BACH BEFORE LEIPZIG

Corn Exchange, Dorchester

This recital’s title refers to the composer’s early works which he wrote in the years before he moved to Leipzig where he spent the remainder of his life

American violin virtuoso Elicia Silverstein and British harpsichord player Christopher Bucknall gave some Sunday afternoon musical magic to an appreciative audience as they played sonatas and solo works which nicely offered a thumbnail sketch of some of the enormous range of Bach’s amazing skill.

Lesser performed works such as his sonata in E minor and the Fugue in G Minor reveal echoes of popular pieces he composed later in life in a beautifully played chamber musical treat sensitively given by the two artists whose subtle delivery was in keeping with the era in which the pieces were written.

Unusually, neither of these professional performers spoke a single word to the audience throughout the recital which meant that the audience were deprived of learning all about them from their choices, lifestyle and personal favourites to promoting the DVDs they have on sale, something we have become accustomed to hearing about in recent years as show business personalities strut their stuff on stage. All of which made this a very enjoyable and tasteful recital.

MARION COX