Search - Bach, Beznosiuk, Nicholson :: Flute Sonatas

Magnificent playing lost in space

Alan Lekan | Boulder, CO | 12/05/2006

(4 out of 5 stars)

"British flautist Lisa Beznosiuk is world-renoun, having played with the whose-who of period ensembles such as The Age of Enlightenment, English Concert and Acadamy of Ancient Music. On this recording, she plays a single-key transverse flute which is quite a feat to come off sounding smooth over such a range of music as Bach's flute sonatas. Ms. Benzosiuk makes it look like child's play here on her ebony Alain Weemaels flute (modeled after a Rottenburgh early 18th century instrument). She is accompanied by her cellist husband, Richard Tunnicliffe and Paul Nicholson on a 1705 Mitke harpsichord.



Benzosiuk's talent for her unique instrument goes without saying and there is no disappointment on this 2-CD set with her playing or Bach's compositions. What is a disappointment is yet another overly-resonant Hyperion recording which causes to the music to be rather "lost in space." The net effect is to diminish the clarity and vividness of the sound. But, at least the balance of flute and continuo is ideal and better than in some other period flute recordings of this music (Janet See's recordings which the harpsichord gets lost). Another positive is some 7 pages of quality notes on the history of Bach's writing for flute and some nice cover art. Another recording worth pursuing and recommended is Ashley Solomon's set on Channel Classics. Compositions - 4 stars; Performance - 4.5 stars; Sound quality - 3 stars."