Viktoria Mullova, Ottavio Dantone and Accademia Bizantina in Bach

Viktoria Mullova recently released a disc of Bach violin concertos with Ottavio Dantone and Accademia Bizantina (see my review), and now she and the group brought a programme of four Bach concertos to the Wigmore Hall. On Friday 18 October Viktoria Mullova was the soloist, accompanied by Accademia Bizantina directed from the harpsichord by Ottavio Dantone, in Bach's Concerto in A minor for vioolin BWV1041 and Concerto in D for violin BWV1042, plus two of Dantone's transcriptions Concerto in C minor for violin and harpsichord (transcription of BWV1060) and Concerto in D for violin (transcription of BWV1053). A packed Wigmore Hall audience were all very eager to hear Mullova's particular clean-limbed Bach in live performance.

These were small scale performances, with a total of seven performers in all, just Mullova plus single violins, viola, cello and double bass with Dantone on harpsichord. But Mullova was very much part of the ensemble, these were performances notable for the collegiality with Mullova primus inter pares. All played standing, with Mullova playing in the tuttis and leading the players by example.