Bach's Violin Sonatas & Partitas (solo)

[nowheredense]

My current favourite choices are Telmanyi, Lucy von Dael and Mullova. The Telmanyi's recording I have is remastered by China Record Shanghai Corp. It is less expansive then the Testament's in China.

[Kontrapunctus]

This is a new HIP performance by Pavlo Beznosiuk-it's pretty good:


For a more emotionally invested performance, I prefer this live concert by Oleg Kagan (just a few months before he died from cancer...)

[DavidRoss]

Listening to the clips peregrine provided of Edinger.  Nice tone, otherwise quite different from my usual.  Very languid, almost melancholy.  If it's a similar reading you're after with a bit more rhythmic vitality, try Julia Fischer.

http://www.youtube.com/v/MZbr1I2Eqwo

[quark]

My personal Favourites:

Violinists of the golden age (50's, 60's, 70's):
Szeryng (1956), Grumiaux, Milstein (the 70's version, which Milstein himself preferred)

Contempoarary (80's to present):
1)For approaches that incorporate the HIP lesson, while using modern (or partially modern) equipment:
Kremer (on ECM), Mullova (her Onyx cycle with the baroque bow), Ibragimova
2) For full-fledged HIP performances:
Rachel Podger, Jaap Schroeder
3) For full-fledged romantic performances:
Oleg Kagan (live), James Ehnes, Julia Fischer

Honorary mentions for Wanda Wilkomirska's and Viviane Hagner's 2nd Partita.

[prémont]

This is a new HIP performance by Pavlo Beznosiuk-it's pretty good:

Compared to other existing HIP- recordings of this music I find this rather disappointing. I get the impression all the time, that almost all Beznosiuk´s powers are used to play the right notes at the right time, and that only little energy is left for interpretation. The end result is for that reason somewhat blend.

[quark]

Don't know about Beznosiuk's version, but two more recordings definitely make my hall of fame:

-Szigeti (listened this morning to his sonata BWV 1001 and had to stop in front of the office door to allow the Siliano to finish (couldn't interrupt the maestro Bach and the maestro Szigeti with something as trivial as my vile job...)
-Oscar Shumsky (beautiful romatic rendition)

[Kontrapunctus]

Compared to other existing HIP- recordings of this music I find this rather disappointing. I get the impression all the time, that almost all Beznosiuk´s powers are used to play the right notes at the right time, and that only little energy is left for interpretation. The end result is for that reason somewhat blend.

The more I listen to Beznosiuk's the less I like it! I put my copy up for sale on Amazon.

On a related note (pun intended...), are these two Zehetmair recordings the same? ( I assume that the Apex is a reissue.)

[prémont]

The more I listen to Beznosiuk's the less I like it! I put my copy up for sale on Amazon.

I have flirted with the thought of doing similar things, but the PI-completist in me bids me to keep it - as well as the even worse recording of the Partitas by Midori Seiler.

On a related note (pun intended...), are these two Zehetmair recordings the same? ( I assume that the Apex is a reissue.)

I have never heard of other than one Zehetmair recording of these works, made about 20 years ago for Teldec. BTW I have parted with this recording (non PI). I think it is too youthful and immature and has not got the immediate charm of youth.

[jlaurson]

The more I listen to Beznosiuk's the less I like it! I put my copy up for sale on Amazon.

On a related note (pun intended...), are these two Zehetmair recordings the same? ( I assume that the Apex is a reissue.)

Certainly the same. (Apex always means a re-issued recording, and always from the Telarc/Warner family...
Even if you're not sure, the assumption is safe; there are only a handful of cases where there are two re-issues (or one OOP recording and one re-issue of the same work with the same performers but a different recording) on the same label. Most of them DG with Beethoven and Karajan, ditto his DSCH 10th... anyone can think of more cases?)

[kishnevi]

Certainly the same. (Apex always means a re-issued recording, and always from the Telarc/Warner family...
Even if you're not sure, the assumption is safe; there are only a handful of cases where there are two re-issues (or one OOP recording and one re-issue of the same work with the same performers but a different recording) on the same label. Most of them DG with Beethoven and Karajan, ditto his DSCH 10th... anyone can think of more cases?)

Karajan did two Mahler 9s, didn't he?   And with everything he recorded,  there are probably more duplicates in there if we look. 

But everything else I can think of involves a different label or some difference among the performers.

ETA, two days late and at least a dollar short--Brendel recorded the Beethoven sonatas twice for Philips, and at least some Schubert works.

[Kontrapunctus]

After hearing some samples from Zehetmair, I decided to buy Arthur Grumiaux's set! ($9.69--quite a deal!)

[prémont]

After hearing some samples from Zehetmair, I decided to buy Arthur Grumiaux's set! ($9.69--quite a deal!)

A far better choice IMO.

[Florestan]

After hearing some samples from Zehetmair, I decided to buy Arthur Grumiaux's set! ($9.69--quite a deal!)

You chose wisely. 

[Kontrapunctus]

A far better choice IMO.

Haha, well, it arrived yesterday, and from what I've heard so far, I really like it. Wow, what amazing tone he had.

[DavidRoss]

Haha, well, it arrived yesterday, and from what I've heard so far, I really like it. Wow, what amazing tone he had.

When you tire of Grumiaux, you might find Zehetmair more satisfying.  I do, but his recording rubbed my sensibilities the wrong way when I first heard only samples of it.  Some time later I downloaded some complete tracks and liked them so much I bought the disc, now one of my faves, along with many others--including Grumiaux.

[Antoine Marchand]

When you tire of Grumiaux, you might find Zehetmair more satisfying.  I do, but his recording rubbed my sensibilities the wrong way when I first heard only samples of it.  Some time later I downloaded some complete tracks and liked them so much I bought the disc, now one of my faves, along with many others--including Grumiaux.

I don't have the Zehetmair set, but I judge very highly his skills and wisdom as a violinist. That said, Grumiaux didn't know how to play badly a piece and I really like his sonatas & partitas. As you can see, this time I am an eclectic animal. 

[prémont]

I don't have the Zehetmair set, but I judge very highly his skills and wisdom as a violinist. That said, Grumiaux didn't know how to play badly a piece and I really like his sonatas & partitas. As you can see, this time I am an eclectic animal. 

Zehetmair´s recording of the S&P´s are not really that bad, but as I wrote above : I think it is too youthful and immature and has not got the immediate charm of youth, and I could add, that the competition is to strong. He has improved  immensely since that recording, and I hope he will rerecord the pieces some day.

[Antoine Marchand]

Zehetmair´s recording of the S&P´s are not really that bad, but as I wrote above : I think it is too youthful and immature and has not got the immediate charm of youth, and I could add, that the competition is to strong. He has improved  immensely since that recording, and I hope he will rerecord the pieces some day.

It was exactly my opinion about the earlier Mozart recording by Kristian Bezuidenhout; but you didn't listen to the advice of your Chilean friend. 

[prémont]

It was exactly my opinion about the earlier Mozart recording by Kristian Bezuidenhout; but you didn't listen to the advice of your Chilean friend. 

I usually listen to your advices, but in this case I decided to get the red CD while it was available, - maybe I was too fast, have not listened to it yet.

But I have listened to another Bezuidenhout recording I got recently,-  the Fifth Brandenburg concerto with COE led by Daniel Hope from the violin and with Bezuidenhout on the harpsichord. The oveall interpretation is good with some nice violin-traverse flute interplay, but the harpsichord is so backward located as to be almost inaudible - surprising for a recording from 2005. One gets the definite impression in the first movement, that the harpsichord part isn´t but an elaborate continuo part. But the harpsichord "cadenza" on the other hand is played by Bezuidenhout with so much senseless "Sturm und Drang" as to fall completely apart.  This is certainly much too youthful playing. On the rest of the CD Hope is a sensitive soloist in the Violin concertos.

[Que]

NEW! (On Zig-Zag Territoires)

Q