This is a genuinely great fiddle record, one to place alongside those in which Heifetz, Szigeti or Elman (to name but three) tackle similar repertoire.
Indeed, if it's possible to make this music sound so beautiful, why does the 'historic performing' lobby kick up so much noisy opposition? One understands all the counter-arguments; and, yes, these are arrangements – which is different. But to take just one small example, at around 2'02" into the opening Adagio of Nardini's Sonata, Haendel suddenly dips from mezzo-forte to piano, as if she's switching from a serene smile to a questioning glance. The effect is both subtle and dramatic. Corelli's La Folia and Tartini's The Devil's Trill Sonata are similarly expressive. As for Vitali's Chaconne, Haendel admits that she was knocked out when she heard Heifetz play the piece and in some ways her impassioned performance resembles Heifetz's interpretatively spectacular 1950 recording (of Respighi's arrangement; Haendel plays David's more comprehensive alternative).
Always there's that ecstatic control of melodic line, holding fast to the harmonic thread – musically, patiently and with the touch of a true craftsman. The recording is superb, and the partnership with Geoffrey Parsons is beautifully balanced. A truly wonderful CD.