In The Art of Obligato, violinist Davina Clarke explores the nuanced relationship between violin and voice in arias from Bach’s cantatas. Following her debut album, Sweet Stillness, this new release on VOCES8 Records features Clarke alongside tenor Nick Pritchard and countertenor Hugh Cutting, with instrumentalists Tom Foster (keyboards), Sergio Bucheli (theorbo), and Alexander Rolton (cello), as well as fellow violinist Kati Debretzeni. Together, they bring to life Bach’s distinctively layered approach to the obligato violin, where each note and phrase deepens the dialogue between instrumental and vocal lines.

Clarke has carefully chosen arias that span a variety of moods and textures, underscoring Bach’s vast expressive range. “When choosing the repertoire, I listened to a huge number of arias,” Clarke shares. “I wanted to incorporate as much variety as possible in terms of mood, text, and musical realisation so that there is something for every listener to enjoy.” The selection reflects Bach’s versatility, from the contemplative to the jubilant, and reveals his skill in shaping emotive contrasts within the cantata form.

While all the selected arias feature the obligato violin, Bach originally wrote some of these parts for other instruments such as oboe, flute, or recorder. Clarke’s decision to adapt them for violin creates a cohesive texture, allowing the violin to convey a broad spectrum of timbres that complement the vocal lines. This adaptation reveals Bach’s own sensitivity to instrumental colour and Clarke’s careful attention to the nuances of his compositional style. The resulting interpretations illuminate each aria, allowing the violin to echo and extend the voice, creating intricate layers of musical conversation.

The genesis of The Art of Obligato is rooted in Clarke’s work with the English Baroque Soloists under the mentorship of Sir John Eliot Gardiner. These experiences sharpened her interest in historically informed performance, particularly in the expressive depth of obligato passages in Bach’s arias. With The Art of Obligato, Clarke offers a thoughtful exploration of these cantatas, capturing both the elegance and intensity of Bach’s music.

This album, released on Voces8 Records, is available to stream here and to purchase here.