Anne-Sophie Mutter, Bach, and HIP

[Bogey]

In today's paper:





October 15, 2008
Music Review
Playing Bach With Nods to Two Centuries
By Vivien Schweitzer

The German violinist Anne-Sophie Mutter has said that she is not a "great believer in so-called authentic playing" of Baroque music, but that the knowledge gained from the period-instrument movement regarding phrasing and sound production has been "fruitful."

With the Camerata Salzburg at Carnegie Hall on Monday night, Ms. Mutter — elegant in a mulberry-colored strapless dress — demonstrated that she can play Bach with simultaneous nods to both the 18th and 21st centuries.

In Bach's Violin Concerto in A minor (BWV 1041) she played with her trademark rich, sweet tone, but minimal vibrato. She offered a more romantic approach in the Andante, with plenty of nuanced expression. Ms. Mutter performed with a reproduction of a Baroque bow (but without the traditional gut strings) in the first half, which contributed to a buoyant sound. She then switched to a modern bow after intermission.

Her American tour this month playing Bach coincides with a Deutsche Grammophon release of two of the Bach concertos on the program. The rather breathless speeds set by Ms. Mutter in the A minor concerto's outer movements felt more rushed in the live performance than on the recording with the Trondheim Soloists. (Her Bach tempos on the CD, which pairs the A minor and E major concertos with a striking new work by Sofia Gubaidulina, are certainly on the brisk side, but less impetuous.) At times on Monday it sounded as if the orchestra, which played convincingly, was struggling to keep up.

In Bach's Concerto for Two Violins in D minor (BWV 1043) Ms. Mutter was joined by Vilde Frang, a young Norwegian who is a scholarship recipient of the Anne-Sophie Mutter foundation, which assists promising young musicians. Ms. Frang is a refined and polished player, although she was often overpowered by her mentor's more robust sound.

After intermission came Bach's Violin Concerto in E major (BWV 1042). The musicians plunged into the opening Allegro with spirited energy. Ms. Mutter played with intensity and a range of dynamics in the Adagio and muscular vigor in the finale.

The concert concluded with Tartini's "Devil's Trill" Sonata. Originally composed for violin with basso continuo accompaniment, it was performed here in Riccardo Zandonai's arrangement for chamber orchestra, with Fritz Kreisler's blazing cadenza.

Ms. Mutter played as if the Devil were chasing her, hurtling at top speed with luxuriant tone and effortless technique through the musical obstacles.

It was back to Bach for the encore, a poised and introspective reading of the "Air" from the Orchestral Suite No. 3 in D.

[Jay F]

October 15, 2008
Music Review
Playing Bach With Nods to Two Centuries
By Vivien Schweitzer

[...]
Her American tour this month playing Bach coincides with a Deutsche Grammophon release of two of the Bach concertos on the program. The rather breathless speeds set by Ms. Mutter in the A minor concerto's outer movements felt more rushed in the live performance than on the recording with the Trondheim Soloists. (Her Bach tempos on the CD, which pairs the A minor and E major concertos with a striking new work by Sofia Gubaidulina, are certainly on the brisk side, but less impetuous.)

How is the CD?

[hornteacher]

Would love to hear the D minor Concerto live as well as the new concerto.  The CD is rather good if you like heavy vibrato with your Bach (which I sometimes do).  I would have liked to hear the E Major 1st movement a bit faster but that's just my personal taste.

[anasazi]

Would love to hear the D minor Concerto live as well as the new concerto.  The CD is rather good if you like heavy vibrato with your Bach (which I sometimes do).  I would have liked to hear the E Major 1st movement a bit faster but that's just my personal taste.

Well, hornteacher, since you so like Hillary (as do I) then I believe you that you like the vibrato.  So do I. So do I.

[Bulldog]

Would love to hear the D minor Concerto live as well as the new concerto.  The CD is rather good if you like heavy vibrato with your Bach (which I sometimes do). 

Good to know about the vibrato.  Since I very much dislike vibrato with my Bach, this is a disc for me to avoid.

[Bogey]

Good to know about the vibrato.  Since I very much dislike vibrato with my Bach, this is a disc for me to avoid.

Agree.  Her earlier stuff seems to suit me though, especially the HvK discs with her. 

'Evening, Don.  Was hoping that you hit this thread.

[Bulldog]

Agree.  Her earlier stuff seems to suit me though, especially the HvK discs with her. 

'Evening, Don.  Was hoping that you hit this thread.

Good evening to you also.  Mutter is a heavy vibrato player.  I remember well her recent Mozart Violin Concertos set; vibrato all over the place with a heavy dose of intervention.  Still, her playing is amazing.

[The new erato]

Good to know about the vibrato.  Since I very much dislike vibrato with my Bach, this is a disc for me to avoid.

Definitely to avoid for the Bach (I've heard excerpts on the radio). Close to perverse I'd say. The problem is that the Gubaidulina seems to be extremely worth having.

[Opus106]

The reason why the disc holds the #2 spot in symphonies at amazon.com eludes me.

[Bulldog]

The reason why the disc holds the #2 spot in symphonies at amazon.com eludes me.

Because it's Mutter.

[The new erato]

Yeah, there's some kind of "Come to Mummy" magic here.

[adamdavid80]

Because it's Mutter.

Yeah, there's some kind of "Come to Mummy" magic here.

By which you mean "Come to Mutty"!   

[M forever]

Would love to hear the D minor Concerto live as well as the new concerto.  The CD is rather good if you like heavy vibrato with your Bach (which I sometimes do).  I would have liked to hear the E Major 1st movement a bit faster but that's just my personal taste.

Isn't ASM a little bit too old for you?

[hornteacher]

Isn't ASM a little bit too old for you?

Believe it or not, I do enjoy other violinists.