That's easy: Arthur Grumiaux's solo violin sonatas and partitas (just about to be re-re-re-released as part of Philips' entry into Universal's "Originals" series.)

Graham

quote:

Right then, if we are going to venture into the cello, I have to say that a couple of weeks ago I acquired the Janos Starker (3)LP reissue of the unaccompanied suites and it is stunning both musically and sonically. The cello's tone is so much better captured on vinyl than in digital bits.

Norman

Me too
I was mezmerised by it, having Rostropovich from the 90s before. Though I played only one side!

quote:

Originally posted by Cosmoliu:
Bravo Fredrik,

I agree completely on the Pinnock Brandenbergs and Angela Hewitt's Goldberg Variations. I have Julia Fischer's well reviewed Unaccompanied Violin Sonatas and Partitas on order and look forward to seeing how it compares with my other half dozen or so versions.

Norman

Norman,
my (personally signed... druel...) copy of her partitas and sonatas are high ranking in MY list of versions. Amongst the rising (and falling) violin stars, my hope is that she'll stay for a little longer. Very serious woman...

cheers
Stefan

quote:

Originally posted by stephenjohn:
Dear Hungry Halibut

you will buy 20 or more CDs now. It is unavoidable.

You might have thought you could have stopped at just one- I can try Bach, it's a free country, just one wont hurt- but you never could.

In fact before you started you were lost: Frederiks recomendation, one with which I wholeheartedly agree, was for three disks packaged as one [originally sold as two, or three depending on which country you live in].

Now you're being recommended the Goldbergs: Angela Hewtitt. On a Naim systen absolutely wonderfully beautiful. But, what about the harpsichord, and then Glen Gould too [two]. And violin partitas, the cello suites, the....

You might have noticed you got a relatively large number of replies in a relatively short time period. This is no coincidence.

Unless you want to spend hundreds of pounds, thousands of hours, stop now. Say no. It might not be not too late.

SJ

...and stay with Angelo Branduardi and Andreas Vollenweider, for the rest of your life...

Just kidding,
SJ

quote:

Originally posted by sjust:

Norman,
my (personally signed... druel...) copy of her partitas and sonatas are high ranking in MY list of versions. Amongst the rising (and falling) violin stars, my hope is that she'll stay for a little longer. Very serious woman...

cheers
Stefan

Thanks Stefan. Now I am REALLY looking forward to getting my copy. I had read the reviews when the (SA)CDs came out last year, and getting a copy went from back burner to off the stove totally until I was at my Dad's home recently and read a biographical article on her in STRINGS magazine. She sounded like an unusually serious and intense young woman, as you say. Signed copy, eh? I really am jealous!

Norman

Can I just put a word in for Rachel Podger's Sonata and Partita recordings? I went to a concert of her in Malvern not too long ago, and she is such an artist. I have advocated her cause before, and I believe she will soon be even more recognised than now as a really great violinist, who just happens to choose to play on a Baroque Violin. After I get the rest of Solomon's Bethoven she is up next from some serius CD investment in this quarter!

Fredrik

PS: I completely agree with the praise for Athur Grumieaux, violinist. In Bach (as elsewhwere) he is one the true greats...

quote:

Originally posted by Basil:

quote:

Originally posted by pe-zulu:
Viewed from another angle you can say, that Brittens interpretation is a little romantic.

Indeed, but I don't think excessively so, at least I didn’t mention Karajan’s interpretation!

Agreed, and this was my reason for writing a little romantic and not just romantic

quote:

Originally posted by Fredrik_Fiske:
Can I just put a word in for Rachel Podger's Sonata and Partita recordings? Fredrik

Very interesting post, Fredrik. Rachel Podger is another young violinist whose work I have been intending sample. Forgive me if my memory serves poorly, but I think that she is one of the very few young artists you have endorsed here. I will definitely have to check her out!

Norman

Does anyone know where to get Bach: solo partitas (or what's they're called) for the unaccompanied violin with VICTORIA MULLOVA!!!!

Please
Rickard

quote:

Originally posted by RiNo:
Does anyone know where to get Bach: solo partitas (or what's they're called) for the unaccompanied violin with VICTORIA MULLOVA!!!!

Please
Rickard

Rickard,

My favorite by far of the half dozen or so versions I own. Sadly, as far as I know, it is out of print. That being the case, I may be able to offer some assistance. Email me: normanatwork (at) hotmail (dot) com.

Norman

Rickard,

Scratch that last comment. It looks like it has been reissued! Check out this Amazon.com listing. Of the scant information in the web page, it looks like one of the two discs is the three Partitas, and I don't remember seeing any anouncement that she has re-recorded them. My guess would be that Philips is trying to get some mileage from some of her earlier releases, what with the same alluring cover photo being on several 2006 offerings. Living where I do, I have no hope of getting a copy in my hands to check out the recording date(s). In general, I must order classical titles online. Still, if the several 2006 offerings include such previously discontinued recordings as her Bach Partitas, it is a happy development indeed.

Norman

Pray reveal what a Partita is? I don't mind appearing uneducated!!

Nigel

A Score is the word used to describe the printed or manuscript copy of a whole piece of music, and Partita is interchangeable word with it, though its use is rare and possibly even slightly eccentric. Really it simply means Suite, which a very common Baroque term to describe an Overture followed by a fairly set sequence of dance movement. But Partitias tend to be more serious in mucial content than Suites, as may be seen to be largely the case (with notable exceptions), in Bach's Keyboard Partitas, and then The French Suites and English Suites.

Fredrik

quote:

Originally posted by RiNo:
Does anyone know where to get Bach: solo partitas (or what's they're called) for the unaccompanied violin with VICTORIA MULLOVA!!!!

Please
Rickard

Rickard,

Great news. As commented above,it's just been re-issued by Philips as a two disc along with her version of Bach's concertos. This is the original 1995 performance. See Amazon.co.uk, it's about 12 UK pounds. Not much for the most amazing version of the Partitas - a Desert Island disc indeed. If you ever want just one Bach disc,this truly is the one. Enjoy !

Thanks Cosmoliu, Wugged Woy for the good news, Fredrik for an (as always) informative post and last , but not least Nigel, for asking a question tat I probaly never thought about!

Yes good news. I have the Bach sonatas for violin and piano, with Mullova and Bruno Canino. I really like that music, though it has a sort of sad and lamented (wonder if that's the right word) undertone. However, I only got this version and the pianoplaying has always seemed like played on stilts (can't find the right words, "metronomic quality"?)

Well, maybe one of you experienced listeners understand what I'm getting at?
Thanks again for the response!

Regards
Rickard

OK. I always thought a sonata was a solo instrument. Then I got Mozart's Violin Sonatas, with violin AND piano. So is it still solo, with the piano as accompaniment? Now we have partitas (a serious suite!) and the latest to challenge me, an unaccompanied partita - but not a sonata.

This is getting me confused. No wonder people find classical music hard. It's so much easier to stick to The Smiths. Four or five albums, a couple of complilations, and every one indispensible.

Anyway, two Bach CDs should arrive tomorrow from Amazon, with a couple more on the way from the US. That should cheer me up. I can't find the Mullova 2CD on UK Amazon, though it's on the US site.

I only wanted one CD, and I've already got four on the way - so that's about 8 discs. This is only happening because Hilary is in Venice for a few days, leaving me to my own devices. Since she's gone, I've bought all this music, and a Hi-Line. Still, with my Bach knowledge developing, she will hopefully find me irrestistible!!

Nigel

Dear Rickard!

'Playing on Stilts' is a favourite way I have of describing modern Bach Piano playing!

Bach's lines almost always sing, and this is very important to bring out in performance. Don't belief me though for it not my invented opinion (though I agree with it, of course), it is based on what his sons' said about his style on the keyboard! Of course he was playing the Organ, Harpsichord or Clavichord, and never showed any interst in the piano at all.

So how could these older instruments sing? The Piano of course can sing and some of the great players get this on the piano without false romanticism or un-natural stacatti, but the problem is that the music is almost always articulated to a large degree. Sung stacatto!

The strange thing about the Harpsichord is that all the necessary articulation is achieved without straining for the effect, and not least it allows lines to be easily balanced, in what can become truly dense on the piano, even when played in the modern pianistc super-stacatto way. The result of this effortless (it requires great control because of the very light actions in harpsichords) articulacy is a clear natural timbre, which actually does sing through the lines!

So the problem is one of the instruemnt and almost trying to play it like another instrument. If the Piano is emplyed the stylistc and expressive problems multiply compared to the Harsichord.

A while back I posted a Thread called "Bach NOT on the Pianoforte," which goes into this at length. The problem of using an instrument with different expressive technique than the music was designed for is a fundamental one..

All the best from Fredrik

Dear Nigel,

I am prepared to bet you will find Bach just as indispensible as The Smiths once you know he music a bit!

Goo listening! Fred

Thanks Fredrik, enlightening
But I do love Angela Hewitt (ignorance is a bliss )
You make me wanna get some harpsichord records, can you recommend me ONE! (with Bach, or Couperin???)

best regards
Rickard

P.S Nigel I found the current Mullova discography via Philips classics D.S

Dear Rickard,

Don't fear, for there are successful and great Bach performances on the Piano. I think I occasionally suggest one or two, even if I have no doubt that for me the Harpsichord can be even more exilerating in this music.

In fact I would always choose a great Piano rendition in Bach to a less fine one on the Harpsichord! The player is the one who makes the music, and the instrument the machine the get expression from. [Low bandwidth smiley].

ATB from Fredrik

PS: I think you could do well to get Trevor Pinnock's, or Pierre Hantaii's (my favourite among easily obtained recordings, and it really does sing) reading on the Harpsichord of the Goldberg Variations. I pointed out that the best Hantaii recording is in my opinion the one on Opus 111 (French company), and not his later retake for another company, which I personally find less compelling. The Pinnock is easy to find on DG Archiv.