AMEN .
Suggestions for Solo Violin Recordings
2I am listening to the Nathan Milstein J.S. Bach Sonaten & Partiten 3 LP box set (Deutsche Grammophon) and came to the realization that I need to broaden my classical music horizons with recordings similar to this. Solo Violin. Can be on vinyl or redbook CD. Must be high quality recording.
Any suggestions?
Thanks
Any suggestions?
Thanks
20 responses Add your response
Players in the "Historically Informed" camp have been fairly criticized for their sometimes less-than-world-class technique and pitch precision (more in the movement's early days than today). Still, I love Baroque music played without 18th and 19th Century vibrato added to notes, vibrato that was not employed at the time the music was written and originally performed. I also love the sound of antique stringed instruments (both original and reproductions), and prefer the harpsichord to the piano. I also highly value the music played at it's score-specified brisk tempi, rather than slowed down to Romantic ones. This was dance music! |
Nice recommendations so far. Love the suggestions for
Kyung Wha Chung, Rachel Podger, Sigiswald Kuijken and Johanna Martzy. I will add a few additional artists whose performances are always worth watching out for: Chiara Banchini Lisa Batiatishvili Arturo Delmoni Vilde Frang Janine Jansen Sherban Lupu Wanda Wilkomirska |
Which made me think of the Biber Rosary sonatas especially the Rachel Podger version (another artist that cannnot put a foot wrong) https://www.gramophone.co.uk/review/biber-rosary-sonatas-–-podger |
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I would suggest the Bach "Sonatas & Partitas" by the Great Korean violinist Kyung Wha Chung on a 2016 Warner Classical recording .She was coming back from a finger injury that had sidelined her for a decade and while her technique was not quite what it once was , the humility with which she played Bach brought tears to my eyes . At least one well known musician agrees with me about her . "Kyung Wha Chung is the outstanding violinist of her time and age.I first heard her play when I was in the Berlin Philharmonic .She came as a guest soloist and played the the Scottish Fantasy of Max Bruch, ..... This was a stellar moment in my life . It was truly great violin playing and very inspirational ! " Sir James Galway . There are many clips of her on You Tube as a young artist, one I like very much is the Paganini Vn. Sonata 12 . |
There are many recordings of the Paganini Caprices (#24 is accessible and well-known). One particularly good one is by Michael Rabin. For something a little more modern try the Bartok unaccompanied sonata or the Ysaye sonatas. Ruggiero Ricci did a good recording of the Ysaye. For the Bartok you might check out the James Ehnes CD or the Yehudi Menuhin LP. |
J.S. Bach: Sonatas For Solo Violin BWV 1001-1006, played by Sigiswald Kuijken; Deutsche Harmonia Mundi 1C 157 (1999603). There are many other Deutsche Harmonia Mundi (and U.S.A. HM) recordings of Baroque repertoire, all featuring excellent "historically-informed" performances, and in superior recorded sound. They range from solo instrumental works (harpsichord, organ, cello, etc.), small ensemble works, and full orchestra pieces. |
And one other I've really enjoyed recently -- Barotsz Woroch's survey of some recent solo violin repertoire (with accompaniment on some of the pieces) -- challenging but worth your time and a test of how resolving your system is https://www.theguardian.com/music/2016/jun/09/bartosz-woroch-dancer-on-a-tightrope-cd-review-compell... |
So many choices, even if you just stuck with the Bach Partitas! Here are some good (albeit pricey) options https://www.discogs.com/Johanna-Martzy-Jean-Antonietti-WDR-Studio-Recordings/release/12131804 https://www.discogs.com/Johanna-Martzy-Radio-Recordings/release/9966202 https://www.discogs.com/Ida-Haendel-BACH-Sonatas-Partitas-For-Solo-Violi/release/10092204 Among more recent recordings I like Lara St John and anything by Patricia Kopatchinskaja |
A must have I think, if you want something outside the dusty canon and like composers like Phillip Glass : https://amzn.to/2DdJ8kq |