From the sublime simplicity of J S Bach’s Prelude No. 1 in C major from Das wohltemperierte Klavier BWV 846 and its companion fugue, to the deeply complex Das Musikalische Opfer BWV 1079, violinist and founding Artistic Director of the Bach Akademie Australia, Madeleine Easton has cherry-picked seven choice selections from the output of JS Bach in her mission to explore The Mind of a Genius.

Along the way we visit other music by Bach, much of it familiar but still wondrous at every hearing.

Mikaela Oberg and Madeleine Easton: Bach – The Mind of a Genius. Photo © David Hooley

The program is also an exposé of the capabilities of the harpsichord at the time – especially the advances in its tuning. Together, the pieces have enough chromatics and key variations to challenge the tuning of any harpsichord and the intonation of the best instrumental player.

As solo violinist, Easton directs an intimate ensemble of eight expert Baroque musicians and soprano Bonnie de la Hunty making her debut with the ensemble.

Neal Peres Da Costa fires the opening salvo performing the aforementioned Prelude and Fugue on the harpsichord with a charming improvisatory prologue. His...