkable musicianship and striking technique make everything they play seem easy. And that description almost does them a disservice, since the music they play is anything but simple. And they have a vast repertoire that besides the standard woodwind quintet literature also includes many works that cross genres. The Imani Winds have brought a freshness to the repertoire that has been long overdue. And while they've reinvented the genre they also stay true to its roots.