Bach - Inventions & Partita
Jansen; Rysanov; Thedéen
Decca 475 9081

Release date November 2007

My initial apprehension regarding a disc of Bach arrangements was laid to rest as soon as I heard Janine Jansen’s latest recording Inventions & Partita. She has been joined by Maxim Rysanov (viola) and Torleif Thedéen (cello) for Bach’s 15 Two-part Inventions and 15 Three-part Inventions. The arrangements of these are incredibly faithful and played as much as possible from the original keyboard scores. Occasional changes have been made (for practical reasons) by transposing the melodic line up an octave. Considerable thought seems to have been given to texture and balance and one only has to look at the Three Part Invention no. 5 where violin and viola are accompanied by pizzicato cello to see that this work has paid off. The overall result is a refreshing way to listen to these at times under-rated pieces – each line is clear, each musician bringing out the melody in beautiful long phrases. The Times recently described Jansen as “the queen of the sensitively woven and singing line, and of myriad subtleties in expression”. This is evident throughout the disc. She steals the limelight in Bach’s Partita no. 2 with its mammoth Chaconne. The music is brought to life by Jansen’s intensely musical, yet delicate, interpretation.

Reviewed by Ruth Squire