One reads expectantly the program announcement "Sonata for viola da gamba and harpsichord" - and balks: Has Antoine Tamestit put his beloved viola in the closet and switched to viola da gamba? Or does he cheekily play the gamba sonatas on the viola? It does make a difference whether one plays the instrument clamped between the legs - da gamba - or resting on the arm - da braccia. Antoine Tamestit is tireless in his search for new activities with Bach for himself and his viola; he already brilliantly annexed two cello solo sonatas at the same venue three years ago, and now he is tempted by the viola da gamba sonatas, in which a virtuoso harpsichord partner promises additional musical pleasure.Admittedly, he has to make minor adjustments to the musical text - the viola da gamba with its up to seven strings reaches considerably lower, so the viola has to grab an octave higher every now and then. But as far as such interventions are concerned, Tamestit can rightly point out that Bach himself was not fussy about alternative instrumentation. And then, of course, he may remind us that Bach himself preferred to play the viola. There you go!
Text source and further information about this event: https://www.alteoper.de/de/programm/veranstaltung.php?id=521046268
