I'm sure everyone will concur that Michala Petri is synonymous with the recorder. In fact it could be said that she is this instrument's ambassador-at-large. She has done so much to enhance this proletarian instrument's image and reputation, that many music students chose to play the recorder because she made it hip and trendy. This Danish musician has been actively recording since 1975 and has released many fine recordings for several labels including RCA, Sony, DG, Philips, and now OUR Recordings. She quickly rose to prominence with excellent interpretations of Baroque music, but has also ventured into contemporary composers like Carl Nielsen and Malcolm Arnold.

On this new CD on OUR Recordings 40th release, she revisits the Six Flute Sonatas by Johann Sebastian Bach which she had previously recorded in 1992 with Keith Jarrett on harpsichord. A recording that has now reached legendary status. This time around her continuo ensemble includes Mahan Esfahani on harpsichord, and Hille Perl on viola da gamba, both highly esteemed musicians in their respective fields. All of the Allegro movements are distinctly agile and bouncy, marked by a rapid forward rhythmic pulse, while the slow movements are shaped by nobility and grace. All three musicians are always in perfect sync, lending the music an appreciable dance character.

The audio recording itself is exemplary, with microphones positioned it seems at an ideal distance from the instruments to also capture the warm acoustics of the Garnisons Church in Copenhagen. Now my only trivial criticism is this: Since the sound of a recorder carries forward extremely well at any distance, it may have been advisable to monitor the sound of the other instruments a bit closer. Especially the viola da gamba which sometimes fades into the background simply because the sound of the recorder is so prominent. I've only been able to listen to this recording in its normal stereo format, but because it's a multi-format Hybrid SACD, it may very well be that this imbalance disappears when played back in Surround Sound.