Review of Alon Sariel – Bach's Balkid II

Alon Sariel continues to explore the works of Johann Sebastian Bach on mandolin. With the second CD of the Bach Project, Sariel sounds bold, energetic and cocky, but also extremely sensitive. He uses fast-paced tours and Bach's rhythmic fugues as an opportunity to present his mandolin in many shades of color, with subtlety and varied dynamic contrasts. The templates become playgrounds for profile mandolin adventures. Alon Sariel also achieves this in his famous organ piece Toccata and Fugue in D minor. Here, shimmering forms often meet undulating, meditative sonic surfaces. Chords are developed loudly, and fine lines gain rhythmic nuances. In his arrangements of Bach's music for solo violin, Alon Sariel demonstrates the mandolin's ability to deliver subtle detail through fragrant sound textures and powerful pizzicato.

Taken by Bach II
JS Bach: Violin Sonata BWV 1003, Prelude from the Partita BWV 1006, Prelude & Allegro BWV 998 & Toccata and Fugue in D minor BWV 565, Ysaÿe: Obsession au Sonata No. 2 in A minor

Alon Sariel (mandolin), Francesca Benetti (theorbo)
Pentacles