CD Review | Graupner: Intégrale des sonates pour violon et clavecin (Atma Classique, 2023)

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Graupner: Intégrale des sonates pour violon et clavecin
AKOYA: Naomi Dumas, violin, and Caitlyn Koester, harpsichord; Amanda Keesmaat, cello
Atma Classique, 2023

As the AKOYA duo specializes in under-appreciated early baroque music, it only makes sense that they’re exploring Graupner’s violin and harpsichord sonatas on their latest album. The result is a beautiful, if simple, experience.

The quality of this album—and the overall appeal of Dumas and Koester’s collaboration—is best demonstrated by their rendition of GWV 709. The musicians take turns performing the main melody in this sonata, complementing one another’s solo performances through momentary accompaniment. When the violin explores a more active tune in the first movement, the harpsichord settles into a comfortable pattern, perking up to echo the violin during quiet moments. Violinist Dumas stands out in the second and third movements, particularly for her ability to swap gently between tense and romantic tones, which is made easier in part by Koester’s fine control of the harpsichord’s volume. Koester shines amid the triple meter of the fourth (and final) movement, as her sharp and powerful performance is reined in just enough by the violin to maintain elegance.

The duo’s performances of sonatas GWV 708 through 712 are of an equal calibre, the tones of each piece varying just enough through their improvisatory nature to maintain freshness and listener interest.