With J.S. Bach, Choralgesänge, Vol. 3, Alessandro Simonetto continues a highly ambitious artistic and musicological project devoted to the chorales of Johann Sebastian Bach. Released by OnClassical, this third volume confirms both the coherence of the overall undertaking and the depth of an interpretative vision that goes far beyond conventional discography. The world of Bach’s Choralgesänge is among the most intimate and spiritually charged areas of his output. Beneath their apparent simplicity lies an extraordinary density of meaning: every harmonic shift, every contrapuntal voice, and every melodic inflection serves a rhetorical, theological, and musical function. Performing this repertoire requires not only technical control and stylistic awareness, but also the ability to convey its contemplative and meditative essence. Simonetto demonstrates these qualities with remarkable clarity and conviction. From the outset, his interpretation is grounded in architectural transparency and natural phrasing. Avoiding both excessive monumentality and overly romanticized readings, Simonetto presents a Bach that is lucid, restrained, and deeply human. The choral textures are shaped with an exemplary balance between linear clarity and harmonic depth, allowing the polyphonic structure to remain fully intelligible while preserving its spiritual breath. One of the most striking aspects of this recording is the refined control of sound. Dynamics are handled with subtle gradation rather than contrast for its own sake, resulting in a seamless musical discourse. Each voice is given its own space within the texture, supported by an exceptionally careful approach to legato and resonance. The resulting sonority is clear yet never dry, maintaining an inner tension that sustains the musical narrative throughout. Stylistically, Simonetto shows an intimate understanding of Bach’s language. Ornamentation is always functional rather than decorative, rhythmic flow is steady yet flexible, and harmonic progressions are allowed to unfold naturally. There is a deliberate absence of rhetorical excess; instead, the performance is shaped by a sense of inwardness that restores the chorales to their original devotional purpose. Particularly noteworthy is the interpreter’s ability to differentiate the expressive character of each chorale. While the project maintains an overarching unity, each piece retains its own emotional and timbral identity: some emerge as intimate prayers, others as austere meditations, and others still as moments of radiant transcendence. Simonetto navigates these shifts with sensitivity, without ever breaking the continuity of the listening experience. The recording quality, as is typical of OnClassical productions, plays a crucial artistic role. The sound is natural, detailed, and deeply immersive, capturing subtle dynamic nuances and micro-variations in timbre with exceptional fidelity. Rather than enhancing the music artificially, the recording serves to bring the listener closer to the organic reality of the performance. This third volume of the Choralgesänge stands as one of the most mature and coherent installments in Alessandro Simonetto’s Bach project. More than a collection of chorales, it unfolds as a contemplative journey through Bach’s spiritual and architectural universe. The interpretative approach combines scholarly rigor, poetic sensitivity, and intellectual depth, resulting in a reading that speaks equally to the intellect and to emotional perception. In a contemporary recording landscape often dominated by spectacle or interpretative ego, this release is distinguished by its authenticity and its profound trust in the inherent power of Bach’s music. Simonetto thus confirms a highly individual and mature artistic vision, making this volume a significant contribution not only to Bach discography but also to the ongoing dialogue on how this music can be meaningfully interpreted today.