Search - Johann Sebastian Bach :: J.S. Bach: The Sonatas and Partitas for Violin Solo

An Approach to Bach's Genius of Spirit rather than Wizard of

Grady Harp | Los Angeles, CA United States | 11/23/2005

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Gidon Kremer has again recorded the Sonatas and Partitas for Solo Violin of Bach and while his facility and technical grace are intact, in this recording he appears to have been deeply influenced by his time with the moderns (Adams, Pärt, Schnittke, Piazzola, Glass, et al). For this listener it seems that studying and performing these contemporary composers' manipulation of sound and instrumental scope has enriched Kremer's thought about the perfection of Bach.



Not everyone will agree with Kremer's approach to these works on this new recording, but for those who know Bach's solo violin pieces there are pleasures in store. Remaining technically suave and with a luxuriant tone, Kremer seems to be communicating with the psychological Bach, offering different tempi and more soulful approaches than those of his colleagues. The results are mesmerizing.



The sonics of this release are impeccable: the soloist is immediately in the room with the listener. This recording is a must for those who have followed Kremer's impressive career and for those who wish to venture outside the norm for a fresh approach to the wonders of Bach's genius. Highly recommended. Grady Harp, November 05"

Different.

Xyp | Cincinnati, OH | 11/15/2005

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Let it never be said that Gidon Kremer's interpretations are in any way similar to... well, anyone. This is truly a fresh, and let me stress alternative take on these works- I would not recommend these to anyone not first initiated to Bach solo violin. If I were to recommend a place to start with these pieces, it would be Arthur Grumiaux, Henryk Szeryng, Nathan Milstein, or Hilary Hahn, as they present more (for lack of a better term) "mainstream" versions without Kremer's tendency towards more esoteric (yet totally effective) interpretations.



However, to those of you out there who are already familiar with the works, I say have at it: Kremer's reading is heartfelt, idiomatic, and very staccato yet never mechanical. He is certainly a student of performance, individuality, and taste. It is also quite worth it to hear the cleanliness of these discs: the sound and recording quality, as in all ECM recordings, is absolutely stellar."

Magnificent

kelsie | Plainview, Texas United States | 04/06/2006

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This is my 13th recording of these pieces, and like each of its predecessors, Kremer's journey shines with a uniqueness all its own.



Kremer performs the Six with an almost manic drive. The Fugue from the G minor Sonata is a powerful, terrifying thing, with Kremer accenting the repeated notes in the fugue's subject harshly and fiercely. His style seems highly adaptable; the G minor Siciliana rocks gently, like a cradle lullaby, while the A minor Allegro breaks over the listener like a gigantic series of waves. While Milstein, Grumiaux, and Tetzlaff are rightly revered for their finesse and, in Tetzlaff's case, almost emotional detachment, Kremer seems to dig in to the very core of these pieces, pushing his violin to emotional heights unknown; helping these pieces truly come alive. The B minor Allemanda sounds almost sorrowful, while the G minor Fugue explodes with a palpable fury from the instrument.



The star of the disc set (as with most sets of the Soli) is Kremer's traversal of the great Chaconne. His reading of this mighty piece is technically immaculate and almost breathlessly powerful. At times, the violin sounds mournful, and at others, furious and roaring. This can also be said for Kremer's reading as a whole: the violin and its performer are endlessly expressive and versatile, and as a result, each individual movement of the Sonatas and Partitas has a unique character, a different personality.



Kremer's account, though not "definitive" (can any single recording be called that?), bears the unmistakable stamp of his personality, and this journey through this Work of Works, as it were, is an enlightening, uplifting, and exciting trip."