Johann Christian was one of the most successful of the famous sons of Johann Sebastian Bach. After arriving in London and becoming music master to Queen Charlotte, he forged a friendship with the young Mozart and composed a great deal of chamber music before focusing his career on Italian opera (in stark contrast to his siblings). The music recorded here his Op.16 sonatas for harpsichord and violin is often characterised by flowing, singing lines, derived in large part from his experience in the opera house and form a significant part of the large volume of chamber music he composed during his promising careergh containing just two movements, each sonata still displays an enormous amount of variety, with the first movement normally cast as a fast movement that is followed by a slower one in a more reflective or restrained style. Both regularly feature themes from popular songs, with frequent use of repetition. The balance between the instruments is of also of interest: the violin is on an equal footing with the harpsichord throughout, promoting a musical dialogue that is as much about technicality as it is about melodic development.J.C. Bachs Sonatas are performed by the UinskyteRuggeri Duo: founded in 2012, they focus on performing music from the Baroque era through to the 19th century. This is Marco Ruggeris second disc for Brilliant Classics, following an album of organ music by the 19thcentury composer Padre Davide Da Bergamo in November last year. Lithuanian violinist Lina Uinskyte makes her debut in this recording.
