Sonata in G major, BWV 1027
Sonata in G minor, BWV 1029
Sonata in D major, BWV 1028

What immediately struck me upon the initial audition of this new recording of the Sonatas for Viola da Gamba and Harpsichord by Johann Sebastian Bach (1685-1750) is the palpable quality of the audio itself, and the close-up presence of the two instruments themselves. You would have to be sitting at the harpsichord or holding the viola da gamba in your own hands to feel any closer. Add to this highly committed musicianship by both Thomas Goetschel and Yvonne Ritter, especially during the final movement of the Sonata in G minor (audio clip below), and you're in for an enjoyable listening experience.

Thomas Goetschel plays a 1720 Johann Christian Hoffmann seven-string bass viol which was restored in 1980. Hoffmann was an instrument maker with close ties to Johann Sebastian Bach. Yvonne Ritter plays a 2018 Denzil Wraight harpsichord based on instruments by Johann Heinrich Gräbner the Younger (1705-1777). It has a full-bodied and robust tone that meshes very well with the rich sound of the viola da gamba.

These sonatas are some of Bach's most popular works, represented by many fine recordings which you may already have, but I wouldn't hesitate at all in recommending this one as well, especially for its sound quality and engaged playing. Kudos to sound engineer Michaela Wiesbeck and producer Andreas Ziegler for making an impactful recording that lives outside the loudspeaker enclosures.