Bach Sonatas and Partitas - Volume 2
I don’t think many would argue that Bach’s 6 Sonatas and Partitas for solo violin are the ultimate challenge for any violinist, both musically and technically. Even though every violin student tends to study some of the individual movements at a relatively early stage in their training, performing the whole set of these masterpieces requires from the violinist some of the highest technical precision and most sophisticated musical understanding.
Bach’ solo works have always been a part of my musical life; I remember that my very first experience of his work was the ‘Preludio’ from the E Major Partita. I was about 6 or 7 years old and my teacher gave it to me mostly as a exercise to practice my left hand dexterity, and coordination between left and right hand. Later, I started playing the ‘Adagio’ from the G Minor Sonata, then, after I began studying at the Sichuan Conservatory of Music in my hometown, I started learning the ‘Fuga’ from the Solo Sonatas. It fascinated me greatly how on a violin, mostly considered to be a single-melody instrument, one could also play multiple melodies and the accompaniment at the same time.
Of course, one of the highlights of my Bach-related memories was playing the great ‘Ciaccona’ in a masterclass at the Royal Academy of Music for Lord Yehudi Menuhin in 1999 shortly before he passed away. After I finished my performance, the late master said nothing but simply got up from his chair, walked up to me, and gave me a hug. Bach finished this ‘Bible’ of works for the violin in year 1720 when he was 35, and I started recording these masterworks at the same age, to pay my tribute to the greatest musician of all time. - Ning Feng
Tracklist
Total time: 01:12:50
Additional Information
- Edit Master Sourced
- Not Available on SACD
Reviews
Noordhollands Dagblad
Hans Visser
Audiophile Italy
Audiophile Italy
Luister (9)
Luister (9)
Gramophone
Rob Cowan
Opus Klassiek
Aart van der Wal