AUBREE OLIVERSON, VIOLIN, STEPHEN OLIVERSON, PIANO; A Moon Light Christmas with Bach (Moon Light Productions) ****

Sixteen-year-old Aubree Oliverson is a violinist with immense talent. Despite her youth, the Utah-born artist already has accumulated quite a résumé: she’s soloed with a number of ensembles around the country, including the Utah Symphony, and she’s appeared twice on the nationally recognized radio show From the Top.

And now Oliverson has released her first Christmas CD, A Moon Light Christmas with Bach, a thoughtful collection of holiday favorites and arrangements. But she’s taken it one step further – interspersed between the holiday gems is J.S. Bach’s Partita No. 2, for solo violin.

Oliverson gives a stellar performance of the partita; her interpretation is well executed and dynamic, yet also wonderfully expressive and lyrical. The closing Chaconne, a demanding piece for any concert artist, is given a magnificent treatment in her young hands. She is without question a young violinist ready to make a huge name for herself.

One might be prone to think that mixing some eclectic Bach with Christmas music might not be the best blend, but Oliverson manages the impossible – making each track, whether it’s the opening “The First Noël” or the Schubert/Gounod “Ave Maria” sound as impressive as any movement from the Bach partita.

Oliverson is accompanied at the piano by her father, Stephen Oliverson. The two make an exceptional musical team; they are equal partners and play wonderfully off each other.

Also joining the pair on a number of tracks are Aubree Oliverson’s younger siblings, Andrew and Lily.

A Moon Light Christmas with Bach is a charming album and a delightful addition to anyone’s holiday music collection.