The Orchestre de Chambre de Paris is a prestigious ensemble that has made its mark far beyond the French capital. Its director is Austrian violinist Thomas Zehetmair; previous incumbents include American John Nelson, who conducted Auckland Philharmonia Orchestra's Exotic Birds concert just last year.
The marketing for the French orchestra's
latest album, however, stresses its soloists, Sarah and Deborah Nemtanu, posed in smiling confrontation on its cover. The sisters share concertmaster duties with the orchestra and, now in their early 30s, have finally made their recording debut. The programme focuses on Bach, beginning with the inevitable D minor Double Concerto.
The Nemtanus, with simpatico support from conductor Sascha Goetzel, set the style for the whole album with well-sprung tempi and a sharp sense of dialogue, with each other and their orchestral colleagues.
Each sister has her own solo turn. In the E major Concerto, Sarah Nemtanu responds to a stern orchestral Allegro with disarming grace and delicacy, the bite of bow on string keeping any danger of excessive sweetness at bay. Deborah Nemtanu is more forthright in the A minor Concerto, soaring over and through its broad orchestral sweeps.
Two Bach Inventions serve as Baroque bonbons, played in duet, with Deborah Nemtanu on a particularly rich-toned viola.
