Recordings

Critics’ reflect on Sinfonia’s live performances of Bach’s Motets in May 2010:

“One does not take on the Bach motets (seven of them at latest count) lightly . . . . a triumphant performance. . . . . Sinfonia’s splendid gifts were best wrapped up in a dynamite reading of ‘Singet dem Herrn’ with its relentless series of fugues that rolled out magnificently and with exuberant conviction.”

“Some people make art more freely and spontaneously when they’ve considered each and every possibility of how to make the art before finally setting on their path. On the evidence of many Bach Sinfonia concerts, but particularly Saturday’s performance of the complete motets of Johann Sebastian Bach at Montgomery College’s Takoma Park/Silver Spring Performing Arts Center, the Sinfonia’s music and artistic director Daniel Abraham is one of those people. Here, careful consideration of all the questions about and facets of those works led directly to some really astonishing performances . . . . at times I lost track of the fact that the music was being performed, because the Bach Sinfonia and Voci laid it out with such effortless joy. Instead, the music seemed to be hanging in the hall for me to glide through and explore. (A rare effect for a performance to have on a critic, to be sure.)”

View Daniel Abraham’s discussions on performing early music, about recording the Bach’s motets, and see excerpts from our recording sessions in a series of recently recorded videos:

Nominated for a 2012 Wammie!

The Art of Vivaldi’s Lute
Ronn McFarlane, lute
Daniel Abraham, conductor
Complete Works by Vivaldi for Lute and Ensemble
Listen on iTunes!

Sinfonia in D minor RV 127 (1720/4)

Concerto in D Major for Two Violins & Lute, RV 93 (1730/2)

Trio in G minor, RV 85 (1730/2)

Motet: In Turbato mare irato, RV 627 (1730?, but before 1733)

Trio in C Major, RV 83 (1730/2)

Concerto in D minor for Viola d’amore, Lute, Strings, & Continuo, RV 540 (1740)

Sinfonia in G minor, RV 157 (1720/4)

One of the United States best period instrument ensembles teams up with one of the world’s best lutenists to perform the music of one of the most beloved composers of all time for this exciting new release from Sono Luminus. The Bach Sinfonia, under the direction Daniel Abraham performs the lute works of Vivaldi with GRAMMY® Nominated lutenist Ronn McFarlane delivering one of the year’s most exciting concerto albums. (Dorian Sono Luminus DSL-92132)

“In “The Art of Vivaldi’s Lute,” famed lutenist Ronn McFarlane joins the Washington area based Bach Sinfonia under its director Daniel Abraham to forge an unbeatable combination.”

“Vivaldi certainly had an ear for the sound of stringed instruments—and so do McFarlane and the players of the Bach Sinfonia under Daniel Abraham.”

Order the recording online for $17.95 with FREE shipping and handling or by phone at 301-362-6525.