Bach Sonatas and partitas by Sigiswald Kuijken DHM 2CDs

Nice to have a different take on these often-recorded masterpieces. Kuijken gets a big sound from his baroque instrument, though it is occasionally a bit edgy, and plays with tremendous energy. Tempos are on the fast side--his chaconne--is the fastest overall I've heard.

The recording is bizarre, however. It sounds like the pickup is an inch above the strings. With a good pair of headphones, you'll think you're inside the violin. I can distinctly hear the higher strings on the left and lower strings on the right. There's also a lot of reverb, which is obviously artificial, since you wouldn't get it with a closely-miked instrument.

There are so many great recordings of these works that I wouldn't bother with this one unless you like the spacey sound. Try Heifetz, Milstein, Szeryng, Kremer, Hahn or (my favorite) Szigeti.