The Strad Recommends: Caroline Nicolas: Pièces en Solitude

The Strad Issue: August 2026

Description: A memorable debut presents a bright new gamba star

Musicians: Caroline Nicolas (viola da gamba) Kevin Payne (theorbo)

Works: Music by Forqueray, Le Sieur de Machy, Marais and Monsieur de Sainte Colombe

Catalogue number: AVIE AV2861

New York-based Canadian viola da gambist Caroline Nicolas makes her solo recording debut here with a haunting disc of French music from the instrument’s golden age.

Nicolas, who studied with Phoebe Carrai at the Juilliard School and Christophe Coin in Basel, is accompanied in all but the solo tracks by her husband Kevin Payne on theorbo. This results in a light texture and a free and meditative quality, with the music’s feeling of intimacy enhanced by the closeness of the recording.

The disc’s three preludes have a particularly improvisatory feel. Marin Marais’s from his Suite no.7 in G major is beautifully carefree, that from his A minor Suite more tautly expressive with touches of vibrato on key notes and elaborately decorated runs, while Le Sieur de Machy’s – one of three unaccompanied works on the disc – explores the instrument’s considerable range, with some wonderful, deep bass notes.

In the Forqueray suite we meet a high, expressive voice singing out in ‘La Borde’, swishing runs and coquettish pauses from ‘La Portugaise’ and a whimsical, more thoughtful ‘La Bellemont’.

The final track returns to Marais for his simple but profound ‘Les voix humaines’, full of beautifully executed double-stopping, coming to a close as if gazing out to a distant landscape.

JANET BANKS