Bach: Sonatas & Partitas for Violin Solo

Advantages: Wonderful transcriptions of JS Bach's majestic music; sensitive, tender, vivacious, effortless and fluid playing.
Disadvantages: Nil.

...Variata in A Minor (Italian Variations) BWV 989 7 Gigue from Violin Partita no 3. BWV1006 Trio Sonata in C Major BWV 529 8 Allegro 9 Largo 10 Allegro Concerto in C minor (after Marcello) BWV 974: 11 Allegro 12 Largo 13 Presto 14 Bist du bei mir (from Anna Magdalena Notebook BWV 508) Concerto in A major (transposed to C Major) BWV 1055: 15 Allegro 16 Larghetto 17 Allegro ma non tanto 18 Badinerie from Orchestral Suite no.2 BWV 1067 19 Agnus Dei from Mass in B minor BWV 232 Performers: Alison Balsom (trumpets), Colm Carey (organ), Alina Ibragimova (violin), Alistair Ross (harpsichord & chamber organ), Mark Caudle (viola da gamba) Total running time: 71' 31" List Price: $16.98 GBP13.99 (Of course, it can easily be had for less on many online stores. Just Google the disc name and artist.) ~~~~~~~~~~~ The following information... Read review

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Advantages: Brilliant, stirring, excitingly unpredictable, fresh performance; "genius" is not hyperbole in Argerich's case.
Disadvantages: Reflecting its LP origins, the CD lasts only 50' 16"!

...one of the world’s genuine living legends. Find out for yourself why so many who have experienced that rarefied, divine, yet deeply human musical world created by Martha Argerich so hate to leave it. Now, if only she would record the Goldberg Variations, or any other solo Bach work … *sigh*… CD TITLE: JOHANN SEBASTIAN BACH: Toccata BWV 911 * Partita BWV 826 * English Suite No. 2 BWV 807 1 Toccata in C minor, BWV 911 Partita No. 2 in C minor, BWV 826 2 Sinfonia 3 Allemande 4 Courante 5 Sarabande 6 Rondeau 7 Capriccio English Suite No. 2 in A minor, BWV 807 8 Prelude 9 Allemande 10 Courante 11 Sarabande 12 Bourée I/II 13 Gigue Martha Argerich, piano Deutsche Grammophon ©1980 289 463 604-2 Some definitions… TOCCATA... Read review

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Advantages: Thrilling, daredevil chamber music performances from the legendary Martha Argerich and partner-in-crime Gidon Kremer.
Disadvantages: Violinist Kremer occasionally on the mannered, spastic side; only forty-three minutes of music.

...thorough introduction to Martha Argerich, you may want to read my other post (or you may not!): http://www.ciao.co.uk/BachKeyboardWorksReview5359921 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ CD Notes: LUDWIG VAN BEETHOVEN (1770 - 1827) Sonata for Piano and Violin no. 4 in A minor, op. 23 1. (1) Presto 6’56 2. (2) Andante scherzoso più Allegretto 7’20 3. (3) Allegro molto 5’15 Sonata for Piano and Violin no. 5 in F major, op. 24 "Frühlings-Sonate" ["Spring"] 4. (1) Allegro 9’41 5. (2) Adagio molto espressivo 6’02 6. (3) Scherzo. Allegro molto 1’19 7. (4) Rondo. Allegro ma non troppo 6’34 MARTHA ARGERICH, Piano GIDON KREMER, Violin Deutsche Grammophon (P) 1987 43’23 417 787-2 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ (Performances for comparison:) From: BEETHOVEN The Violin Sonatas ANNE-SOPHIE MUTTER LAMBERT ORKIS Compact Disc 2 Sonatas op. 23 & op. 24 "Spring Sonata... Read review

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