Johann Sebastian Bach - Sonatas for Viola da Gamba (Atsushi Sakai; Christophe Rousset)

Information

Composer: Johann Sebastian Bach

• Sonata for Viola da Gamba and Harpsichord in G Major, BWV 1027
• Sonata for Viola da Gamba and Harpsichord in D Major, BWV 1028
• Sonata for Violin and Continuo in E Minor, BWV 1023 (transc. Atsushi Sakai)
• Sonata for Viola da Gamba and Harpsichord in G Minor, BWV 1029

Atsushi Sakai, viola da gamba

Christophe Rousset, harpsichord

Date: 2026

Label: Aparté

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The sonatas for viola da gamba and harpsichord attributed to Johann Sebastian Bach remain among his most debated chamber works, with uncertainties surrounding their chronology and structural intent. It is unclear whether they belong to his early or late period, or whether they constitute a unified cycle or a set of independent compositions. In this recording project, long-time collaborators Atsushi Sakai and Christophe Rousset explore their expressive and spiritual dimensions, highlighting the viola da gamba’s dual role in Bach’s writing as both a voice of lament and a medium for profound musical dialogue.

Atsushi Sakai (born 1975 in Nagoya) is a versatile musician active across Baroque, contemporary, and jazz genres. Trained in Japan, the United States, and France, he studied cello with Harvey Shapiro and Philippe Muller at the Conservatoire de Paris, graduating with top honors in 1997, and later specialized in early music with Christophe Coin. He has performed internationally as a soloist and continuo player with leading ensembles such as Les Talens Lyriques and Le Concert d’Astrée, and frequently collaborates with Christophe Rousset. Sakai has also founded period-instrument ensembles and explores contemporary and improvised music, including jazz collaborations and experimental projects.

Christophe Rousset (born 1961), founder of Les Talens Lyriques, is a renowned harpsichordist and conductor known for his passion for opera and early European music. Trained in Paris and The Hague, he gained early acclaim by winning the Bruges Harpsichord Competition at 22. Since founding his ensemble in 1991, he has become a key figure in reviving Baroque, Classical, and early Romantic repertoires, performing across major European venues and internationally. Rousset is also celebrated for his benchmark harpsichord recordings, his educational work with top institutions, his guest conducting, and his scholarly publications on Rameau, François Couperin, and historical performance practice.

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