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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
43 of 50 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
Five WONDERFUL Stars!! Superb performances! Award-winning German violin virtuoso Julia Fischer once again demonstrates her great empathy with the music of Johann Sebastian Bach performing his violin concertos on her Decca debut. Here she records with the vaunted Academy of St Martin in the Fields chamber group with whom she has previously recorded and toured, but this time sans conductor, as Fischer herself ascends to the role of leader. Ms Fischer in an interview says she is "Playing for the people of the 21st Century" and she respectfully puts her stamp on these incandescent performances. The 25 year old Ms Fischer has loved and played Bach from age 4, won the Yehudi Menuhin violin competition at age 11 (with special prize for the Best Bach solo), and most recently she recorded J.S. Bach: Sonatas and Partitas for Solo Violin, BWV 1001-1006.
This CD presents different facets for the listener to enjoy: Julia's individual interpretations, her duo interaction with oboe and second violin, and A.S.M. group dynamics, all courtesy of the awesome genius of Bach. Ms Fischer's beautiful sound and bowed fireworks are well-integrated into the orchestra emerging from alongside the tutti as principal voice and then blending back again. The 'piece de resistance' is the Double Violin Concerto. The second violinist is Fischer's friend and former Menuhin competitor Sasha Sitkovetsky and they make wonderful ethereal music on their similar time-frame Guadagnini violins, especially the Allegro and Largo Ma non Tanto movements which are contrapuntally mesmerizing. But there is so much more, such as the stately elegance in the Andante movement and the Allegro Assai of the concerto in A minor. The lyrical beauty of the Adagio movement of Violin Concerto No 2 has Ms Fischer's purity of tone set against the continuo. In the D minor concerto for oboe, strings, and violin, the oboist is the superb Andrey Rubtsov and with Ms Fischer the concerto becomes one of pure exultation in the two Allegro movements and placid beauty in the Adagio movement. Julia Fischer is one of the supreme interpreters of Bach and among the most brilliant violin virtuosos of this century. Kudos to Julia, guests, and the A.S.M: great colloborations!! My Highest Recommendation. Five BIG Stars.
(This review is based on an iTunes Plus download)
Trivia: Julia Fischer has won all 8 competitions that she entered: 5 in classical violin and 3 in classical piano. Quite a feat!)
This CD presents different facets for the listener to enjoy: Julia's individual interpretations, her duo interaction with oboe and second violin, and A.S.M. group dynamics, all courtesy of the awesome genius of Bach. Ms Fischer's beautiful sound and bowed fireworks are well-integrated into the orchestra emerging from alongside the tutti as principal voice and then blending back again. The 'piece de resistance' is the Double Violin Concerto. The second violinist is Fischer's friend and former Menuhin competitor Sasha Sitkovetsky and they make wonderful ethereal music on their similar time-frame Guadagnini violins, especially the Allegro and Largo Ma non Tanto movements which are contrapuntally mesmerizing. But there is so much more, such as the stately elegance in the Andante movement and the Allegro Assai of the concerto in A minor. The lyrical beauty of the Adagio movement of Violin Concerto No 2 has Ms Fischer's purity of tone set against the continuo. In the D minor concerto for oboe, strings, and violin, the oboist is the superb Andrey Rubtsov and with Ms Fischer the concerto becomes one of pure exultation in the two Allegro movements and placid beauty in the Adagio movement. Julia Fischer is one of the supreme interpreters of Bach and among the most brilliant violin virtuosos of this century. Kudos to Julia, guests, and the A.S.M: great colloborations!! My Highest Recommendation. Five BIG Stars.
(This review is based on an iTunes Plus download)
Trivia: Julia Fischer has won all 8 competitions that she entered: 5 in classical violin and 3 in classical piano. Quite a feat!)
6 of 6 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
As a previous reviewer noted, Fischer decided to take the outer movements faster than is typical. For me, this meant that, after beginning to listen to the brisk first movement of the D minor Double, it wasn't quite love at first listen. The ear can rebel against what it's not used to. However, I soon came to appreciate Fischer's approach and style, and I became a fan of this disc. I found the E major in particular -- a piece you might think you know all too well -- to be unexpectedly exciting, and, in the slow movement, just gorgeous. The danger with speed on these is that one risks sapping them of their inherent drama and beauty. Some self-consciously period-correct recordings I've heard fall into this trap, and the result is awfully noisy and unattractive. Fischer and her fellow performers, with this non-period recording, avoid this pitfall with perfect precision, balance, and appropriately restrained, just-right sensitivity.
Fischer says in the liner notes that she is seeking to emphasize a neglected virtuosic aspect to these concertos -- hence the speed -- but also to blend with the ensemble where appropriate, and not to indulge in romantic affect, which can be tempting because some of this music -- the slow movement of the D minor Double in particular -- is very beautiful. All of this bespeaks an intelligent and distinctive approach that successfully walks the line between respect for period style and the the nature of the music on the one hand, and the undeniable fact that, as she says, this is being played for 21st century ears on the other. Fischer seems to be saying, you're allowed to have fun and be creative and impressive with these, but this is still Bach, so keep your wits about you.
It makes sense that Fischer would approach the music in this way. If you're already familiar with Fischer, I don't need to say that she's not just the hot soloist of the moment with dazzling technical chops, but a thoughtful and mature musician as well, characterized by fidelity, sensitivity, and uncanny control in the service of the music. With this disc, these qualities that make her the one to watch are on full display, and it's well worth adding to the shelf, whether as a supplement to other recordings you may have, an introduction to these essential works, or as a new go-to standard. If we were in the days of LP's, I'd already be wearing mine out! Enjoy.
Fischer says in the liner notes that she is seeking to emphasize a neglected virtuosic aspect to these concertos -- hence the speed -- but also to blend with the ensemble where appropriate, and not to indulge in romantic affect, which can be tempting because some of this music -- the slow movement of the D minor Double in particular -- is very beautiful. All of this bespeaks an intelligent and distinctive approach that successfully walks the line between respect for period style and the the nature of the music on the one hand, and the undeniable fact that, as she says, this is being played for 21st century ears on the other. Fischer seems to be saying, you're allowed to have fun and be creative and impressive with these, but this is still Bach, so keep your wits about you.
It makes sense that Fischer would approach the music in this way. If you're already familiar with Fischer, I don't need to say that she's not just the hot soloist of the moment with dazzling technical chops, but a thoughtful and mature musician as well, characterized by fidelity, sensitivity, and uncanny control in the service of the music. With this disc, these qualities that make her the one to watch are on full display, and it's well worth adding to the shelf, whether as a supplement to other recordings you may have, an introduction to these essential works, or as a new go-to standard. If we were in the days of LP's, I'd already be wearing mine out! Enjoy.
26 of 34 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD|Amazon Verified Purchase
Folks: I'm going against the grain of prior reviewers here, but be aware, if you like the outer movements of Bach's Concertos played at a somewhat more leisurely pace then this disc might disappoint. To me they are being played at breakneck speed. I'm left with enjoying the beauty of the playing in the slow movements but cannot listen to the the concertos as a whole and say these have a special place. For me, the sheer speed disfigures the music.
Most Recent Customer Reviews
Wish I could have listened to it
I was never able to down load it! i wish things were easier to download on Amazon. I've never been able to get them to work.
Published 6 days ago by Copybook
A virtuoso - playing at a very fast tempo
I'm going to agree with the other 3 star review: Fischer and the ensemble zip through the works as though they're late for a bus. Read more
Published 1 month ago by russ
Lovely, lively Bach
A few reviewers have already noted that Fischer takes the outer movements of these pieces rather fast and it is true. Read more
Published 7 months ago by George Goldberg
Impressive
Loved the performances. the tempi, the soloist. Nice change from the norm. Exciting contrasts. I will still listen to those which I am more acquainted, but will certainly return... Read more
Published 10 months ago by W. Burton
magnificent
Bach violin concertos are magnificently played and emotionally expressed. Every selection is flawless and exciting. Every selection is as incredible as the other.
Published 11 months ago by Sherry Solowchisholm
Beautiful!!!
I bought this as a Christmas present and the recipient was delighted. I listened to many samples of Bach CDs and chose this one. It is just lovely.
Published 16 months ago by Traditional Catholic
Beautiful music
My sister and I played the opening duet in high school, but never like this. This recording is heavenly-- bright, fluid, altogether lovely.
Published 16 months ago by working mom
Julia Fischer's Bach
The refined musicianship and insightful temperament of the young star violinist Julia Fischer could not avoid anymore recording some of the towering Baroque masterpieces - namely,... Read more
Published 19 months ago by P. Adrian
Brilliant, instantly fell in love
After hearing this album on Rhapsody I am purchasing the CD for myself and will consider this for gifts in the future.
This album is absolutely brilliant and lively... Read more
This album is absolutely brilliant and lively... Read more
Published 23 months ago by DAG
Simply wonderful!
Of course I'm quite familiar with the Bach violin concertos, but I never had heard them played by Ms. Fischer. Read more
Published 23 months ago by steve
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