This is a perfectly reasonable recording of Bach's works for violin and orchestra and anyone who has not heard the works before will no doubt find them more than adequate. Violinist and leader
Jonathan Rees is a fine player with a sweet tone and a warm style and he takes the strings of the Scottish Ensemble through thoroughly professional performances of the works. When joined by spry violinist Jane Murdoch in the Concerto for two violins and plangent oboist
Nicholas Daniel in the Concerto for violin and oboe,
Rees proves himself a graceful and considerate partner. Virgin's early-'90s sound is a bit thin on top but still clean and clear.
The only problem, of course, is that there have been hundreds of recordings of these works over the past 50 years and dozens of them have more going for them than this one. For those who like the works sweet and warm, there's the
Perlman. For those who like them svelte and stylish, there's the
Mutter. For those who like them lucid and transparent, there's the
Grumiaux. And that's just the modern instrument performances. There are nearly as many great period instrument performances. If this disc were to come into your hands, it would certainly be enjoyable enough while it was playing. But whether you would listen to it again is another question.