Bach Inspirations

Guitarist Thibaut Garcia proves here that all roads lead to and from J.S. Bach. In a colorful homage to the 18th-century German master, arrangements of Bach’s music for guitar sit alongside five composers’ own tributes. Garcia begins his journey with Agustín Barrios’ Baroque-flavoured La catedral before turning to the album’s cornerstone, a technically and dramatically assured performance of Bach’s solo violin Chaconne. There are some fine discoveries here—Tansman’s Inventions are skilful pastiches while Bogdanovic’s Suite brève shines Bach’s music through a 20th-century prism. Soprano Elsa Dreisig brings passion and poise to Gounod’s Ave Maria and the aria from Villa-Lobos’ Bachianas brasileiras No. 5.