Despite the title please note that Steven Isserlis plays these sonatas on a cello, not a viola da gamba.

We may miss the plangent quality of the instrument of Bach and Handel’s day, but Isserlis judges the scale of his performances to a nicety, playing with lightness of touch, but no overcautious inhibitions.

He is his usual ebullient self in the three Bach sonatas (extra trills and flourishes in the First Sonata’s finale) and the Scarlatti and Handel are no less engaging.

Richard Egarr accompanies on a harpsichord, but skilful duetting mean that balance never seems a problem.