Search - Johann Sebastian Bach :: Bach: Sonatas and Partitas for Solo Violin

Overwhelming

Robert Thomas | Los Angeles, CA | 05/06/2005

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Having heard these pieces a million times by various artists, I purchased the Milstein set. Upon receiving it, my wife suggested going straight to the center of the oreo cookie and listen to the chaconne from partita #2.



After sitting quietly for 14 minutes in stunned silence listening to Milstein saw away at one of the most gorgeous sounding violins these ears have ever heard, we looked at each other and said absolutely nothing.

At that moment it was clear that we had witnessed something truly miraculous. Such absolute control over this collosal work has rarely been heard. Most violinists struggle to move heaven and earth while negotiating the considerable difficulties involved but Milstein plays as though he's got technique to burn, like a Ferrari doing 25mph in a school zone.



Since then, I've obviously heard the entire album and although I must admit it is not my favorite recording, it is by far one of the most powerful and moving accounts on disk. The reason it is not my favorite is because I prefer a smaller sound and less drama in my Bach, a personal preference that all may not share. Listening to Milstein play Bach, as opposed to say, Aaron Rosand, is like listening to Eugene Ormandy and the Philadelphia Orchestra as opposed to say, Christopher Hogwood and the Academy of Ancient Music. Hearing Ormandy's ultra-lush, romantic sounding Bach or Handel is just plain wrong, I tell myself, yet it is a delightful indulgence comparable to eating a 16 ounce bar of my wife's finest swiss chocolate, a sin I've been guilty of.



By the way, don't tell my wife I said that. She may take away my Milstein, just to even the score.



Highly Recommended Bach.

Enjoy."

The prince of the bow

Luke birkla | Leeds, UK | 06/10/2004

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I have heard the Enescu, Menuhin, Heifeitz, Szerying, Grumiaux, Hahn and numerous other versions...none reaches the level of this recording.
It is not for nothing that he was donned the "prince of the bow." Ysaye the celebrated virtuouso even refused to teach Milstein he was so extraordinary, saying,
"you can play Bach and Paganini well...what else!" Milstein lived with these pieces. He talks of how, in his youth Bach's work was not often admired, and thus he explored his sonatas and partitas finding the artistic world they inhabit to be unique.
One can tell Milstein has lived with these pieces. Every nuance is carved to perfection, in the most spontaneous grace. The flow is mellifulous and each note has something unique to say. If Milstein were to just play the first chord of the first sonata in G minor, I would buy this cd. When I think of his sound now, I feel a kind of thirst take over my body.
If one were to spend one day listening over and over again for ten hours, to one bar of this recording, the lack of writing achieved explaining the emotional content of each note, would be a disservice to his playing.It's incredible...you must hear it!"

Stupendous technical achievement

T Boyer | Seattle | 01/24/2005

(5 out of 5 stars)

"If you're going to have one recording of the Bach Sonatas and Partitas, this is it. Milstein was about 70 when he recorded these, and they are technically flawless. I defy you to find another recording with such perfect intonation through the double- and triple-stopping, and such flawless rhythm and bowing. They sound like a young violinist, a Joshua Bell, but Milstein was bringing a lifetime's experience and thinking about Bach and about these sonatas.



If you're not a violinist, you may not know how difficult these are to play, and yet Milstein is so far past the technical challenges and deep into the music. Compare this to the Perlman recordings, which have their moments but overall come off wooden and brittle by contrast."