Hi,

Somehow I managed to evade this work for too long now. I'm looking for recommendations for performances - people keep reminding the Milstein recording - is it really the definitive ? Also, I understand he recorded at least twice, DG ('75) and EMI, which is the preferred ?

TIA, Omer.

hi Omer

not going to be very helpful here, but i was wondering what sparked your interest in the partitas.

i have (oops) Yitzhak Perlman, which is okay, but not top desert island material. i wonder why the partitas for violin are so low key? are the piano partitas different, i got glenn gould.

how does 'public perception' of bach's violin partitas compare with the cello suites for example, or the brandenburgs. or the viol. sonatas?

cheers

[This message was edited by shahreza on MONDAY 08 January 2001 at 15:34.]

Shahreza,

My interest has risen as I'm really enjoying music so much now, and indeed Gould's partitas are such I'm looking to recreate this experience.

I also have many performances of the cello suites and not a single one of the violin partitas/suites, I guess it's time (I would also thank input on the violin suites)

Like you said, Stern isn't bad but not the answer to my question.

Thanx, Omer.

Both Milstein recordings are superb, though I don't think anyone can be regarded as "definitive" in this music. Many people consider the earlier EMI set as the best one. Milstein apparently preferred his later DG set, and I agree with him. Both the performance and sound quality are outstanding.

Ross

You might like to try Rachel Podger for a dazzling "historically informed performance" on Channel Classics.

Tom

Ok. Milstein, Milstein, Milstein. Good indeed.

To me, the absolutely greatest performance of these works has been recorded by Arthur Grumiaux. Listen to the Chaconne, it is simply pure heaven on earth, on the same level as e.g Bach recordings by Dinu Lipatti. On the whole, I'd say that Grumiaux was an extremely underrated interpret. Listen for instance to his Beethoven concerto with Alceo Galliera, you'll understand why.

The disc may not be easy to find - it had been available during a very short period (at least in Switzerland) as a Japan-imported Philips release. Try some japanese sites on the Web... I tell you: learning to read japanese is really worth the effort if it's for Grumiaux !

Personally, I also like Yehudi Menuhin, even though his violin sound is not as beautiful as the one of Milstein or especially Grumiaux.

Good Luck!

This is just to add that the combination of Grumiaux and Haskil is pure synergy and hard to beat!