"Générations" Senaillé & Leclair: Sonatas for Violin and Harpsichord

This album’s creators, US conductor and harpsichordist William Christie and French violinist Théotime Langlois de Swarte, were born almost 50 years apart. And here, their rapport is brilliantly rewarding, youth and experience coming together to quite wonderful effect. Jean-Baptiste Senaillé and Jean-Marie Leclair were France’s leading violinists in the early 18th century and their music, very different in character, has enormous charm and elegance. Nearly all written in four movements, these sonatas are full of invention. While Leclair’s music is more immediately colourful and rhythmically vital, Senaillé’s will, for many, be a real discovery. An entrancing album that is beautifully programmed.