Bach: The Concerto Album (feat. violin: Lara St. John, New York Bach Ensemble)

by

Johann Sebastian Bach

Edit

Reviewer til860 is right on about the cover art. Worse than the cover is the inside poster, where she looks like a street dwelling drug addict who found a violin in the gutter. If you buy Classical CD's on the basis of thier cover art, you may want to pause and consider. However, there is a more important question on the subject of the relative value of an artists technique vs. the nuances of their interpretation of the music. Some apparently find this CD to be a little flat in the interpretation department. However, I found that her effortless and undeniably expert technique lead me to an experience of the structure of Bach's music that was very satisfying. Its a worthwhile CD.

There is a common say that, soon or later, one reaches his/hers level of incompetence. I have been following Lara's career, starting with her first and amazing CD some years ago. This is her third record and I have heard it several times in search for her well known art and virtuoso.

What I found, specially in the sonata, was crystal technique but an absense of art. And this is what music is all about.

The concertos are a far resemblance of the vigor and beauty shown in her first CD. There is no doubt that Lara is an amazing performer, but something must be wrong with the way her art is maturing.

Her website stopped displaying her schedule two years ago. What's next?