Bach Double Violin Concerto

This piece has a special place in my heart. In 1986 I was a graduate student in DC and knew nothing about classical music. One night I went to see "Children of a Lesser God" in the local theater. The film has a weird soundtrack but at several points the lead character (William Hurt) puts on an LP, always cueing up the middle movement of Bach's Double Violin Concerto. I thought it sounded lovely and went to my local record shop (Melody Records on Dupont Circle) and asked the salesperson if he knew the piece and had a recording he could recommend. He did and handed me Trevor Pinnock's recording on Archive with the English Concert. I brought it home, dropped it into my Meridian MCD, and thus opened my world to a whole new musical genre. Despite the early digital woes, I still love the early Pinnock interpretation and the sonics are pretty good. Since then I've picked up the Ton Koopman LP mentioned above as well as the Andrew Manze CD. The performance in the film soundtrack was clearly modern instruments but I much prefer my Baroque on original instruments. To me they sound so sweet and nimble. Anyway, thanks for listening!

there's a vinyl CD of David and Igor Oistrakh playing that piece.  There's also two movements (II and III) of them playing that same piece available on video.  I haven't heard the LP but the live performance on video is very good.

Let us know what you think of it please gotog .
Happy Listening !

Thanks for all the suggestions...just picked up the  Grumiaux and Krebbers one....  and will see if I can find one of the Historically-Informed  versions for comparison.

Just played it a few days ago...RCA Living Stereo SACD/hybrid reissue with Heifetz/Primrose. Also includes the Brahms violin/cello Op 102 and The Mozart violin/viola K.364.

I didn't want to get into "historically informed " performances , which i do love myself , but I find the Kuijken and his " La Petite band " outstanding .I've heard it live several times .

It's been a while @twoleftears, perhaps I should refresh my memory ;-) . Of course, some who prefer Romantic-style violinists find the sound of antique instruments (or reproductions) harsh and ugly.

@bdp24 That's odd.  When I saw the OP, I immediately thought of Rachel Podger.  But when I checked out the Podger/Manze recording on HM on Amazon, there were several 1 star reviews, all complaining about the sound (rather than the performance), describing it unanimously as shrill.  Perhaps there's been a reissue.

Thank you !

@schubert 

Thanks. I knew I could count on you. Your Kyung Wha Chung suggestion in my previous thread turned out to be awesome..will look into the suggestions you provided above.

In modern sound Ph 420 700-2
with Grumiaux and Krebbers , New Phil, O,de Waart.
Oistrakh with his son on DG 449-844-2 Munich Bach O , Richter
In old sound but a mighty performance Naxos mono 8.110965 .Menuhin with his teacher Enescu. Symphony de Paris , Monteux































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