Pretty popular French outfit Zig Zag Territoires has a few new CD they would like you to know about. Firstly, there is the "Matthäus Passion before Bach" by Schütz, performed by the ensemble Akademia. Not mereley an academic endeavour by no means, this release sounds fascinating not despite, but exactly because of its small-scale approach. A second disc pays long overdue hommage to Johann Paul von Westhoff, a leading violin virtuoso of the 17th Century and purveyor of the stylus phantasticus (a free, improvisatory style of the baroque). The six sonatas dating back to 1694 will be played by David Plantier, founder of the Il Gardellino ensemble.

In a short interview, label founders Sylvie Brely and Franck Jaffres also give an insight into the release schedule for early 2005: Cello Concertos by Gaetano Nasillo, Maria-motets by Dufay (ensemble Musica Nova), Bach-toccatas by Blandine Rannou, Christoph Schaffraths Chamber Music gets treated by Guido Balestracci and Anima Eterna devote their time to Rimsky-Korsakoff. Read the complete interview here.

Zig Zag's Homepage: www.zigzag-territoires.com