Tuesday 14 March 2017

Bach - Sonatas & Partitas for Violin - Busch


Rating: 5/5

Review: 
Excellent



I think this is an excellent set.  I already have a number of recordings of the Sonatas and Partitas, including some quite brilliant interpretations by the likes of Isabelle Faust, Rachel Podger and Viktoria Mullova, but I think Christine Busch's recording stands with the best of them.

The music, of course, is sublime.  These are quite magnificent works which test the instrument and its player to extremes, and in the process produce some quite extraordinarily expressive and moving music.  Christine Busch is certainly equal to the technical challenge; her intonation is rock solid, she has a lovely tone and she makes these sometimes incredibly difficult pieces sound simple and natural.  Her interpretation is absolutely terrific, I think.  There is an elegance and grace running through this recording which never loses any of the intellectual weight or emotional impact, and the essential pulse of Bach beats throughout.  Busch is equally at home in the slow, tortured depths of the mighty Chaconne from the D minor Partita and in the quicker, more obviously dancing movements like the closing Allegro assai of the C major Sonata. 

The whole things simply glows, I think, and I was very pleasantly surprised by the excellence throughout.  The recorded sound is lovely with just the right degree of reverberation, and it's a really fine set all round.  Very warmly recommended.

2 comments:

  1. Yes, it is an excellent set, which I really treasure.I was thinking to buy another HIP version of the sonatas and partitas. What are your thoughts on the version of Amandine Beyer?

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    1. Hi, Goran.

      I've reviewed Beyer's Bach here:
      http://sidsclassicalreviews.blogspot.co.uk/2015/08/bach-sonatas-partitas-for-solo-violin.html

      As you can see, she doesn't quite do it for me, but that's a very personal feeling. My preferences are for Podger, Mullova or Faust, but at this level fof excellence (including Beyer) it's very much a matter of personal preference.

      Thanks for posting !
      Sid

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