Schubert and Bach. From the Panocha Quartet, and Renaud Capuçon and David Fray

It was a happy choice when I decided to listen to a couple of Schubert's string quartets and my hand alighted on a 1988 Supraphon recording of the Panocha Quartet playing D 804 and the youthful D 87. Classic old-world playing reminding one very clearly that this is chamber music, with four friends playing in a large room or small hall. It also reminded me how extraordinary it is that one small country in central Europe could produce so many first class musicians – particularly string players and string quartets. It sometimes seems that at least half of the world's A class string quartets have been either Czech, or Hungarian. The Czechs are also lucky in having the faithful Supraphon company there for decade after decade, supporting Czech music and Czech players.

Feeling in a chamber music mood, my hand then alighted on a recent recording of four Bach sonatas for keyboard and violin. The soloists were Renaud Capuçon and David Fray; I liked this CD very much the first time round, and enjoy it more and more on re-hearing. Herr Bach presumably wrote the virtuoso keyboard part to show off his playing, and the keyboard does dominate these works, with the violin often just playing accompanying chords or, in one case, being completely silent for one whole movement (BWV 1019). The character of these sonatas comes over well in this recording, with Herr Bach (alias David Fray) dominating the show and Herr Vogel of the Court orchestra (alias Renaud Capuçon) together fully capturing the spirit of these four sonatas. I hope and trust the same players will one day give us the two remaining sonatas in this set of six.