Sophie Gent, Kathleen Kajioka: Albinoni, Bach, Telemann

The Strad Issue: August 2025

Description: Ensemble players step into the spotlight, to delightful effect

Musicians: Sophie Gent (violin) Kathleen Kajioka (viola) Ensemble Masques/Olivier Fortin

Works: Albinoni: String Sonatas op.2: no.1, no.11. Bach: Violin Concertos: in A minor BWV1041, E major BWV1042. Telemann: Viola Concerto in G major

Catalogue number: ALPHA1140

Ensemble Masques here showcases its own talent, drawing the concerto soloists from its ranks and giving its six core players opportunities to shine in the two string sonatas. Its minimalist constitution allows Sophie Gent to perform the outer movements of the Bach concertos nimbly, lightly and with crisp incisiveness. She adds a sprinkling of extempore ornamentation throughout, but occasional stops and restarts hinder the phrasal flow of the A minor’s first movement.

Dance is well to the fore in both finales, the vitality of which reaches overdrive in BWV1041, Kent often articulating separate notes where most opt for slurs. Her brisk tempo for BWV1041’s Andante results in an overall loss of poetry, especially in the final solo passage; all participants appear to take an extended tea-break in the middle of BWV1042’s Adagio.

Kathleen Kajioka’s account of Telemann’s Viola Concerto is similarly lithe and airy, with occasional quirky phrasing; but it is characterised principally by her rich, well-shaded tone, stylish cadenzas and ornamentation and striking virtuosity, most notably in the final Presto.

The players of Ensemble Masques converse with the rapport of chamber musicians in the Albinoni sonatas – sample the contrapuntal second movement of op.2 no.1 and op.2 no.11’s finale – in a recording that has a winning mix of clarity and bloom.

ROBIN STOWELL