Bach - Violin Sonatas -
Andrew Manze has been called "the Grappelli of the Baroque violin" because of the
... more
improvisatory liveliness of his approach. But he might with equal appropriateness be called the Rory Bremner of period playing, because--as he shows on this recording--he seems to be able to inhabit different musical personalities, and move between them with astonishing ease. Sometimes he pads along with sinewy grace like a panther ready to spring (the "Preludio" to BWV1023, for example), sometimes he goes for a much more relaxed cantabile line, and sometimes he plays with a sparkling and infectious sense of fun ("Presto", BWV1021). Add into the mix his varied styles of vibrato, and the result is positively Shakespearean in its sense of teeming life and characterful drama. He is accompanied with an almost telepathic sense of partnership by Richard Egarr, and in four of the nine sonatas by Jaap ter Linden. As an extra treat, Manze also includes his own arrangement (which he calls a reconstruction) of Bach's Toccata and Fugue in D minor for organ. You'll never hear the original the same way again! --Warwick Thompson
Bach - Violin Sonatas
Andrew Manze has been called "the Grappelli of the Baroque violin" because of the
... more
improvisatory liveliness of his approach. But he might with equal appropriateness be called the Rory Bremner of period playing, because--as he shows on this recording--he seems to be able to inhabit different musical personalities, and move between them with astonishing ease. Sometimes he pads along with sinewy grace like a panther ready to spring (the "Preludio" to BWV1023, for example), sometimes he goes for a much more relaxed cantabile line, and sometimes he plays with a sparkling and infectious sense of fun ("Presto", BWV1021). Add into the mix his varied styles of vibrato, and the result is positively Shakespearean in its sense of teeming life and characterful drama. He is accompanied with an almost telepathic sense of partnership by Richard Egarr, and in four of the nine sonatas by Jaap ter Linden. As an extra treat, Manze also includes his own arrangement (which he calls a reconstruction) of Bach's Toccata and Fugue in D minor for organ. You'll never hear the original the same way again! --Warwick Thompson
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
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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
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(Performances for comparison:)
From:
BEETHOVEN
The ViolinSonatas
ANNE-SOPHIE MUTTER
LAMBERT ORKIS
Compact Disc 2
Sonatas op. 23 & op. 24
"Spring Sonata...
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Ciao members have rated this review on average very helpful
very helpful 05.03.2004
Just Sit Bach for J S Bach Review ofBach: Concerto for Two Violins in D minor / Violin Concertos in A minor & E minorby
MAFARRIMOND
Advantages: Romantic orchestral music Disadvantages: Only 1 hour - eat quickly for a romantic dinner
...Johann Sebastian Bach, giant among Baroque composers, was a prolific writer whose versatility and creativity resulted in a wealth of musical works with a diversity ranging from sacred choral works, keyboard music to orchestra music.
The CD, Concerto for Two Violins in D minor / Violin Concertos in A minor & E minor, is an orchestral recording conducted by Salvatore Accardo, in which two violins (Anne-Sophie Mutter and Salvatore Accardo) / solo violin (Anne-Sophie Mutter) are contrasted with a larger orchestra (English Chamber Orchestra) of strings and bass continuo instrument the harpsichord.
Bach is often criticized for his strict attention to form. Whilst, I greatly admire Bach for his intellectual and methodical approach to composition, what I enjoy most is the harmonious and melodic music that results.
This CD is a superb example...
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Ciao members have rated this review on average helpful
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.)
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The following information...
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Ciao members have rated this review on average very helpful
very helpful 13.04.2006
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